1. Section 229.2 defines the terms used in the regulation. For the
most part, terms are defined as they are in section 602 of the
Expedited Funds Availability Act (12 U.S.C. 4001). The Board has made a
number of changes for the sake of clarity, to conform the terminology
to that which is familiar to the banking industry, to define terms that
are not defined in the Act, and to carry out the purposes of the Act.
The Board also has incorporated by reference the definitions of the
Uniform Commercial Code where appropriate. Some of Regulation CC's
definitions are self-explanatory and therefore are not discussed in
this Commentary.
B. 229.2(a) Account
1. The Act defines account to mean "a demand deposit account or
similar transaction account at a depository institution." The
regulation defines account in terms of the definition of transaction
account in the Board's Regulation D (12 CFR part 204). The definition
of account in Regulation CC, however, excludes certain deposits, such
as nondocumentary obligations (see 12 CFR 204.2(a)(1)(vi)), that are
covered under the definition of transaction account in Regulation D.
The definition applies to accounts with general third party payment
powers but does not cover time deposits or savings deposits, including
money market deposit accounts, even though they may have limited third
party payment powers. The Board believes that it is appropriate to
exclude these accounts because of the reference to demand deposits in
the Act, which suggests that the Act is intended to apply only to
accounts that permit unlimited third party transfers.
2. The term account also differs from the definition of transaction
account in Regulation D because the term account refers to accounts
held at banks. Under subparts A and C, the term bank includes not only
any depository institution, as defined in the Act, but also any person
engaged in the business of banking, such as a Federal Reserve bank, a
Federal Home Loan bank, or a private banker that is not subject to
Regulation D. Thus, accounts at these institutions benefit from the
expeditious return requirements of subpart C.
3. Interbank deposits, including accounts of offices of domestic
banks or foreign banks located outside the United States, and direct
and indirect accounts of the United States Treasury (including Treasury
General Accounts and Treasury Tax and Loan Deposit Accounts) are exempt
from Regulation CC.
C. 229.2(b) Automated Clearinghouse (ACH)
1. The Board has defined automated clearinghouse as a facility that
processes debit and credit transfers under rules established by a
Federal Reserve bank operating circular governing automated
clearinghouse items or the rules of an ACH association. ACH credit
transfers are included in the definition of electronic payment.
2. The reference to "debit and credit transfers" does not
refer to the corresponding debit and credit entries that are part of
the same transaction, but to different kinds of ACH payments. In an ACH
credit transfer, the originator orders that its account be debited and
another account credited. In an ACH debit transfer, the originator,
with prior authorization, orders another account to be debited and the
originator's account to be credited.
3. A facility that handles only wire transfers (defined elsewhere)
is not an ACH.
D. 229.2(c) Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
1. ATM is not defined in the Act. The regulation defines an ATM as
an electronic device at which a natural person may make deposits to an
account by cash or check and perform other account transactions.
Point-of-sale terminals, machines that only dispense cash, night
depositories, and lobby deposit boxes are not ATMs within the meaning
of the definition, either because they do not accept deposits of cash
or checks (e.g., point-of-sale terminals and cash dispensers) or
because they only accept deposits (e.g., night
depositories
{{4-30-97 p.7947}}and lobby boxes) and cannot
perform other transactions. A lobby deposit box or similar receptacle
in which written payment orders or deposits may be placed is not an
ATM.
2. A facility may be an ATM within this definition even if it is a
branch under state or federal law, although an ATM is not a branch as
that term is used in this regulation.
E. 229.2(d) Available for Withdrawal
1. Under this definition, when funds become available for
withdrawal, the funds may be put to all uses for which the customer may
use actually and finally collected funds in the customer's account
under the customer's account agreement with the bank. Examples of such
uses include payment of checks drawn on the account, certification of
checks, electronic payments, and cash withdrawals. Funds are available
for these uses notwithstanding provisions of other law that may
restrict the use of uncollected funds (e.g., 18 U.S.C. 1004; 12 U.S.C.
331).
