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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Supervisory Policy and Guidance Topics

Supervision of International Activities of U.S. Banking Organizations

The Federal Reserve has supervisory and regulatory responsibility for the international operations of member banks, bank holding companies, and Edge and agreement corporations. The international activities of U.S.–chartered banks include lending to and accepting deposits from foreign customers at the banks’ U.S. offices and engaging in other financial transactions with foreign counterparts. Some additional responsibilities include:
  • authorizing the establishment of foreign branches of national banks and state member banks and regulating the scope of their activities;
  • chartering and regulating the activities of Edge and agreement corporations, which are specialized institutions used for international and foreign business;
  • authorizing foreign investments of member banks, Edge and agreement corporations, and bank holding companies and regulating the activities of foreign firms acquired by such investors; and
  • establishing supervisory policy and practices regarding foreign lending by state member banks

The bulk of the international business of U.S.–chartered banks takes place at their branch offices located abroad and at their foreign-incorporated subsidiaries, usually wholly owned. Increasingly, U.S. banks are also offering a range of sophisticated financial products to residents of other countries and to U.S. firms abroad. (Federal Reserve System: Purposes and Functions)

Sections on this page:
 

Policy Letters

Supervision of International Activities of U.S. Banking Organizations

SR 08-9 / CA 08-12
Consolidated Supervision of Bank Holding Companies and the Combined U.S. Operations of Foreign Banking Organizations
SR 02-2
Guidance on Monitoring Compliance with the Restrictions on Foreign Investments Contained in Regulation K and Guidance for Internationally Active Domestic Banking Organizations on Recordkeeping Requirements Regarding Foreign Investments
SR 98-33 (SUP)
Interagency Country Risk Management Study
SR 94-49 (IB)
Deposits Held in Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks
SR 93-7 (IB)
Adoption of Minimum Timing Standards for the Completion of International Examination Reports
SR 92-8
Advances by Banking Edge Corporations to Parent Institutions
SR 90-22
Policy Statement on the Use of "Points" in Settling Foreign Exchange Contracts
SR 90-21
Rating System For International Examinations
 

Additional Resources

 

Manual References

  • Bank Holding Company Supervision Manual
    • Section 3550.0, "Section 4(c)(13) of the BHC Act (International Activities of Bank Holding Companies)"
    • Section 4090.0, "Country Risk"
  • Commercial Bank Examination Manual
    • Section 7000, "International – Examination Overview and Strategy"
    • Section 7040, "International – Country Risk and Transfer Risk"
    • Section 7020.1, "International – Loan Portfolio Management"
Last update: January 23, 2013