Subpart A prescribes the general procedures for submitting filings to the FDIC which are required by statute or regulation. This subpart also prescribes the procedures to be followed by the FDIC, applicants and interested parties during the process of considering a filing, including public notice and comment. This subpart explains the availability of expedited processing for eligible depository institutions (defined in § 303.2(r)). Certain terms used throughout this part are also defined in this subpart.

Except as modified or otherwise defined in this part, terms used in this part that are defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) have the meanings provided in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. Additional definitions of terms used in this part are as follows:

(a) Act or FDI Act means the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.).

(b) Adjusted part 324 total assets means adjusted 12 CFR part 324 total assets as calculated and reflected in the FDIC's Report of Examination.

(c) Adverse comment means any objection, protest, or other adverse written statement submitted by an interested party relative to a filing. The term adverse comment shall not include any comment concerning the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), fair lending, consumer protection, or civil rights that the appropriate regional director or designee determines to be frivolous (for example, raising issues between the commenter and the applicant that have been resolved). The term adverse comment also shall not include any other comment that the appropriate regional director or designee determines to be frivolous (for example, a non-substantive comment submitted primarily as a means of delaying action on the filing).

(d) Amended order to pay means an order to forfeit and pay civil money penalties, the amount of which has been changed from that assessed in the original notice of assessment of civil money penalties.

(e) Applicant means a person or entity that submits a filing to the FDIC.

(f) Application means a submission requesting FDIC approval to engage in various corporate activities and transactions.

(g) Appropriate FDIC region and appropriate regional director mean, respectively, the FDIC region and the FDIC regional director which the FDIC designates as follows:

(1) When an institution or proposed institution that is the subject of a filing or administrative action is not and will not be part of a group of related institutions, the appropriate FDIC region for the institution and any individual associated with the institution is the FDIC region in which the institution or proposed institution is or will be located, and the appropriate regional director is the regional director for that region; or

(2) When an institution or proposed institution that is the subject of a filing or administrative action is or will be part of a group of related institutions, the appropriate FDIC region for the institution and any individual associated with the institution is the FDIC region in which the group's major policy and decision makers are located, or any other region the FDIC designates on a case-by-case basis, and the appropriate regional director is the regional director for that region.

(h) Associate director means any associate director of the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection (DSC) or, in the event such title become obsolete, any official of equivalent authority within the division.

(i) Book capital means total equity capital which is comprised of perpetual preferred stock, common stock, surplus, undivided profits and capital reserves, as those items are defined in the instructions of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) for the preparation of Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income for insured banks.

(j) Comment means any written statement of fact or opinion submitted by an interested party relative to a filing.

(k) Corporation or FDIC means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(l) CRA protest means any adverse comment from the public related to a pending filing which raises a negative issue relative to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.), whether or not it is labeled a protest and whether or not a hearing is requested.

(m) Deputy director means the deputy director of the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection (DSC) or, in the event such title become obsolete, any official of equivalent or higher authority within the division.

(n) Deputy regional director means any deputy regional director of the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection (DSC) or, in the event such title become obsolete, any official of equivalent authority within the same FDIC region of DSC.

(o) Appropriate FDIC office means the office designated by the appropriate regional director or designee.

(p) DSC means the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection or, in the event the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection is reorganized, such successor division.

(q) Director means the Director of the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection (DSC) or, in the event such title become obsolete, any official of equivalent or higher authority within the division.

(r) Eligible depository institution means a depository institution that meets the following criteria:

(1) Received an FDIC-assigned composite rating of 1 or 2 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (UFIRS) as a result of its most recent federal or state examination;

(2) Received a satisfactory or better Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating from its primary federal regulator at its most recent examination, if the depository institution is subject to examination under part 345 of this chapter;

(3) Received a compliance rating of 1 or 2 from its primary federal regulator at its most recent examination;

(4) Is well-capitalized as defined in the appropriate capital regulation and guidance of the institution's primary federal regulator; and

(5) Is not subject to a cease and desist order, consent order, prompt corrective action directive, written agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other administrative agreement with its primary federal regulator or chartering authority.