2. If a bank makes funds available to a customer for a specific
purpose (such as paying checks that would otherwise overdraw the
customer's account and be returned for insufficient funds) before the
funds must be made available under the bank's policy or this
regulation, it may nevertheless apply a hold consistent with this
regulation to those funds for other purposes (such as cash
withdrawals). For purposes of this regulation, funds are considered
available for withdrawal even though they are being held by the bank to
satisfy an obligation of the customer other than the customer's
potential liability for the return of the check. For example, a bank
does not violate its obligations under this subpart by holding funds to
satisfy a garnishment, tax levy, or court order restricting
disbursements from the account; or to satisfy the customer's liablility
arising from the certification of a check, sale of a cashier's or
teller's check, guaranty or acceptance of a check, or similar
transaction to be debited from the customer's account.
F. 229.2(e) Bank
1. The Act uses the term depository institution, which it defines
by reference to section 19(b)(1)(A)(i) through (vi) of the Federal
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)(i) through (vi)). This regulation
uses the term bank, a term that conforms to the usage the Board has
previously adopted in Regulation J. Bank is also used in articles 4 and
4A of the Uniform Commercial Code.
2. Bank is defined to include depository institutions, such as
commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and
credit unions as defined in the Act, and U.S. branches and agencies of
foreign banks. For purposes of subpart B, the term does not include
corporations organized under section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act, 12
U.S.C. 611--631 (Edge corporations) or corporations having an agreement
or undertaking with the Board under section 25 of the Federal Reserve
Act, 12 U.S.C. 601--604a (agreement corporations). For purposes of
subpart C, and in connection therewith, Subpart A, any Federal Reserve
bank, Federal Home Loan bank, or any other person engaged in the
business of banking is regarded as a bank. The phrase "any other
person engaged in the business of banking" is derived from U.C.C.
1--201(4), and is intended to cover entities that handle checks for
collection and payment, such as Edge and agreement corporations,
commercial lending companies under 12 U.S.C. 3101, certain industrial
banks, and private bankers, so that virtually all checks will be
covered by the same rules for forward collection and return, even
though they may not be covered by the requirements of subpart B. For
the purposes of subpart C, and in connection therewith, subpart A, the
term also may include a state or a unit of general local government to
the extent that it pays warrants or other drafts drawn directly on the
state or local government itself, and the warrants or other drafts are
sent to the state or local government for payment or collection.
3. Unless otherwise specified, the term bank includes all of a
bank's offices in the United States. The regulation does not cover
foreign offices of U.S. banks.
{{4-30-97 p.7948}}
G. 229.2(f) Banking Day and (g) Business Day
1. The Act defines business day as any day excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays. Legal holiday, however, is not defined,
and the variety of local holidays, together with the practice of some
banks to close midweek, makes the Act's definition difficult to apply.
The Board believes that two kinds of business days are relevant. First,
when determining the day when funds are deposited or when a bank must
perform certain actions (such as returning a check), the focus should
be on a day that the bank is actually open for business. Second, when
counting days for purposes of determining when funds must be available
under the regulation or when notice of nonpayment must be received by
the depositary bank, there would be confusion and uncertainty in trying
to follow the schedule of a particular bank, and there is less need to
identify a day when a particular bank is open. Most banks that act as
intermediaries (large correspondents and Federal Reserve banks) follow
the same holiday schedule. Accordingly, the regulation has two
definitions: Business day generally follows the standard Federal
Reserve bank holiday schedule (which is followed by most large banks),
and banking day is defined to mean that part of a business day on which
a bank is open for substantially all of its banking activities.
2. The definition of banking day corresponds to the definition of
banking day in U.C.C. 4--104(a)(3), except that a banking day is
defined in terms of a business day. Thus, if a bank is open on
Saturday, Saturday might be a banking day for purposes of the U.C.C.,
but it would not be a banking day for purposes of Regulation CC because
Saturday is never a business day under the regulation.
3. The definition of banking day is phrased in terms of when "an
office of a bank is open" to indicate that a bank may observe a
banking day on a per-branch basis. A deposit made at an ATM or
off-premise facility (such as a remote depository or a lock box) is
considered made at the branch holding the account into which the
deposit is made for the purpose of determining the day of deposit. All
other deposits are considered made at the branch at which the deposit
is received. For example, under § 229.19(a)(1), funds deposited at an
ATM are considered deposited at the time they are received at the ATM.
