Number: RS21680
Title: Affiliates in Banking, Finance, and Commerce: Development and Regulatory Background
Authors: William D. Jackson, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: The proliferation of corporate affiliates in banking, finance, and commerce has figured in discussion of several policy issues, including how to protect against (1) losses incurred by affiliated companies; (2) anticompetitive "tying" of bank and nonbank financial services; and (3) misuse of financial data of consumers. The Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act in 1999 greatly increased affiliations. Sharing of consumer financial information among affiliates, one issue in reauthorization of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, requires considerable attention to affiliations. Proposed Community Reinvestment Act regulations involve affiliates of banks. Comptroller of the Currency efforts to bring subsidiaries of national banks under federal banking law, preempting than state laws, also involve affiliations. This report outlines the nature and evolution of affiliates, primarily from a regulatory perspective. It provides background for discussing financial issues involving corporate affiliates.
Pages: 6
Date: April 27, 2005