Notice2025-13736

Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Amend the DTC Settlement Service Guide Relating to Wire Instructions

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Published
July 22, 2025

Issuing agencies

Securities and Exchange Commission

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 138 (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34550-34552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13736]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-103495; File No. SR-DTC-2025-011]


Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Depository Trust Company; 
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To 
Amend the DTC Settlement Service Guide Relating to Wire Instructions

July 17, 2025.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(``Act'') \1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that 
on July 11, 2025, The Depository Trust Company (``DTC'') filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the proposed rule 
change as described in Items I, II and III below, which Items have been 
prepared by the clearing agency. DTC filed the proposed rule change 
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \3\ and Rule 19b-4(f)(4) 
thereunder.\4\ The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit 
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(4).
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I. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the 
Proposed Rule Change

    The proposed rule change would amend the DTC Settlement Service 
Guide (``Settlement Guide'') \5\ to update the messaging format 
instructions that are used for DTC settlement payments, Participants 
Fund contributions and Settlement Progress Payments (``SPPs'').\6\ The 
current instructions are specific to the Fedwire Application Interface 
Manual (``FAIM'') format \7\ used by the Federal Reserve. However, on 
July 14, 2025, the Federal Reserve will retire FAIM and switch to the 
ISO 20022 \8\ message format.\9\ As such, DTC must also switch and, in 
turn, update such instructions in the Settlement Guide.\10\
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    \5\ Available at <a href="http://www.dtcc.com/-/media/Files/Downloads/legal/service-guides/Settlement.pdf">www.dtcc.com/-/media/Files/Downloads/legal/service-guides/Settlement.pdf</a>. The Settlement Guide is a Procedure 
of DTC. Pursuant to the Rules, the term ``Procedures'' means the 
Procedures, service guides, and regulations of DTC adopted pursuant 
to Rule 27 (Procedures), as amended from time to time. Rule 1 
(Definitions; Governing Law), Section 1, infra note 10. Procedures 
are binding on DTC and each Participant in the same manner that they 
are bound by the Rules. Rule 27, infra note 10.
    \6\ SPPs are funds that may be wired to DTC to increase a 
Participant's Collateral Value for its Collateral Monitor and reduce 
a Participant's Net Debit Balance.
    \7\ The FAIM format is the proprietary message format 
historically used by the Federal Reserve Banks for Fedwire.
    \8\ ISO refers to the International Organization for 
Standardization which is a network of national standards bodies that 
develop international standards. ISO publishes standards for a broad 
range of industries.
    \9\ Fedwire[supreg] Funds Service ISO[supreg] 20022 
Implementation Center, available at <a href="http://www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/wires/iso-20022-implementation-center?utm_source=home-051425&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=iso">www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/wires/iso-20022-implementation-center?utm_source=home-051425&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=iso</a>.
    \10\ Terms not defined herein are defined in the Rules, By-Laws 
and Organization Certificate of DTC (the ``Rules''), available at 
<a href="http://www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures">www.dtcc.com/legal/rules-and-procedures</a>.
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II. Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the clearing agency included 
statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule 
change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule 
change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places 
specified in Item IV below. The clearing agency has prepared summaries, 
set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant 
aspects of such statements.

(A) Clearing Agency's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis 
for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The proposed rule change would amend the Settlement Guide to update 
the messaging format instructions that are used for DTC settlement 
payments, Participants Fund contributions and SPPs. The current 
instructions are specific to the FAIM format used by the Federal 
Reserve. However, on July 14, 2025, the Federal Reserve will retire 
FAIM and switch to the ISO 20022 message format. As such, DTC must also 
switch and, in turn, update such instructions in the Settlement Guide.
Background
    DTC requires Settling Banks and Participants to make certain 
payments via the Fedwire Funds Service (``Fedwire''). These payments 
include (i) end-of-day balances of Settling Banks when traditional 
methods for end-of-day settlement using the National Settlement Service 
(``NSS'') are not

[[Page 34551]]

