TO:	CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER
SUBJECT:	FDIC Finalizes Fair Housing Regulation (Part 338 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations)

The FDIC Board of Directors has finalized its rule on fair housing, closely aligning it with the fair housing regulations of the other Federal bank and thrift regulatory agencies. The rule reduces the burden on insured state nonmember banks in the areas of advertising, poster and recordkeeping requirements.

The final rule, which is attached, incorporates the following changes:

• Eliminates all references to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Part 109.

• Adds the option of using HUD's "Equal Housing Opportunity" legend or logotype in all written and visual advertisements or displaying HUD's fair housing poster in lieu of the FDIC's "Equal Housing Lender" poster, logotype or legend. Insured state nonmember banks will also have the option of using the "Equal Opportunity Lender" slogan in lieu of "Equal Housing Lender" in oral advertisements.

• Eliminates all recordkeeping and reporting requirements that exceed those required by Regulations B and C. The final rule cross-references Regulations B and C.

• Retains as an option the collection and reporting of loan-denial reasons pursuant to Regulation C.

• Eliminates the "Notes" and "Questions and Answers" that accompany Part 338.