On a calendar day that is a banking day for the branch or other
location of the depositary bank at which the account is maintained, a
deposit received at an ATM before the ATM's cut-off hour is considered
deposited on that banking day, and a deposit received at an ATM after
the ATM's cut-off hour is considered deposited on the next banking day
of the branch or other location where the account is maintained. On a
calendar day that is not a banking day for the account-holding
location, all ATM deposits are considered deposited on that location's
next banking day. This rule for determining the day of deposit also
would apply to a deposit to an off-premise facility, such as a night
depository or lock box, which is considered deposited when removed from
the facility and available for processing under § 229.19(a)(3). If an
unstaffed facility, such as a night depository or lock box, is on
branch premises, the day of deposit is determined by the banking day at
the branch at which the deposit is received, whether or not it is the
branch at which the account is maintained.
H. 229.2(h) Cash
1. Cash means U.S. coins and currency. The phrase in the Act
"including Federal Reserve notes" has been deleted as
unnecessary. (See 31 U.S.C. 5103.)
I. 229.2(i) Cashier's Check
1. The regulation adds to the second item in the Act's definition
of cashier's check the phrase, "on behalf of the bank as drawer,"
to clarify that the term cashier's check is intended to cover only
checks that a bank draws on itself. The definition of cashier's check
includes checks provided to a customer of the bank in connection with
customer deposit account activity, such as account disbursements and
interest payments. The definition also includes checks acquired from a
bank by noncustomers for remittance purposes, such as certain loan
disbursement checks. Cashier's checks provided to customers or others
are often labeled as "cashier's check," "officer's check,"
or "official check." The definition excludes checks that a bank
draws on itself for other purposes, such as to pay
employees
{{10-31-95 p.7949}}and vendors, and
checks issued by the bank in connection with a payment service, such as
a payroll or a bill-paying service. Cashier's checks generally are sold
by banks to substitute the bank's credit for the customer's credit and
thereby enhance the collectibility of the checks. A check issued in
connection with a payment service generally is provided as a
convenience to the customer rather than as a guarantee of the check's
collectibility. In addition, such checks are often more difficult to
distinguish from other types of checks than are cashier's checks as
defined by this regulation.
J. 229.2(j) Certified Check
1. The Act defines a certified check as one to which a bank has
certified that the drawer's signature is genuine and that the bank has
set aside funds to pay the check. Under the Uniform Commercial Code,
certification of a check means the bank's signed agreement that it will
honor the check as presented (U.C.C. 3--409). The regulation defines
certified check to include both the Act's and U.C.C.'s definitions.
K. 229.2(k) Check
1. Check is defined in section 602(7) of the Act as a negotiable
demand draft drawn on or payable through an office of a depository
institution located in the United States, excluding noncash items. The
regulation includes six categories of instruments within the definition
of check.
2. The first category is negotiable demand drafts drawn on, or
payable through or at, an office of a bank. As the definition of bank
includes only offices located in the United States, this category is
limited to checks drawn on, or payable through or at, a banking office
located in the United States.
3. The Act treats drafts payable through a bank as checks, even
though under the U.C.C. the payable-through bank is a collecting bank
to make presentment and generally is not authorized to make payment
(U.C.C. 4--106(a)). The Act does not expressly address items that are
payable at a bank. This regulation treats both payable-through and
payable-at demand drafts as checks. The Board believes that treating
demand drafts payable at a bank as checks will not have a substantial
effect on the operations of payable-at banks--by far the largest
proportion of payable-at items are not negotiable demand drafts, but
time items, such as commercial paper, bonds, notes, bankers'
acceptances, and securities. These time items are not covered by the
requirements of the Act or this regulation. (The treatment of
payable-through drafts is discussed in greater detail in connection
with the definitions of local check and paying bank.)
4. The second category is checks drawn on Federal Reserve banks and
Federal Home Loan banks. Principal and interest payments on federal
debt instruments often are paid with checks drawn on a Federal Reserve
bank as fiscal agent of the United States, and these fiscal agency
checks are indistinguishable from other checks drawn on Federal Reserve
banks. (See 31 CFR Part 355.) Federal Reserve bank checks also are used
by some banks as substitutes for cashier's or teller's checks.