(s) Filing means an application, notice or request submitted to the FDIC under this part.

(t) General Counsel means the head of the Legal Division of the FDIC or any official within the Legal Division exercising equivalent authority for purposes of this part.

(u) Insider means a person who is or is proposed to be a director, officer, organizer, or incorporator of an applicant; a shareholder who directly or indirectly controls 10 percent or more of any class of the applicant's outstanding voting stock; or the associates or interests of any such person.

(v) Institution-affiliated party shall have the same meaning as provided in section 3(u) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(u)).

(w) Notice means a submission notifying the FDIC that a depository institution intends to engage in or has commenced certain corporate activities or transactions.

(x) Notice to primary regulator means the notice described in section 8(a)(2)(A) of the Act concerning termination of deposit insurance (12 U.S.C. 1818(a)(2)(A)).

(y) Regional counsel means a regional counsel of the Legal Division or, in the event the title becomes obsolete, any official of equivalent authority within the Legal Division.

(z) Regional director means any regional director in the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection (DSC), or in the event such title become obsolete, any official of equivalent authority within the division.

(aa) [Reserved]

(bb) Standard conditions means the conditions that the FDIC may impose as a routine matter when approving a filing, whether or not the applicant has agreed to their inclusion. The following conditions, or variations thereof, are standard conditions:

(1) That the applicant has obtained all necessary and final approvals from the appropriate federal or state authority or other appropriate authority;

(2) That if the transaction does not take effect within a specified time period, or unless, in the meantime, a request for an extension of time has been approved, the consent granted shall expire at the end of the specified time period;

(3) That until the conditional commitment of the FDIC becomes effective, the FDIC retains the right to alter, suspend or withdraw its commitment should any interim development be deemed to warrant such action; and

(4) In the case of a merger transaction (as defined in ¶ 303.61(a) of this part), including a corporate reorganization, that the proposed transaction not be consummated before the 30th calendar day (or shorter time period as may be prescribed by the FDIC with the concurrence of the Attorney General) after the date of the order approving the merger transaction.

(cc) Tier 1 capital shall have the same meaning as provided in § 324.2 of this chapter.

(dd) Total assets shall have the same meaning as provided in § 324.401(g) of this chapter.

(ee) FDIC-supervised institution means any entity for which the FDIC is the appropriate Federal banking agency pursuant to section 3(q) of the FDI Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(q).

Unless stated otherwise, filings should be submitted to the appropriate FDIC office. Forms and instructions for submitting filings may be obtained from any FDIC regional director. If no form is prescribed, the filing should be in writing; be signed by the applicant or a duly authorized agent; and contain a concise statement of the action requested. For specific filing and content requirements, consult the appropriate subparts of this part. The FDIC may require the applicant to submit additional information.

For purposes of this part, and except as otherwise specifically provided, the FDIC begins computing the relevant period on the day after an event occurs (e.g., the day after a substantially complete filing is received by the FDIC or the day after publication begins) through the last day of the relevant period. When the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, the period runs until the end of the next business day.

Among other factors, the FDIC takes into account the record of performance under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of each applicant in considering a filing for approval of:

(a) The establishment of a domestic branch;

(b) The relocation of the bank's main office or a domestic branch;

(c) The relocation of an insured branch of a foreign bank;

(d) A transaction subject to the Bank Merger Act; and

(e) Deposit insurance.

The FDIC may examine or investigate and evaluate facts related to any filing under this chapter to the extent necessary to reach an informed decision and take any action necessary or appropriate under the circumstances.

(a) General. The public must be provided with prior notice of a filing to establish a domestic branch, relocate a domestic branch or the main office, relocate an insured branch of a foreign bank, engage in a merger transaction, initiate a change of control transaction, or request deposit insurance. The public has the right to comment on, or to protest, these types of proposed transactions during the relevant comment period. In order to fully apprise the public of this right, an applicant shall publish a public notice of its filing in a newspaper of general circulation. For specific publication requirements, consult subparts B (Deposit Insurance), C (Branches and Relocations), D (Merger Transactions), E (Change in Bank Control), and J (International Banking) of this part.

