Frequently Asked Questions Related to Regulatory Relief Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), FINRA is providing temporary relief for member firms from rules and requirements in the Frequently Asked Questions below. The relief provided does not extend beyond the identified rules and requirements. FINRA will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether additional guidance and relief may be appropriate. As coronavirus-related risks decrease, member firms should expect to return to meeting any regulatory obligations for which relief has been provided. When appropriate, FINRA will publish a Regulatory Notice announcing a termination date for the regulatory relief that will provide member firms with time to make necessary operational adjustments.
On This Page
FINRA has issued a new FAQ that addresses a question regarding the hosting of virtual business entertainment events or meetings that has been asked frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advertising Regulation
Q. Our firm's registered representatives are unable to meet with their customers face-to-face because they are working from home or due to COVID-19 related restrictions, and instead are meeting with clients via a live video or audio conferencing platform. How should our firm supervise these meetings? Is the firm required to keep records of these live video meetings?
A: Members must supervise registered representatives' live meetings with customers via video or audio conferencing platforms in a manner reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulation and FINRA rules.
Unless required to record pursuant to FINRA Rule 3170 (Tape Recording of Registered Persons by Certain Firms) or otherwise, members generally are not required to record live video or audio conferences with customers. However, if a registered representative during the video or audio conference uses the chat or instant messaging feature of the platform or presents slides or other written (including electronic) communications, the member must keep records of these written communications in accordance with Securities Exchange Act Rule 17a-4 and FINRA Rules 3110.09 (Supervision) and 4511 (General Requirements), and their content must be consistent with applicable standards such as FINRA Rule 2210 (Communications with the Public) and 3110(b) (Supervision). Depending on the nature and number of persons attending the video meeting, these written communications may be correspondence, retail communications or institutional communications, and must be supervised as such. See FINRA Rules 2210(b) and 3110(b)(4).
Moreover, if a member chooses to record live video or audio conversations with customers, the member may be required to produce the recording in connection with a regulatory request. If a firm permits public appearances through video or audio conferencing platforms, the member must ensure compliance with FINRA Rule 2210(f).
Added April 16, 2020
Q: What steps should members consider regarding communicating with customers?
A: As discussed in Regulatory Notice 20-08, FINRA understands that members may experience significantly increased customer call volumes or online account usage during a pandemic (e.g., due to significant market movements), which may cause temporary operational challenges. Members are encouraged to review their BCPs regarding communicating with customers and ensuring customer access to funds and securities during a significant business disruption.
If registered representatives are unavailable to service their customers, members are encouraged to promptly place a notice on their websites indicating to affected customers who they may contact concerning the execution of trades, their accounts, and access to funds or securities. Supervisory control policies and procedures should be considered that will mitigate risks that may arise due to the reduced ability to communicate with customers, inability to rely on mail or other disruption to the existing controls over communications with customers.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: Is my firm required to file non-promotional communications with FINRA?
A: No. FINRA Rule 2210(c)(7) (Communications with the Public) excludes from Rule 2210’s filing requirement retail communications that do not make any financial or investment recommendation or otherwise promote a product or service of the member. For example, a member is not required to file with FINRA a retail communication regarding COVID-19 that does not make any financial or investment recommendation or promote a product or service of the member.
Additional information on exclusions from Rule 2210’s filing requirement are included in FINRA Advertising Regulation Department’s dedicated FAQs. Members with additional questions may also contact the FINRA Advertising Regulation Department ((240) 386-4500 or [email protected]).
Added March 24, 2020
MORE ABOUT ADVERTISING REGULATION
Annual Assessment
In 2021, Small Firms Will Not Be Permitted To Spread Out Payment of the Annual Assessment
Q: Will FINRA permit small firms additional time to pay the Gross Income Assessment and the Personnel Assessment (together referred to as the “annual assessment”) in 2021?
A: No. The COVID-19 relief that was offered in 2020 has not been extended for 2021. Invoices for the FINRA annual assessment are distributed in April of each year and payment is due on receipt.