Similarly, savings and loan associations often use checks drawn on
Federal Home Loan banks as teller's checks. The definition of check
includes checks drawn on Federal Home Loan banks and Federal Reserve
banks because in many cases they are the functional equivalent of
Treasury checks or teller's checks.
5. The third and fourth categories of instrument included in the
definition of check refer to government checks. The Act refers to
checks drawn on the U.S. Treasury, even though these instruments are
not drawn on or payable through an office of a depository institution,
and checks drawn by state and local governments. The Act also gives the
Board authority to define functionally equivalent instruments as
depository checks.{1}
{1Section 602(11) of the Act (12 U.S.C. 4001(11)) defines
"depository check" as "any cashier's check, certified check,
teller's check, and any other functionally equivalent instrument as
determined by the Board."}
Thus, the Act is intended to apply to instruments other than those
that meet the strict definition of check in section 602(7) of the Act.
Checks and warrants drawn by states and local governments often are
used for the purposes of making unemployment compensation
{{10-31-95 p.7950}}payments and other
payments that are important to the recipients. Consequently, the Board
has expressly defined check to include drafts drawn on the U.S.
Treasury and drafts or warrants drawn by a state or a unit of general
local government on itself.
6. The fifth category of instrument included in the definition of
check is U.S. Postal Service money orders. These instruments are
defined as checks because they often are used as a substitute for
checks by consumers, even though money orders are not negotiable under
Postal Service regulations. The Board has not provided specific rules
for other types of money orders; these instruments generally are drawn
on or payable through or payable at banks and are treated as checks on
that basis.
7. The sixth and final category of instrument included in the
definition of check is traveler's checks drawn on or payable through or
at a bank. Traveler's check is defined in paragraph (hh) of this
section.
8. Finally, for the purposes of subpart C, and in connection
therewith, subpart A, the definition of check includes nonnegotiable
demand drafts because these instruments are often handled as cash items
in the forward collection process.
9. The definition of check does not include an instrument payable
in a foreign currency (i.e., other than in United States money as
defined in 31 U.S.C. 5101) or a credit card draft (i.e., a sales draft
used by a merchant or a draft generated by a bank as a result of a cash
advance), or an ACH debit transfer. The definition of check includes a
check that a bank may supply to a customer as a means of accessing a
credit line without the use of a credit card.
L. 229.2(l) [Reserved]
M. 229.2(m) Check Processing Region
1. The Act defines this term as "the geographic area served by a
Federal Reserve bank check processing center or such larger area as the
Board may prescribe by regulations." The Board has defined check
processing region as the territory served by one of the 46 Federal
Reserve head offices, branches, or regional check processing centers.
Appendix A includes a list of routing numbers arranged by Federal
Reserve bank office. The definition of check processing region is key
to determining whether a check is considered local or nonlocal.
N. 229.2(n) Consumer Account
1. Consumer account is defined as an account used primarily for
personal, family, or household purposes. An account that does not meet
the definition of consumer account is a nonconsumer account. Both
consumer and nonconsumer accounts are subject to the requirements of
this regulation, including the requirement that funds be made available
according to specific schedules and that the bank make specified
disclosures of its availability policies. Section 229.18(b) (notices at
branch locations) and § 229.18(e) (notice of changes in policy) apply
only to consumer accounts. Section 229.13(g)(2) (one-time exception
notice) and § 229.19(d) (use of calculated availability) apply only
to nonconsumer accounts.
O. 229.2(o) Depositary Bank
1. The regulation uses the term depositary bank rather than the
term receiving depository institution. Receiving depository institution
is a term unique to the Act, while depositary bank is the term used in
article 4 of the U.C.C. and Regulation J.
2. A depositary bank includes the bank in which the check is first
deposited. If a foreign office of a U.S. or foreign bank sends checks
to its U.S. correspondent bank for forward collection, the U.S.
correspondent is the depositary bank because foreign offices of banks
are not included in the definition of bank.
3. If a customer deposits a check in its account at a bank, the
customer's bank is the depositary bank with respect to the check. For
example, if a person deposits a check into an account at a
nonproprietary ATM, the bank holding the account into which the check
is deposited is the depositary bank even though another bank may
service the nonproprietary ATM and send the check for collection.