(b) Confirmation of publication. The applicant shall mail or otherwise deliver a copy of the newspaper notice to the appropriate FDIC office as part of its filing, or, if a copy is not available at the time of filing, promptly after publication.

(c) Content of notice. (1) The public notice referred to in paragraph (a) of this section shall consist of the following:

(i) In the case of an application for deposit insurance for a de novo depository institution, include the names of all organizers or incorporators. In the case of an application to establish a branch, include the location of the proposed branch or, in the case of an application to relocate a branch or main office, include the current and proposed address of the office. In the case of a merger application, include the names of all parties to the transaction. In the case of a notice of acquisition of control, include the name(s) of the acquiring parties. In the case of an application to relocate an insured branch of a foreign bank, include the current and proposed address of the branch.

(ii) Type of filing being made;

(iii) Name of the depository institution(s) that is the subject matter of the filing;

(iv) That the public may submit comments to the appropriate FDIC regional director;

(v) The address of the appropriate FDIC office where comments may be sent (the same location where the filing will be made);

(vi) The closing date of the public comment period as specified in the appropriate subpart of this part; and

(vii) That the nonconfidential portions of the application are on file in the appropriate FDIC office and are available for public inspection during regular business hours; photocopies of the nonconfidential portion of the application file will be made available upon request.

(2) The requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(iv) through (vii) of this section may be satisfied through use of the following notice:

(d) Multiple transactions. The FDIC may consider more than one transaction, or a series of transactions, to be a single filing for purposes of the publication requirements of this section. When publishing a single public notice for multiple transactions, the applicant shall explain in the public notice how the transactions are related. The closing date of the comment period shall be the closing date of the longest public comment period that applies to any of the related transactions.

(e) Joint public notices. For a transaction subject to public notice requirements by the FDIC and another federal or state banking authority, the FDIC will accept publication of a single joint notice containing all the information required by both the FDIC and the other federal agency or state banking authority, provided that the notice states that comments must be submitted to the appropriate FDIC office and, if applicable, the other federal or state banking authority.

(f) Where public notice is required, the FDIC may determine on a case-by-case basis that unusual circumstances surrounding a particular filing warrant modification of the publication requirements.

(a) General. For filings subject to a public notice requirement, any person may inspect or request a copy of the non-confidential portions of a filing (the public file) until 180 days following final disposition of a filing. Following the 180-day period, non-confidential portions of an application file will be made available in accordance with ' 303.8(c). The public file generally consists of portions of the filing, supporting data, supplementary information, and comments submitted by interested persons (if any) to the extent that the documents have not been afforded confidential treatment. To view or request photocopies of the public file, an oral or written request should be submitted to the appropriate FDIC office. The public file will be produced for review not more than one business day after receipt by the appropriate FDIC office of the request (either written or oral) to see the file. The FDIC may impose a fee for photocopying in accordance with § 309.5(f) of this chapter at the rates the FDIC publishes annually in the Federal Register.

(b) Confidential treatment. (1) The applicant may request that specific information be treated as confidential. The following information generally is considered confidential:

(i) Personal information, the release of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy;

(ii) Commercial or financial information, the disclosure of which could result in substantial competitive harm to the submitter; and

(iii) Information, the disclosure of which could seriously affect the financial condition of any depository institution.

(2) If an applicant requests confidential treatment for information that the FDIC does not consider to be confidential, the FDIC may include that information in the public file after notifying the applicant. On its own initiative, the FDIC may determine that certain information should be treated as confidential and withhold that information from the public file.

(c) FOIA requests. A written request for information withheld from the public file, or copies of the public file following closure of the file 180 days after final disposition, should be submitted pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and part 309 of this chapter to the FDIC, Attn: FOIA/Privacy Group, Legal Division, 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20429.