Added April 8, 2021
Q: It is possible my firm will terminate its membership of FINRA after the annual assessment is invoiced. Will my firm still be responsible for paying the annual assessment for 2021?
A: Yes. Firms that exit FINRA membership in the second and third quarters of 2021 will be eligible for a prorated refund of the Gross Income Assessment, unless the BDW is filed in the fourth quarter, in which case no refund is available. Personnel Assessments are neither refunded nor prorated.
Added April 8, 2021
Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Q: My firm performed its annual independent AML testing in April 2019, but I’m concerned about the firm performing its next annual testing by April 2020.
A: FINRA is reminding member firms that they have until December 31, 2020 to perform the annual independent testing of the member’s AML compliance program. FINRA Rule 3310’s reference to a “calendar-year basis” means that, for most member firms, the independent testing must be performed at least once during each calendar year (i.e., between January 1 and December 31). This provides member firms with the ability to choose when to perform their independent testing within the calendar year, unless circumstances warrant more frequent testing.
Member firms that do not execute transactions for customers or otherwise hold customer accounts or do not act as introducing brokers with respect to customer accounts (e.g., engage solely in proprietary trading or conduct business only with other broker-dealers), may perform independent testing every two years (on a calendar-year basis) rather than on an annual basis. If a member firm qualifies for the two-year testing exception, and the last year in which an independent test was performed was in 2018, the member firm has until December 31, 2020 to perform its next independent testing.
Added March 24, 2020
MORE ABOUT Anti-Money Laundering
Best Execution
Q: Do the current circumstances during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including volatile market conditions, change my firm’s obligations to provide best execution under FINRA Rule 5310?
A: Under Rule 5310, firms must exercise “reasonable diligence” to ascertain the best market for the security and buy or sell in that market so that the resultant price to the customer is as favorable as possible under prevailing market conditions. Evaluating a broker-dealer’s satisfaction of its duty of best execution necessarily requires a “facts and circumstances” analysis. While broker-dealers are not relieved of their best execution obligations in these circumstances, FINRA notes that the reasonable diligence required for best execution is assessed in the context of the characteristics of the security and market conditions, including price, volatility, relative liquidity, and pressure on available communications.
Added March 24, 2020
Broker-Dealer Registration
Q: Is a member required to update Form U4 or Form BR for temporary relocations during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: No. As discussed in Regulatory Notice 20-08, FINRA is temporarily suspending the requirement to maintain updated Form U4 information regarding office of employment address for registered persons who temporarily relocate due to COVID-19. In addition, members are not required to submit branch office applications on Form BR for any newly opened temporary office locations or space-sharing arrangements established as a result of recent events. As coronavirus-related risks decrease, members should expect to return to meeting any regulatory obligations for which relief has been provided. When appropriate, FINRA will publish a Regulatory Notice announcing a termination date for the regulatory relief that will provide members with time to make necessary operational adjustments.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: Is a member required to notify FINRA if it relocates personnel to a temporary location that is not currently registered as a branch office or identified as a regular non-branch location?
A: Yes, on a best efforts basis. As discussed in Regulatory Notice 20-08, if a member relocates personnel to a temporary location that is not currently registered as a branch office or identified as a regular non-branch location, the firm should use its best efforts to provide written notification to its FINRA Risk Monitoring Analyst as soon as possible after establishing a new temporary office or space-sharing arrangement, to include at a minimum the office address, the names of each member involved, the names of registered personnel, a contact telephone number and, if possible, the expected duration. The notification should also indicate whether the member’s personnel will be sharing space with another entity, and if so, the type of business in which it is engaged (e.g., an affiliated investment adviser or an organization in the securities business). FINRA reminds members that while a pandemic may create exigent circumstances that result in emergency relocations, firms should take into account the risks associated with sharing office space with another entity (e.g., customer privacy, information security or recordkeeping considerations) and take steps to mitigate the risks during the emergency relocation. FINRA does not expect to receive written notification regarding each associated person’s location (e.g., the person’s home residence if working from home) or if another person (e.g., a spouse or another immediate family member) is also teleworking in the same residence as the associated person.