(Under § 229.35 the depositary bank may agree
{{4-30-97 p.7951}}with the bank
servicing the nonproprietary ATM to have the servicing bank place its
own indorsement on the check as the depositary bank. For the purposes
of subpart C, the bank applying its indorsement as the depositary bank
indorsement on the check is the depositary bank.)
4. For purposes of subpart B, a bank may act as both the depositary
bank and the paying bank with respect to a check, if the check is
payable by the bank in which it was deposited, or if the check is
payable by a nonbank payor and payable through or at the bank in which
it was deposited. A bank also is considered a depositary bank with
respect to checks it receives as payee. For example, a bank is a
depositary bank with respect to checks it receives for loan repayment,
even though these checks are not deposited in an account at the bank.
Because these checks would not be "deposited to accounts," they
would not be subject to the availability or disclosure requirements of
Subpart B.
P. 229.2(p) Electronic Payment
1. Electronic payment is defined to mean a wire transfer as defined
in § 229.2(11) or an ACH credit transfer. The Act requires that funds
deposited by wire transfer be made available for withdrawal on the
business day following deposit but expressly leaves the definition of
the term wire transfer to the Board. Because ACH credit transfers
frequently involve important consumer payments, such as wages, the
regulation requires that funds deposited by ACH credit transfers be
available for withdrawal on the business day following deposit.
2. ACH debit transfers, even though they may be transmitted
electronically, are not defined as electronic payments because the
receiver of an ACH debit transfer has the right to return the transfer,
which would reverse the credit given to the originator. Thus, ACH debit
transfers are more like checks than wire transfers. Further, bank
customers that receive funds by originating ACH debit transfers are
primarily large corporations, which generally would be able to
negotiate with their banks for prompt availability.
3. A point-of-sale transaction would not be considered an
electronic payment unless the transaction was effected by means of an
ACH credit transfer or wire transfer.
Q. 229.2(q) Forward Collection
1. Forward collection is defined to mean the process by which a
bank sends a check to the paying bank for payment as distinguished from
the process by which the check is returned after nonpayment. Noncash
collections are not included in the term forward collection.
R. 229.2(r) Local Check
1. Local check is defined as a check payable by or at a local
paying bank, or, in the case of nonbank payors, payable through a local
paying bank. A check payable by a local bank but payable through a
nonlocal bank is a local check. Conversely, a check payable through a
local bank but payable by a nonlocal bank is a nonlocal check. Where
two banks are named on a check and neither is designated as a
payable-through bank, the check is considered payable by either bank
and may be considered local or nonlocal depending on the bank to which
it is sent for payment. Generally, the depositary bank may rely on the
routing number to determine whether a check is local or nonlocal.
Appendix A includes a list of routing numbers arranged by Federal
Reserve bank office to assist persons in determining whether or not
such a check is local. If, however, a check is payable by one bank but
payable through another bank, the routing number appearing on the check
will be that of the payable-through bank, not the paying bank. Many
credit union share drafts and certain other checks payable by banks are
payable through other banks. In such cases, the routing number cannot
be relied on to determine whether the check is local or nonlocal. For
payable-through checks that meet the labeling requirements of
§ 229.36(e), the depositary bank may rely on the four-digit routing
symbol of the paying bank that is printed on the face of the check as
required by that section, e.g., in the title plate, but not on the
first four
{{4-30-97 p.7952}}digits of the
payable-through bank's routing number printed in magnetic ink in the
MICR line or in fractional form, to determine whether the check is
local or nonlocal.
S. 229.2(s) Local Paying Bank
1. "Local paying bank" is defined as a paying bank located in
the same check-processing region as the branch, contractual branch, or
proprietary ATM of the depositary bank. For example, a check deposited
at a contractual branch would be deemed local or nonlocal based on the
location of the contractual branch with respect to the location of the
paying bank.
2. Examples.
a. If a check that is payable by a bank that is located in the same
check processing region as the depositary bank is payable through a
bank located in another check processing region, the check is
considered local or nonlocal depending on the location of the bank by
which it is payable even if the check is sent to the nonlocal bank for
collection.
b. The location of the depositary bank is determined by the
physical location of the branch or proprietary ATM at which a check is
deposited. If the branch of the depositary bank located in one check
processing region sends a check to the depositary bank's central
facility in another check processing region, and the central facility
is in the same check processing region as the paying bank, the check is
still considered nonlocal. (See Commentary on definition of paying
bank.)