(a) Submission of comments. For filings subject to a public notice requirement, any person may submit comments to the appropriate FDIC regional director during the comment period.

(b) Comment period—(1) General. Consult appropriate subparts of this part for the comment period applicable to a particular filing.

(2) Extension. The FDIC may extend or reopen the comment period if:

(i) The applicant fails to file all required information on a timely basis to permit review by the public or makes a request for confidential treatment not granted by the FDIC that delays the public availability of that information;

(ii) Any person requesting an extension of time satisfactorily demonstrates to the FDIC that additional time is necessary to develop factual information that the FDIC determines may materially affect the application; or

(iii) The FDIC determines that other good cause exists.

(3) Solicitation of comments. Whenever appropriate, the appropriate regional director may solicit comments from any person or institution which might have an interest in or be affected by the pending filing.

(4) Applicant response. The FDIC will provide copies of all comments received to the applicant and may give the applicant an opportunity to respond.

(a) Matters covered. This section covers hearings and other proceedings in connection with filings and determinations for or by:

(1) Deposit insurance by a proposed new depository institution or operating non-insured institution;

(2) An insured state nonmember bank to establish a domestic branch or to relocate a main office or domestic branch;

(3) Relocation of an insured branch of a foreign bank;

(4)(i) Merger transaction which requires the FDIC's prior approval under the Bank Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c));

(ii) Except as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this § 303.10 shall not be applicable to any proposed merger transaction which the FDIC Board of Directors determines must be acted upon immediately to prevent the probable failure of one of the institutions involved, or must be handled with expeditious action due to an existing emergency condition, as permitted by the Bank Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)(6));

(5) Nullification of a decision on a filing; and

(6) Any other purpose or matter which the FDIC Board of Directors in its sole discretion deems appropriate.

(b) Hearing requests. (1) Any person may submit a written request for a hearing on a filing:

(i) To the appropriate regional director before the end of the comment period; or

(ii) To the appropriate regional director, pursuant to a notice to nullify a decision on a filing issued pursuant to § 303.11(g)(2)(i) or (ii).

(c) Action on a hearing request. The appropriate regional director, after consultation with the Legal Division, may grant or deny a request for a hearing and may limit the issues that he or she deems relevant or material. The FDIC generally grants a hearing request only if it determines that written submissions would be insufficient or that a hearing otherwise would be in the public interest.

(d) Denial of a hearing request. If the appropriate regional director, after consultation with the Legal Division, denies a hearing request, he or she shall notify the person requesting the hearing of the reason for the denial. A decision to deny a hearing request shall be a final agency determination and is not appealable.

(e) FDIC procedures prior to the hearing—(1) Notice of hearing. The FDIC shall issue a notice of hearing if it grants a request for a hearing or orders a hearing because it is in the public interest. The notice of hearing shall state the subject and date of the filing, the time and place of the hearing, and the issues to be addressed. The FDIC shall send a copy of the notice of hearing to the applicant, to the person requesting the hearing, and to anyone else requesting a copy.

(2) The presiding officer shall be the regional director or designee or such other person as may be named by the Board or the Director. The presiding officer is responsible for conducting the hearing and determining all procedural questions not governed by this section.

(f) Participation in the hearing. Any person who wishes to appear (participant) shall notify the appropriate regional director of his or her intent to participate in the hearing no later than 10 days from the date that the FDIC issues the Notice of Hearing. At least 5 days before the hearing, each participant shall submit to the appropriate regional director, as well as to the applicant and any other person as required by the FDIC, the names of witnesses, a statement describing the proposed testimony of each witness, and one copy of each exhibit the participant intends to present.

(g) Transcripts. The FDIC shall arrange for a hearing transcript. The person requesting the hearing and the applicant each shall bear the cost of one copy of the transcript for his or her use unless such cost is waived by the presiding officer and incurred by the FDIC.

(h) Conduct of the hearing—(1) Presentations. Subject to the rulings of the presiding officer, the applicant and participants may make opening and closing statements and present and examine witnesses, material, and data.

