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Credit Card Activities Manual

Detailed Table of Contents

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SectionDescriptionPage
I.Introduction 32k
 About the Manual09
 
II.Credit Cards – General Overview 75k
 What is a Credit Card10
 Industry History10
 Card Types and Attributes11
  General Purpose Credit Cards12
   Standard Credit Card Programs12
   Premium Credit Card Programs12
   Affinity Credit Card Programs12
   Co-branded Credit Card Programs12
   Corporate Credit Card Programs13
   Home Equity Credit Card Programs13
   Cash-Secured Credit Card Programs13
  Proprietary Credit Cards13
  Cash-Access Credit Cards14
  Other Types of Bankcards14
 
III.Identifying Involvement in Credit Card Activities 77k
 Credit Card Specialty Banks (CCSBs)15
 Rent-a-BINs15
 Acquiring Bank16
 Agent17
 CEBA Credit Card Banks17
 Securitizing Bank17
 Other17
 Resources17
 
IV.Credit Card Program Development 83k
 Planning19
  Risk Assessment20
  Subprime Lending20
  Management Expertise and Staffing Needs20
  Laws, Regulations, and Other Guidance20
  Committees21
  Policies and Procedures21
  Information System Needs22
  Audits and Internal Controls23
  Testing and Product Roll Out23
 
V.Marketing and Acquisition 136k
 Marketing Channels24
  Conventional Mail Delivery24
  Online Methods24
  Outbound Telemarketing25
  Television25
  Print Ads25
  Special Event / In-Person Promotions25
  "Take One" Promotions25
 Marketing and Acquisition Methods26
  Pre-Approved Solicitations26
  Application Strategies27
  Portfolio Purchases28
 Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACT Act)28
 Balance Transfer and Promotional Rate Marketing28
 Credit Availability and Card Utility29
 Adverse Selection29
 Product Differentiation30
 Testing30
 Marketing Indices31
 Segmentation Methods31
  Product Line31
  Geographic Location31
  Vintage32
  Acquisition Method and Marketing Channel Method32
  Other Methods and Combinations33
 Summary of Examination Goals – Marketing and Acquisition33
 
VI.Purchased Portfolios and Relationships 87k
 Portfolio Acquisitions34
 Purchased Credit Card Relationships35
 Accounting35
 Capital Limitations for PCCRs36
  Valuation Requirements37
  Fair Value Limitation37
  Tier 1 Capital Limitation37
  Tier 1 Capital Sub-limit37
 Loan Loss Allowances for Purchased Portfolios37
 Summary of Examination Goals – Purchased Portfolios and Relationships39
 
VII.Underwriting and Loan Approval Process 132k
 General Underwriting Considerations40
 Program-Specific Underwriting Considerations41
  Affinity and Co-Branding Programs41
  Private Label Programs42
  Corporate Card Programs42
  Subprime Credit Card Programs42
  Home Equity Credit Card Programs43
  Cash Secured Credit Card Lending44
  Purchased Portfolios44
 Comparison of Automated and Judgmental Processes45
 Credit Bureau Preferences45
 Post-Screening46
 FACT Act46
 Multiple Accounts46
 Initial Credit Line Assignments47
 Policy and Underwriting Exceptions47
 Indices and Reporting48
 Summary of Examination Goals – Underwriting and Loan Approval Process49
 
VIII.Scoring and Modeling 173k
 Types of Scoring52
  FICO Scores52
  VantageScore54
  Other Scores54
   Application Scoring54
   Attrition Scoring54
   Bankruptcy Scoring55
   Behavior Scoring55
   Collection Scoring55
   Fraud Detection Scoring55
   Payment Projection Scoring55
   Recovery Scoring56
   Response Scoring56
   Revenue Scoring56
 Dual-Scoring Matrix56
 Credit Scoring Model Development56
 Basel Considerations Regarding Credit Scoring58
 Validation58
 Cut-off Score61
 Validation Charts and Calibration61
 Overrides62
 Credit Scoring Model Limitations63
 Automated Valuation Models64
 Summary of Examination Goals – Scoring and Modeling64
 