feasible,\11\ (ii) initial or voluntary deposits to the DTC 
Participants Fund, and (iii) submission of SPPs by Participants. 
Currently, the Settlement Guide specifies that these payments should be 
made via Fedwire and provides FAIM-based wire instructions for each 
case.
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    \11\ DTC utilizes NSS, a payment system operated by the Federal 
Reserve Banks, to effect end-of-day net money settlement. Settlement 
Guide, supra note 5 at 19-20.
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    With the migration from FAIM to ISO 20022, the FAIM-based wire 
instructions in the Settlement Guide must change. However, to provide 
greater flexibility in the event of future changes, DTC proposes to 
remove specific formatting details related to wire instructions from 
the Settlement Guide and instead publish such details separately.
    DTC believes publishing formatting details for wire instructions 
separately is appropriate because wire instruction standards are not 
controlled by DTC but rather are standards set by the Federal Reserve. 
Therefore, maintaining the detailed formatting instructions outside of 
the Settlement Guide will allow for real-time updates, either as a 
result of regulatory changes (e.g., the current switch by the Federal 
Reserve from FAIM to ISO 20022) or technical changes to DTC specific 
information (e.g., address, account numbers, etc.).
Proposed Rule Changes
Settlement Payments
    If NSS is unavailable, or if a Settling Bank is otherwise unable to 
satisfy a settlement debit position via NSS, DTC requires the Settling 
Bank to wire the amount due to DTC's account at the Federal Reserve via 
Fedwire. The Settlement Guide under the section titled ``Settlement 
Payment for Net-Net Debit Balances'' provides FAIM-based guidelines on 
how to complete the wire.
    Under the proposed rule change, DTC would remove the outdated wire 
instruction information and, instead, include a statement that the 
Settling Bank should wire funds in accordance with guidance updated and 
published by DTC from time to time.
Initial Participants Fund Deposit or a Voluntary Deposit
    The text of the Settlement Guide currently contains FAIM-based wire 
instructions for new Participants to make an initial deposit to the 
Participants Fund or make a voluntary deposit.
    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, DTC would remove the outdated 
wire instruction information. DTC would maintain an existing statement 
that funds should conform to Fedwire standards, and add a statement 
that the Participant should prepare and submit a wire instruction in 
accordance with guidance updated and published by DTC from time to 
time.
SPPs
    SPPs are funds wired by a Participant to DTC to increase the amount 
of collateral the Participant has available to support the completion 
of transactions at DTC. FAIM-based wire instructions on submitting an 
SPP are included in a table in the Settlement Guide, under a section 
entitled ``Submitting an SPP.''
    Pursuant to the proposed rule change, DTC would delete the table, 
but would retain an existing statement that SPP instructions should 
conform to the Fedwire formatting standards. DTC would add a statement 
to the effect that the Participant should prepare and submit a wire 
instruction in accordance with guidance updated and published by DTC 
from time to time.
Implementation Timeframe
    The proposed rule change will be implemented on July 14, 2025.
2. Statutory Basis
    Section 17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act, requires, that the Rules be 
designed to, among other things, promote the prompt and accurate 
clearance and settlement of securities transactions.\12\ DTC believes 
that the proposed changes to remove wire instruction information from 
the Settlement Guide, as described above, would promote the prompt and 
accurate clearance and settlement of securities transactions by DTC.
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    \12\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(F).
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    As described above, wire instruction requirements are not standards 
controlled by DTC but rather are controlled by the Federal Reserve. 
Maintaining wire instruction guidance outside of the Settlement Guide 
would allow for real-time updates to wire instruction guidance either 
as a result of regulatory changes or changes to DTC specific 
information. This approach would help ensure that DTC may react more 
timely to update and publish wire instruction guidance for Participants 
relating to payments that support their settlement activity. As such, 
DTC believes the proposed rule changes are consistent with Section 
17A(b)(3)(F) of the Act.\13\
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    \13\ Id.
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(B) Clearing Agency's Statement on Burden on Competition

    DTC does not believe the proposed rule changes to remove the wire 
instructions from the Settlement Guide would impose a burden on 
competition.\14\ As described above, the proposed changes are designed 
to enable DTC to respond more timely to changes in wire instruction 
formats and guidance, either as a result of regulatory changes or 
changes to DTC's information. These proposed changes would not inhibit 
access to DTC's services or disadvantage or favor any particular 
Participant in relationship to another Participant. Accordingly, DTC 
believes that these proposed changes would not impose any burden or 
have any impact on competition.
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    \14\ 15 U.S.C. 78q-1(b)(3)(I).
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(C) Clearing Agency's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change 
Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    DTC has not received or solicited any written comments relating to 
this proposal. If any written comments are received, they will be 
publicly filed as an Exhibit 2 to this filing, as required by Form 19b-
4 and the General Instructions thereto.
    Persons submitting comments are cautioned that, according to 
Section IV (Solicitation of Comments) of the Exhibit 1A in the General 
Instructions to Form 19b-4, the Commission does not edit personal 
identifying information from comment submissions. Commenters should 
submit only information that they wish to make available publicly, 
including their name, email address, and any other identifying 
information.
    All prospective commenters should follow the Commission's 
instructions on how to submit comments, available at <a href="http://www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/how-submit-comment">www.sec.gov/rules-regulations/how-submit-comment</a>. General questions regarding the rule 
filing process or logistical questions regarding this filing should be 
directed to the Main Office of the Commission's Division of Trading and 
Markets at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e3a3c2f2a2720292f202a232f3c252b3a3d0e3d2b2d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1a5a3b0b5b8bfb6b0bfb5bcb0a3bab4a5a291a2b4b2ffb6bea7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or 202-551-5777.
    DTC reserves the right not to respond to any comments received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change, and Timing for 
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change has become effective pursuant to Section 
19(b)(3)(A) \15\ of the Act and paragraph

[[Page 34552]]

(f) of Rule 19b-4 thereunder.\16\ At any time within 60 days of the 
filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission summarily may 
temporarily suspend such rule change if it appears to the Commission 
that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, 
for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the 
purposes of the Act. If the Commission takes such action, the 
Commission will institute proceedings to determine whether the proposed 
rule change should be approved or disapproved.
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    \15\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \16\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f).
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IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and 
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule 
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of 
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

    <bullet> Use the Commission's internet comment form (<a href="http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>); or
    <bullet> Send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e2c2b323b733d3133333b302a2d1e2d3b3d70393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b595e474e06484446464e455f586b584e48054c445d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Please include 
file number SR-DTC-2025-011 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

    <bullet> Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities 
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549.

All submissions should refer to file number SR-DTC-2025-011. This file 
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help 
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, 
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on 
the Commission's internet website (<a href="https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml">https://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml</a>). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all 
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are 
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to 
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other 
than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the 
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and 
printing in the Commission's Public Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20549 on official business days between the hours of 10 
a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of the filing also will be available for 
inspection and copying at the principal office of DTC and on DTCC's 
website (<a href="https://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx">https://dtcc.com/legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx</a>). Do not include 
personal identifiable information in submissions; you should submit 
only information that you wish to make available publicly. We may 
redact in part or withhold entirely from publication submitted material 
that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All submissions 
should refer to file number SR-DTC-2025-011 and should be submitted on 
or before August 12, 2025.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, 
pursuant to delegated authority.\17\
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    \17\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Sherry R. Haywood,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-13736 Filed 7-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P


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