(2) Information submitted. Any person presenting material shall furnish one copy to the FDIC, one copy to the applicant, and one copy to each participant.

(3) Laws not applicable to hearings. The Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.), the Federal Rules of Evidence (28 U.S.C. Appendix), the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (28 U.S.C. Rule 1 et seq.), and the FDIC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (12 CFR part 308) do not govern hearings under this § 303.10.

(i) Closing the hearing record. At the applicant's or any participant's request, or at the FDIC's discretion, the FDIC may keep the hearing record open for up to 10 days following the FDIC's receipt of the transcript. The FDIC shall resume processing the filing after the record closes.

(j) Disposition and notice thereof. The presiding officer shall make a recommendation to the FDIC within 20 days following the date the hearing and record on the proceeding are closed. The FDIC shall notify the applicant and all participants of the final disposition of a filing and shall provide a statement of the reasons for the final disposition.

(k) Computation of time. In computing periods of time under this section, the provisions of § 308.12 of the FDIC's Rules of Practice and Procedure (12 CFR 308.12) shall apply.

(l) Informal proceedings. The FDIC may arrange for an informal proceeding with an applicant and other interested parties in connection with a filing, either upon receipt of a written request for such a meeting made during the comment period, or upon the FDIC's own initiative. No later than 10 days prior to an informal proceeding, the appropriate regional director shall notify the applicant and each person who requested a hearing or oral presentation of the date, time, and place of the proceeding. The proceeding may assume any form, including a meeting with FDIC representatives at which participants will be asked to present their views orally. The regional director may hold separate meetings with each of the participants.

(m) Authority retained by FDIC Board of Directors to modify procedures. The FDIC Board of Directors may delegate authority by resolution on a case-by-case basis to the presiding officer to adopt different procedures in individual matters and on such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors determines in its discretion. The resolution shall be made available for public inspection and copying in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Secretary Section under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2)).

(a) General procedures. The FDIC may approve, conditionally approve, deny, or not object to a filing after appropriate review and consideration of the record. The FDIC will promptly notify the applicant and any person who makes a written request of the final disposition of a filing. If the FDIC denies a filing, the FDIC will immediately notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial.

(b) Authority retained by FDIC Board of Directors to modify procedures. In acting on any filing under this part, the FDIC Board of Directors may by resolution adopt procedures which differ from those contained in this part when it deems it necessary or in the public interest to do so. The resolution shall be made available for public inspection and copying in the Office of the General Counsel, Executive Secretary Section under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(a)(2)).

(c) Expedited processing. (1) A filing submitted by an eligible depository institution as defined in § 303.2(r) will receive expedited processing as specified in the appropriate subparts of this part unless the FDIC determines to remove the filing from expedited processing for any of the reasons set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. Except for filings made pursuant to subpart J (International Banking), expedited processing will not be available for any filing that the appropriate regional director does not have delegated authority to approve.

(2) Removal of filing from expedited processing. The FDIC may remove a filing from expedited processing at any time prior to final disposition if:

(i) For filings subject to public notice under § 303.7, an adverse comment is received that warrants additional investigation or review;

(ii) For filings subject to evaluation of CRA performance under § 303.5, a CRA protest is received that warrants additional investigation or review, or the appropriate regional director determines that the filing presents a significant CRA or compliance concern;

(iii) For any filing, the appropriate regional director determines that the filing presents a significant supervisory concern, or raises a significant legal or policy issue; or

(iv) For any filing, the appropriate regional director determines that other good cause exists for removal.

(3) For purposes of this section, a significant CRA concern includes, but is not limited to, a determination by the appropriate regional director that, although a depository institution may have an institution-wide rating of satisfactory or better, a depository institution's CRA rating is less than satisfactory in a state or multi-state metropolitan statistical area, or a depository institution's CRA performance is less than satisfactory in a metropolitan statistical area as defined in 12 CFR 345.12 (MSA) or in the non-MSA portion of a state in which it seeks to expand through approval of an application for a deposit facility as defined in 12 U.S.C. 2902(3).