T. 229.2(t) Merger Transaction
1. Merger transaction is a term used in subparts B and C in
connection with transition rules for merged banks. It encompasses
mergers, consolidations, and purchase/assumption transactions of the
type that usually must be approved under the Bank Merger Act (12 U.S.C.
1828(c)) or similar statutes; it does not encompass acquisitions of a
bank under the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1842) where an
acquired bank maintains its separate corporate existence.
2. Regulation CC adopts a one-year transition period for banks that
are party to a merger transaction during which the merged banks will
continue to be treated as separate entities. (See §§ 229.19(g) and
229.40.)
U. 229.2(u) Noncash Item
1. The Act defines the term check to exclude noncash items, and
defines noncash items to include checks to which another document is
attached, checks accompanied by special instructions, or any similar
item classified as a noncash item in the Board's regulation. To qualify
as a noncash item, an item must be handled as such and may not be
handled as a cash item by the depositary bank.
2. The regulation's definition of noncash item also includes checks
that consist of more than a single thickness of paper (except checks
that qualify for handling by automated check processing equipment, e.g.
those placed in carrier envelopes) and checks that have not been
preprinted or post-encoded in magnetic ink with the paying bank's
routing number, as well as checks with documents attached or
accompanied by special instructions. (In the context of this
definition, paying bank refers to the paying bank as defined for
purposes of Subpart C.)
3. A check that has been preprinted or post-encoded with a routing
number that has been retired (e.g., because of a merger) for at least
three years is a noncash item unless the current number is added for
processing purposes by placing the check in an encoded carrier envelope
or adding a strip to the check.
4. Checks that are accompanied by special instructions are also
noncash items. For example, a person concerned about whether a check
will be paid may request the depositary bank to send a check for
collection as a noncash item with an instruction to the paying bank to
notify the depositary bank promptly when the check is paid or
dishonored.
{{4-30-97 p.7952.01}} 5. For purposes of forward collection, a copy of a check is neither
a check nor a noncash item, but may be treated as either. For purposes
of return, a copy is generally a notice in lieu of return. (See
§§ 229.30(f) and 229.31(f).)
{{10-31-95 p.7953}}
V. 229.2(v) [Reserved]
W. 229.2(w) [Reserved]
X. 229.2(x) [Reserved]
Y. 229.2(y) [Reserved]
Z. 229.2(z) Paying Bank
1. The regulation uses this term in lieu of the Act's
"originating depository institution." For purposes of subpart B,
the term paying bank includes the payor bank, the payable-at bank to
which a check is sent, or, if the check is payable by a nonbank payor,
the bank through which the check is payable and to which it is sent for
payment or collection. For purposes of subpart C, the term includes the
payable-through bank and the bank whose routing number appears on the
check regardless of whether the check is payable by a different bank,
provided that the check is sent for payment or collection to the
payable-through bank or the bank whose routing number appears on the
check.
2. Under §§ 229.30 and 229.36(a), a bank designated as a
payable-through bank or payable-at bank and to which the check is sent
for payment or collection is responsible for the expedited return of
checks and notice of nonpayment requirements of subpart C. The
payable-through or payable-at bank may contract with the payor with
respect to its liability in discharging these responsibilities. The
Board believes that the Act makes a clear connection between
availability and the time it takes for checks to be cleared and
returned. Allowing the payable-through bank additional time to forward
checks to the payor and await return or pay instructions from the payor
would delay the return of these checks, increasing the risks to
depositary banks. Subpart C places on payable-through and payable-at
banks the requirements of expeditious return based on the time the
payable-through or payable-at bank received the check for forward
collection.
3. If a check is sent for forward collection based on the routing
number, the bank associated with the routing number is a paying bank
for the purposes of subpart C requirements, including notice of
nonpayment, even if the check is not drawn by a customer of that bank
or the check is fraudulent.
4. The phrase "and to which [the check] is sent for payment or
collection" includes sending not only the physical check, but
information regarding the check under a truncation arrangement.
5. Federal Reserve banks and Federal Home Loan banks are also
paying banks under all subparts of the regulation with respect to
checks payable by them, even though such banks are not defined as banks
for purposes of subpart B.