CIP0022Supporting StatementFinal2015

Supporting Statement

Futures Commission Merchants and Introducing Brokers Customer Identification Program

OMB Control Number 1506-0022

1. Circumstances Necessitating Collection of Information.

The statute generally referred to as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” Titles I and II of Public Law 91-508, as amended, codified at 12 U.S.C. 1829b, 12 U.S.C. 1951-1959, and 31 U.S.C. 5311-5332, authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, inter alia, to require financial institutions to keep records and file reports that are determined to have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, and regulatory matters, or in the conduct of intelligence or counter-intelligence activities, to protect against international terrorism, and to implement counter-money laundering programs and compliance procedures.¹ Regulations implementing Title II of the Bank Secrecy Act appear at 31 CFR Chapter X. The authority of the Secretary to administer the Bank Secrecy Act has been delegated to the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act added a new subsection (l) to 31 U.S.C. 5318 of the Bank Secrecy Act. Pursuant to section 326, FinCEN issued joint regulations with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that require futures commission merchants and introducing brokers to establish a written customer identification program and to maintain records related to verifying the identity of customers. See 31 CFR 1026.100 and 31 CFR 1026.220. Under the regulations, the customer identification program must include reasonable procedures for 1) verifying the identity of any person seeking to open an account, to the extent reasonable and practicable; 2) maintaining records of the information used to verify the person’s identity, including name, address, and other identifying information; and 3) determining whether the person appears on any lists of known or suspected terrorists or terrorist organizations provided to the financial institution by any government agency.

2. Method of Collection and Use of Data.

The information will be used to verify the identity of persons seeking to open accounts at futures commission merchants and introducing brokers in an effort to prevent and detect money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In addition to deterring money laundering and terrorist financing, the establishment of comprehensive procedures for verifying the identity of customers should reduce the growing incidence of fraud and identity theft involving new accounts

3. Use of Improved Information Technology to Reduce Burden.

Since the collection of information involves establishing compliance procedures, financial institutions may use any method of improved information technology that meets the requirements of the regulation.

4. Efforts to Identify Duplication.

There is no similar information available; thus there is no duplication.

5. Methods to Minimize Burden on Small Businesses or other Small Entities.

The information requirements will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

6. Consequences to the Federal Government of Not Collecting the Information.

The Federal Government requires reporting of this information only upon request.

7. Special Circumstances Requiring Data Collection Inconsistent with Guidelines.

The information collection requires retention of customer records for five years (31 CFR 1010.430) to permit use by law enforcement agencies. In other respects, the collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines set forth in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)

8. Consultation with Individuals Outside of the Agency on Availability of Data. Frequency of Collection, Clarity of Instructions and Forms, and Data Elements.

On July 17, 2015, FinCEN issued a notice and request for comment concerning the Customer Identification Program for Futures Commission Merchants and Introducing Brokers (80 FR 42607). We received no comments in response to the Federal Register notice.

9. Payments and Gifts.

No payments or gifts were made to respondents.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality of Responses.

Information collected under 31 U.S.C. 5318(l) may be made available to appropriate law enforcement agencies and supervisory agencies.

11. Justification of Sensitive Questions.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature in the collection of information. Any personally identifiable information collected under the Bank Secrecy Act is strictly controlled as outlined in FinCEN’s Systems of Records Notice http://www.fincen.gov/foia/files/FinCEN_79_FR_20969.pdf.

12. Estimated Annual Hourly Burden.

Frequency: As required.

Estimated number of respondents: 1,324.

Estimated annual responses: 438,244 (331 per respondent).

Estimated annual burden: 14,608 hours (Recordkeeping average of 2 minutes per customer).

13. Estimated Annual Cost to Respondents for Hour Burdens.

Not required.

14. Estimated Annual Cost to the Federal Government.

Not required.

15. Reason for Change in Burden.

Reduction in the number of covered futures commission merchants and introducing brokers in commodities.

16. Plans for Tabulation, Statistical Analysis, and Publication.

This collection of information will not be published.

17. Request not to Display Expiration Date of OMB Control Number.

FinCEN requests that it not be required to display the expiration date, in order to avoid amending the regulation every three years.

18. Exceptions.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement on OMB Form 83-1.

1 Language expanding the scope of the Bank Secrecy Act to intelligence or counter-intelligence activities to protect against international terrorism was added by Section 358 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), P.L. 107-56.