(4) If the FDIC determines that it is necessary to remove a filing from expedited processing pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the FDIC promptly will provide the applicant with a written explanation

(d) Multiple transactions. If the FDIC is considering related transactions, some or all of which have been granted expedited processing, then the longest processing time for any of the related transactions shall govern for purposes of approval.

(e) Abandonment of filing. A filing must contain all information set forth in the applicable subpart of this part. To the extent necessary to evaluate a filing, the FDIC may require an applicant to provide additional information. If information requested by the FDIC is not provided within the time period specified by the agency, the FDIC may deem the filing abandoned and shall provide written notification to the applicant and any interested parties that submitted comments to the FDIC that the file has been closed.

(f) Appeals and requests for reconsideration—(1) General. Appeal procedures for a denial of a change in bank control (subpart E), change in senior executive officer or board of directors (subpart F) or denial of an application pursuant to section 19 of the FDI Act (subpart L) are contained in 12 CFR part 308, subparts D, L, and M, respectively. For all other filings covered by this chapter for which appeal procedures are not provided by regulation or other written guidance, the procedures specified in paragraphs (f)(2) and (3) of this section shall apply. A decision to deny a request for a hearing is a final agency determination and is not appealable.

(2) Filing procedures. Within 15 days of receipt of notice from the FDIC that its filing has been denied, any applicant may file a request for reconsideration with the appropriate regional director.

(3) Content of filing. A request for reconsideration must contain the following information:

(i) A resolution of the board of directors of the applicant authorizing filing of the request if the applicant is a corporation, or a letter signed by the individual(s) filing the request if the applicant is not a corporation;

(ii) Relevant, substantive information that for good cause was not previously set forth in the filing; and

(iii) Specific reasons why the FDIC should reconsider its prior decision.

(4)-(5) [Reserved]

(6) Processing. The FDIC will notify the applicant whether reconsideration will be granted or denied within 15 days of receipt of a request for reconsideration. If a request for reconsideration is granted pursuant to § 303.11(f), the FDIC will notify the applicant of the final agency decision on such filing within 60 days of its receipt of the request for reconsideration.

(g) Nullification, withdrawal, revocation, amendment, and suspension of decisions on filings—(1) Grounds for action. Except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, the FDIC may nullify, withdraw, revoke, amend or suspend a decision on a filing if it becomes aware at anytime:

(i) Of any material misrepresentation or omission related to the filing or of any material change in circumstance that occurred prior to the consummation of the transaction or commencement of the activity authorized by the decision on the filing; or

(ii) That the decision on the filing is contrary to law or regulation or was granted due to clerical or administrative error.

(iii) Any person responsible for a material misrepresentation or omission in a filing or supporting materials may be subject to an enforcement action and other penalties, including criminal penalties provided in title 18 of the United States Code.

(2) Notice of intent and temporary order. (i) Except as provided in § 303.11(g)(2)(ii), before taking action under this § 303.11(g), the FDIC shall issue and serve on an applicant written notice of its intent to take such action. A notice of intent to act on a filing shall include:

(A) The reasons for the proposed action; and

(B) The date by which the applicant may file a written response with the FDIC.

(ii) The FDIC may issue a temporary order on a decision on a filing without providing an applicant a prior notice of intent if the FDIC determines that:

(A) It is necessary to reevaluate the impact of a change in circumstance prior to the consummation of the transaction or commencement of the activity authorized by the decision on the filing; or

(B) The activity authorized by the filing may pose a threat to the interests of the depository institution's depositors or may threaten to impair public confidence in the depository institution.

(iii) A temporary order shall provide the applicant with an opportunity to make a written response in accordance with § 303.11(g)(3) of this section.

(3) Response to notice of intent or temporary order. An applicant may file a written response to a notice of intent or a temporary order within 15 days from the date of service of the notice or temporary order. The written response should include:

(i) An explanation of why the proposed action or temporary order is not warranted; and

(ii)(A) Any other relevant information, mitigation circumstance, documentation, or other evidence in support of the applicant's position. An applicant may also request a hearing under § 303.10.