IX.Portfolio Management 329k
 Risk Management66
 Account Management Guidance67
 Account Management67
  Scoring69
  Minimum Payments and Negative Amortization69
  Payment Deferral Programs72
  Pre-Payment Programs72
  Credit Line Management73
   Initial Credit Line Assignment73
   Credit Limit Increases73
   Credit Limit Decreases74
   Multiple Credit Lines75
  Authorizations75
  Renewals76
  Customer Service76
   Consumer Complaints and Litigation76
   Closures and Retention76
  Collections (General)77
  Over-limit Accounts78
  Delinquent Accounts80
   Partial Payments81
   Non-Accrual82
   Re-aging82
  Re-pricing84
  Repayment Plans85
   Workout Programs85
   Temporary Hardship Plans86
   Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) Plans86
  Settlement Agreements86
  Charge-offs87
  Post-Mortem88
   Recoveries88
  Fraud89
 Reporting and Tracking89
  Segmenting90
  Dollars and Units90
  Levels, Trends, and Performance91
  Key Indices91
  Projected Versus Actual Performance91
  Peer Comparisons91
  Ownership and Clarifying Information91
  Common Reports91
 Summary of Examination Goals – Portfolio Management94
 
X.Transaction Testing 75k
 Reasons for Conducting Transaction Testing96
 Testing Methods96
  Judgmental96
  Statistical97
 Sampling Concepts97
  Population Selection97
  Sample Design and Selection98
  Sample Review98
  Evaluation and Interpretation of Results99
 Summary of Examination Goals – Transaction Testing99
 
XI.Adverse Classifications 66k
 Delinquency Thresholds100
 Examiner Discretion101
  Subprime Loans102
  Mutually Exclusive Figures102
 Special Mention103
 Summary of Examination Goals – Adverse Classifications103
 
XII.Allowances for Loan Losses 209k
 Accounting Guidance105
 Regulatory Guidance106
 Comparison to Budgeted Losses107
 Expectations for Written Allowance Policies108
 Methodologies108
  Roll-Rate Models108
  Average Charge-Off Method111
  Vintage Analysis111
  Regression Analysis112
  Portfolio Liquidation Method (or Payment Turnover Method)112
 Considerations to Accompany the Methodology112
  Ratio Analysis113
  Layering114
  Ownership Interests114
  Settlements114
 Purification and Allowances for Interest and Fees114
 Unallocated Allowances115
 Allowances for Unfunded Loan Commitments115
 Validation116
 Summary of Examination Goals – Allowances for Loan Losses116
 
XIII.Asset Quality Considerations 52k
 Summary of Examination Goals – Asset Quality Considerations119
 
XIV.Credit Card Issuing Rent-a-BINs 167k
 Rent-a-BIN Models and Structures120
 Responsibilities of Bank Management121
 Risks122
  Legal, Compliance, and Reputation Risks122
  Counterparty Risk123
  Funding Risk123
  Credit Risk124
  Operational Risk124
 Risk-Mitigating Controls124
  Policies124
  Due Diligence125
  In-House Expertise125
  Contracts126
   Financial Reporting126
   Covenants and Parameters127
   Access to Information127
   Materials and Program Control127
   Settlement Exposure Reserves (Collateral Protection)128
   Pricing129
   Ability to Terminate Contract129
   Audit129
 Contingency Planning130
 Ability to Cease Authorizations130
 Risk Measurement Systems131
 Partner's Other Relationships with the Bank131
 Capital131
 Accounting132
 Summary of Examination Goals – Credit Card Issuing Rent-a-BINs132
 
XV.Liquidity 99k
 Similarities to Other Banks134
 Funds Management Policies134
 Contingency Funding Plan135
 Cash Flows for Credit Card Lending135
 Inter-Company Relationships136
 Brokered and Rate Sensitive Deposits137
 Securitization137
 Asset Management139
 Funding Concentrations139
 Rent-a-BINs139
 Summary of Examination Goals - Liquidity140
 
