Letters

Application of Regulation Best Interest to Bank Dealers

Summary

SIFMA provided comments to the MSRB regarding Notice 2021-06 (the “Notice”), which proposes an amendment to MSRB Rule G-19 that would require bank dealers to comply with Securities Exchange Act Rule 15/-1 (“Regulation Best Interest”) when making recommendations of securities transactions or investment strategies involving municipal securities to retail customers.

SIFMA supports the proposed amendment to extend Regulation Best Interest to bank dealers, as defined in the Notice. Although our members do not normally conduct retail activity through their affiliated banks that would implicate this rule, we believe that regulatory parity among regulated entities, which this amendment achieves, is a worthwhile goal.

PDF

Submitted To

MSRB

Submitted By

SIFMA

Date

2

June

2021

Excerpt

June 2, 2021

Ronald W. Smith
Corporate Secretary
Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
1300 I Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

Re: MSRB Notice 2021-06 – Application of Regulation Best Interest to Bank Dealers

Dear Mr. Smith,

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”)1 appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s (“MSRB”) Notice 2021-06 (the “Notice”),2 which proposes an amendment to MSRB Rule G-19 that would require bank dealers to comply with Securities Exchange Act Rule 15/-1 (“Regulation Best Interest”) when making recommendations of securities transactions or investment strategies involving municipal securities to retail customers. 3 SIFMA supports the proposed amendment to extend Regulation Best Interest to bank dealers, as defined in the Notice. Although our members do not normally conduct retail activity through their affiliated banks that would implicate this rule, we believe that regulatory parity among regulated entities, which this amendment achieves, is a worthwhile goal.

If any questions regarding the foregoing, please contact me at (212) 313-1130 or [email protected].

Sincerely,
Leslie M. Norwood
Managing Director and Associate General Counsel