As of May 17, 2012, this guidance applies to federal savings associations in addition to national banks.*

On January 16, 2001, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (committee) published a set of three documents that initiates a second round of consultation with the industry to develop proposals to revise the 1988 Capital Accord. Though a summary of the large consultative package is attached here, the entire set of the committee's papers is available on the Basel Committee's Web site at http://www.bis.org/publ/index.html and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC’s) Web site at http://www.occ.gov.

National banks are encouraged to review and comment on the committee's proposed revisions. This second consultative package differs substantially from the committee's first consultative paper, "A New Capital Adequacy Framework," which was published in June 1999 and is also available on the committee's Web site. Because of the substantial increase in the length and detail of the committee's proposal, we have included a list of questions, which may assist banks in focusing their written comments.

The committee will accept comments on the revised consultative papers through May 31, 2001. Comments may be sent via e-mail to BCBS.Capital@bis.org or to:

Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
Bank for International Settlements
CH-4002, Basel
Switzerland

Copies of comments may be sent to the OCC via e-mail to Basel.Comments@occ.treas.gov or to:

Basel 2001 Capital Proposal
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Mail Stop 3-6
250 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20019

If, after the committee's consultation, the U.S. federal banking agencies (the OCC, Federal Reserve Board, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) concur with the merits of the committee's proposals, they would propose to alter their capital regulations using the agencies' rulemaking process.

For further information regarding this bulletin, contact Roger Tufts, senior economic advisor, Capital Policy Division, at (202) 874-5070; Tommy Snow, director, Capital Policy Division, at (202) 874-5070, or Tanya Smith, senior international advisor, International Banking and Finance, at (202) 874-4730.

Jonathan L. Fiechter
Senior Deputy Comptroller for International and Economic Affairs

*References in this guidance to national banks or banks generally should be read to include federal savings associations (FSA).  If statutes, regulations, or other OCC guidance is referenced herein, please consult those sources to determine applicability to FSAs.  If you have questions about how to apply this guidance, please contact your OCC supervisory office.

Related Links

• Basel Committee Summary