XVI.Earnings 115k
 Pricing141
 Interest and Fee Income142
 Noninterest Income143
 Interest Expense143
 Noninterest Expense143
 FAS 91144
 Competition144
 Growth Environment145
 Management Reporting, Budgeting, and Strategic Planning145
 Capital Support145
 Quality of Earnings146
 Key Financial Indices Concerning Profitability146
 Consideration of Securitizations and Issuing Rent-a-BINs146
 Summary of Examination Goals - Earnings147
 
XVII.Sensitivity to Market Risk 97k
 Joint Agency Policy Statement on Interest Rate Risk149
 IRR Considerations Specific to Credit Card Lending149
  Consumer Behavior151
  Minimum Payment Considerations151
  Contractual Interest Rate Ceilings and Floors for Adjustable-Rate Items151
  Securitization Considerations151
  Hedging Strategies and Products152
 Summary of Examination Goals – Sensitivity to Market Risk152
 
XVIII.Capital 149k
 Basel Capital Accords153
  Basel II Framework153
  IRB Systems for Retail Credit Risk154
  Revisions to Basel I155
 Assets155
 Subprime Credit Card Loans156
 Earnings and Dividends157
 Funds Management157
 Securitization158
  Capital Treatment of Recourse Arrangements, Direct Credit Substitutes, and Residual Interests158
   Low-Level Recourse Exposure Rule159
  Implicit Recourse159
  Accrued Interest Receivable (AIR)159
 Contingent Liabilities160
  Reserving for Rebate Programs160
 Quality of Management160
 Risk Diversification161
 Operating Procedures and Controls161
 Capital Models161
 Quantitative Measurements161
 Summary of Examination Goals – Capital162
 
XIX.Merchant Processing 278k
 Transaction Process Overview164
 Risks Associated with Merchant Processing166
  Credit Risk167
  Transaction Risk167
  Liquidity Risk167
  Compliance Risk168
  Strategic Risk168
  Reputation Risk168
 Management168
 Capital169
 Merchant Underwriting170
  Merchant Review and Approval170
   Principals171
   MATCH171
   On-Site Inspection171
   Products and Marketing171
  Merchant Agreements173
  Periodic Review173
  Internet Merchants173
 Pricing174
  Pricing Components174
   Discount Rate174
   Interchange Fees175
   Processing Fees175
   ISO/MSP Fees175
   Agent Bank Commission175
   Other Income175
  Monitoring Pricing175
  Profitability Analysis176
 Fraud Monitoring176
  Fraud Detection Methods176
  Fraud Investigations177
 Charge-back Processing178
  Charge-back Transaction Flow178
  Charge-back Monitoring178
  Risk Mitigation for Charge-backs179
  Accounting for Charge-backs179
 Acquiring Rent-a-BINs179
 Third Parties180
  Contractual Considerations182
  Association Requirements Regarding Third Parties182
  Agent Banks183
  Loans to Third-Party Organizations184
  Contingency Planning184
  Cardholder Information184
 Correspondence with the Associations184
 Summary of Examination Goals – Merchant Processing185
 
XX.Third-party Relationships 125k
 Outsourcing186
 Risk Considerations187
 Due Diligence189
 Contracts189
 Oversight Program191
 Contingency Planning191
 Information Security / Safeguarding192
 Outsourcing to Foreign Service Providers192
 Outsourcing to Affiliated Entities192
 Association Requirements192
 Examination and Investigation of Unaffiliated Third-Party Servicers193
 Affinity, Co-branding, and Corporate Card Arrangements193
 Retail Partners194
 Summary of Examination Goals – Third-Party Relationships194
 
XXI.Glossary 162k
 
XXII.Appendices
  A. Credit Card Pre-Examination Request List 261k209
  B. Merchant Processing Examination Tools 137k226
    
Product and company names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. For example, Fair Isaac, FICO, and FICO Expansion are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation. Mention of product and company names within this manual does not represent or constitute endorsement of any such product or company. 

Last Updated: April 30, 2007