Permissible Investments for Federal and State Savings Associations: Corporate Debt Securities

This final rule amends FDIC regulations to prohibit any insured savings association from acquiring or retaining a corporate debt security unless it determines, prior to acquiring such security and periodically thereafter, that the issuer has adequate capacity to meet all financial commitments under the security for the projected life of the investment. An issuer would satisfy this requirement if, based on the assessment of the savings association, the issuer presents a low risk of default and is likely to make full and timely repayment of principal and interest. This final rule adopts the proposed creditworthiness standard with the clarifying revision described below. In the final rule, the phrase ``projected life of the investment'' has been revised to ``projected life of the security'' to more closely track the language in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (``OCC'') final rule.\1\ The clarifying revision addresses ambiguities in the proposed rule and harmonizes the final rule with the final rule adopted by the OCC regarding permissible investments for national banks.\2\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Agency Contact: Kyle Hadley, Chief, Examination Support Section, (202) 898-6532, Division of Risk Management Supervision; Eric Reither, Capital Markets Specialist, (202) 898-3707, Division of Risk Management Supervision; Suzanne Dawley, Senior Attorney, Bank Activities Section, (202) 898-6509; or Rachel Jones, Attorney, Bank Activities Section, (202) 898-6858.