The Survey of Small Business and Farm
Lending (SSBFL) comprises of the following three reports: * Survey
of Terms of Bank Lending to Farmers (FR 2028B), * Prime Rate
Supplement of Survey of Terms of Lending (FR 2028S), and * Small
Business Lending Survey (FR 2028D). The SSBFL (previously the
Survey of Terms of Lending) collects unique information concerning
price and certain nonprice terms of loans made to businesses and
farmers each quarter (February, May, August, and November). The FR
2028B collects detailed data on individual loans funded during the
first full business week of the mid-month of each quarter and the
FR 2028S collects the prime interest rate for each day of the
survey week from FR 2028B respondents. The FR 2028D provides
focused and enhanced information on small business lending
including rates, terms, credit availability, and reasons for their
changes. The FR 2028D collects quarterly average quantitative data
on terms of small business loans and qualitative information on
changes and the reasons for changes in the terms of lending. From
these sample SSBFL data, estimates of the terms of business loans
and farm loans extended are constructed. The aggregate estimates
for business loans are published in the Federal Reserve Bank of
Kansas City’s quarterly release, Small Business Lending Survey, and
aggregate estimates for farm loans are published in the statistical
release, Agricultural Finance Databook.
The estimated total annual
burden for the FR 2028 reports is 3,888 hours and would increase to
6,276 hours with the proposed revisions. Based on initial feedback
received from senior officers at the six banks that provided
comments on the FR 2028D survey instrument in 2017, the estimated
average hours per response for the proposed FR 2028D was calculated
at 1.5 hours. However, feedback from respondents after the
implementation of the survey indicated that the average hours per
response was 6 hours. The estimated burden for the revised FR 2028D
survey is 3 hours. As a result, the net reporting burden would
increase 2,388 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.