Each depositor insured to at least $250,000 per insured bank

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is issuing the attached staff guidance to help financial institutions comply with Part 332 of the FDIC Rules and Regulations, "Privacy of Consumer Financial Information." The staff guidance, developed with the other federal financial institution regulatory agencies, is presented as answers to "frequently asked questions" that represent clarifications and interpretations of the final rule governing the privacy of consumer financial information.

This information supplements the FDIC Privacy Rule Handbook (see FIL-3-2001, dated January 22, 2001). We encourage you to use these resources, along with the "FFIEC Compliance Examination Procedures for Part 332" (see FIL-46-2001, dated May 17, 2001), to develop and maintain a sound compliance management program for consumer privacy.

The FDIC may periodically issue further guidance on the privacy rule, and invites comments or questions for the agency's consideration in preparing future guidance. Please direct correspondence to Ken Baebel, Assistant Director, FDIC, Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room PA1730-7048, Washington, DC 20429.

All of the documents mentioned in this correspondence are available on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov. For more information, please contact the FDIC Division of Compliance and Consumer Affairs regional office responsible for supervising your institution.