Emily Dent, CPA | Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC
In June of 2019, the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau jointly announced changes to Regulation CC, the rules around the Expedited Funds Availability Act of 1987 (EFA Act). While certain provisions in the amended regulation went into effect later the same year, depository institutions have until July 1, 2020 to comply with others. Banks and credit unions should make understanding and preparing to meet the new requirements a priority in order to ensure a smooth transition and full compliance.
Besides extending EFA Act coverage to certain American territories in the Pacific, the wide-ranging amendment implements inflation-adjusted dollar amounts in a number of the Act’s provisions as required every five years by the Dodd-Frank Act.
The most significant changes for most financial institutions are the dollar adjustments cited in a few key sections of the updated regulation:
- Section 229.10, Next day availability of funds – as of the new regulations’ effective date, mandates that $225 of non-next day check deposits must be available to depositors the next business day, up from $200.
- Section 229.12(d), Time period adjustments for withdrawal by cash or similar means – Financial institutions may extend the period before funds are available by one business day for withdrawal in cash or similar means (including electronic payments, cashier’s check, teller’s check, and certified check). If an institution does utilize an extended time period, $450 (up from the current $400) must be available for depositors to withdraw by 5pm on the day funds would have been available under the bank’s normal policy, (without an extended period). The choice to utilize an extended cash withdrawal timeframe must be included in the bank’s funds availability disclosure.
- Section 229.13, Exception holds – The amended regulation continues to provide distinct exception holding period requirements for
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- new accounts (the first 30 days after the account is opened; accounts opened by customers with other accounts established for longer than 30 days are not considered new),
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- large deposits, now defined as aggregate deposits exceeding $5,525 rather than the current threshold of $5,000, including deposits from multiple accounts, and
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- repeated overdrafts, which include accounts with a negative balance or one that would have been negative had all presented checks and other charges been paid
- on six or more banking days in the prior six-month period, or
- repeated overdrafts, which include accounts with a negative balance or one that would have been negative had all presented checks and other charges been paid
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- for more than $5,525 (up from $5,000) on at least two banking days in the prior six-month period.
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Institutions that fail to fully comply with the updated Regulation CC will soon face higher potential civil liability:
- Additional amounts allowed by the court in individual actions, above actual damage sustained, may be up to $1,100, up from $1,000.
- Additional court-allowed amounts in a class action totaling up to $552,500 or 1% of the institution’s net worth, whichever is less (up from $500,000).
Existing civil liability provisions related to actual damages, additional court-allowed amounts in class actions, and the cost of court and attorney’s fees remain in place as well.
To ensure your bank is ready for the new standards, leaders should prepare a checklist and monitor progress as the effective date draws near. Your to-do list should include the following steps at a minimum:
- Send customer notices. Since the changes are beneficial to banking customers, notices can go out 30 days after the effective date.
- Update disclosures. If the bank will provide notice to customers through updated disclosure statements, be sure to highlight what is changing.
- Review and update branch signs as necessary.
- Update hold notices, policies, and procedures in accordance with the amendments.
- Update systems that handle relevant processes and record-keeping.
- Revise training materials and provide updated materials to affected employees.
- Notify the board about mandated changes and your preparations to comply.
Complying with the updated Regulation CC should not prove too burdensome. However, it is imperative for banks, credit unions and other depository institutions to take a proactive stance in preparing for compliance with all expedited funds availability and other provisions in Regulation CC. For help ensuring a smooth transition and preparing your bank to meet other emerging challenges, contact the knowledgeable advisors at Mauldin & Jenkins.