(B) Failure by an applicant to file a written response with the FDIC to a notice of intent or a temporary order within the specified time period, shall constitute a waiver of the opportunity to respond and shall constitute consent to a final order under this paragraph (g). The FDIC shall consider any such response, if filed in a timely manner, within 30 days of receiving the response.

(4) Effective date. All orders issued pursuant to this section shall become effective immediately upon issuance unless otherwise stated therein.

(a) The Board of Directors, of the FDIC (Board) may, for good cause and to the extent permitted by statute, waiver the applicability of any provision of this chapter.

(b) The provisions of this chapter may be suspended, revoked, amended or waived for good cause shown, in whole or in part, at any time by the Board, subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act and the provisions of this chapter. Any provision of the rules may be waived by the Board on its own motion or on petition if good cause thereof is shown.

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section, a depository institution shall be “engaged in the business of receiving deposits other than trust funds” only if it maintains one or more non-trust deposit accounts in the minimum aggregate amount of $500,000.

(b) An applicant for federal deposit insurance under section 5 of the FDI Act, 12 U.S.C. 1815(a), shall be deemed to be “engaged in the business of receiving deposits other than trust funds” from the date that the FDIC approves deposit insurance for the institution until one year after it opens for business.

(c) Any depository institution that fails to satisfy the minimum deposit standard specified in paragraph (a) of this section as of two consecutive call report dates (i.e., March 31st, June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st) shall be subject to a determination by the FDIC that the institution is not “engaged in the business of receiving deposits other than trust funds” and to termination of its insured status under section 8(p) of the FDI Act, 12 U.S.C. 1818(p). For purposes of this paragraph, the first three call report dates after the institution opens for business are excluded.

(d) Notwithstanding any failure by an insured depository institution to satisfy the minimum deposit standard in paragraph (a) of this section, the institution shall continue to be “engaged in the business of receiving deposits other than trust funds” for purposes of section 3 of the FDI Act until the institution's insured status is terminated by the FDIC pursuant to a proceeding under section 8(a) or section 8(p) of the FDI Act. 12 U.S.C. 1818(a) or 1818(p).

(a) For purposes of the definition of “State bank” in 12 U.S.C. 1813(a)(2) and this Chapter, a banking institution that is chartered as a limited liability company (LLC) under the law of any State is deemed to be “incorporated” under the law of the State, if

(1) The institution is not subject to automatic termination, dissolution, or suspension upon the happening of some event (including, e.g., the death, disability, bankruptcy, expulsion, or withdrawal of an owner of the institution), other than the passage of time;

(2) The exclusive authority to manage the institution is vested in a board of managers or directors that is elected or appointed by the owners, and that operates in substantially the same manner as, and has substantially the same rights, powers, privileges, duties, responsibilities, as a board of directors of a bank chartered as a corporation in the State;

(3) Neither State law, nor the institution's operating agreement, bylaws, or other organizational documents provide that an owner of the institution is liable for the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the institution in excess of the amount of the owner's investment; and

(4) Neither State law, nor the institution's operating agreement, bylaws, or other organizational documents require the consent of any other owner of the institution in order for an owner to transfer an ownership interest in the institution, including voting rights.

(b) For purposes of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and this chapter:

(1) Each of the terms “stockholder” and “shareholder” includes an owner of any interest in a depository institution chartered as an LLC, including a member or participant;

(2) The term “director” includes a manager or director of a depository institution chartered as an LLC, or other person who has, with respect to such a depository institution, authority substantially similar to that of a director of a corporation;

(3) The term “officer” includes an officer of a depository institution chartered as an LLC, or other person who has, with respect to such a depository institution, authority substantially similar to that of an officer of a corporation; and

(4) Each of the terms “voting stock,” “voting shares,” and “voting securities” includes ownership interests in a depository institution chartered as an LLC, as well as any certificates or other evidence of such ownership interests.