In addition, in instances where a non-branch location or branch office has been relocated, or customer calls are being rerouted to another office, members must exercise diligence in validating the identity of the customer (e.g., when accepting orders and request for disbursement of funds) as well as provide heightened supervision of the affected customer accounts.
Added March 24, 2020
MORE ABOUT Broker-Dealer Registration
Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
Q: Is a member required to notify FINRA if it activates its BCP?
A: Members are encouraged to do so. A member may conduct its own analysis to determine whether a pandemic or any other event constitutes an emergency or significant business disruption for the firm and, thereby, causes the firm to activate its BCP.
Members are encouraged to contact their assigned FINRA Risk Monitoring Analyst to discuss the activation and implementation of their BCPs, as well as to discuss any issues they may be facing, including the disruption of business operations, and whether disruptions are solved or ongoing.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: How can a member register and update its emergency contact persons with FINRA?
A: FINRA Rule 4370 requires each member to provide (and promptly update upon any material change) to FINRA via electronic process or other means as FINRA may specify, prescribed emergency contact information, including the designation of two emergency contact persons, both of whom must be associated persons. Members may register and update their emergency contact persons through the FINRA Contact System (FCS). Visit FINRA’s FCS webpage to access the system.
This requirement is intended to ensure that FINRA has a reliable means of contacting each member in the event of an emergency. One contact must be a member of senior management and a registered principal of the member and the second contact, if not a registered principal, must be a member of senior management who has knowledge of the firm’s business operations. For a firm that has only one associated person (e.g., a sole proprietorship without any other associated persons), the second emergency contact person may be an individual, either registered with another firm or nonregistered, who has knowledge of the member’s business operations, such as the firm’s attorney, accountant or clearing firm contact.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: How can members communicate with FINRA?
A: Members are required to provide FINRA with emergency contact information pursuant to Rule 4370. Members are encouraged to review their emergency contacts to ensure that FINRA has a reliable means of contacting each member.
If a member or another person is unable to contact FINRA through its usual contact due to a pandemic or other significant business disruption, please call FINRA’s Call Center at (301) 590-6500. This number will be rerouted in the event of a business disruption at FINRA's primary call center, so that the member or associated person will be able to reach an operator or receive recorded instructions.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: Are members and their associated persons permitted to use remote offices or telework arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Yes. As discussed in Regulatory Notice 20-08, in an effort to mitigate the impacts of a pandemic, a member may consider employing methods such as social distancing, travel restrictions, revised sick leave policies, special pandemic leave time, or specialized seating plans for densely populated floors or buildings. 1 These methods may also involve remote offices or telework arrangements (e.g., working from home or a backup or recovery location) for a broad range of employees.
FINRA understands that the use of remote offices or telework arrangements during a pandemic may necessitate a member to implement other ways to supervise its associated persons who change their work locations or arrangements for the duration of the pandemic. In such cases, FINRA would expect a member to establish and maintain a supervisory system that is reasonably designed to supervise the activities of each associated person while working from an alternative or remote location during the pandemic, and to document any changes to its current written supervisory procedures. With respect to oversight obligations, a member’s scheduled on-site inspections of branch offices may need to be temporarily postponed during the pandemic, with FINRA understanding that the ability to complete this annual regulatory obligation in 2020 may need to be re-evaluated depending on the duration and severity of the pandemic.
In addition, a member may find it helpful to test broad use of remote offices or telework arrangements by associated persons prior to activating its BCP, including regarding the ability to connect to critical firm systems, the adequacy of remote connectivity via residential internet access networks and any potential need to secure premium or dedicated service for connectivity.
Added March 24, 2020
Q: Is FINRA providing any extensions for regulatory filings and responses to FINRA inquiries, matters and investigations?
A: Contact us. As discussed in Regulatory Notice 20-08, members may have difficulty making timely regulatory filings and responding to regulatory inquiries or investigations. Unless FINRA has otherwise provided relief to all member firms (e.g., in another FAQ or other Regulatory Notice), members that require extra time to respond to open inquiries, investigations or upcoming filings should contact their Risk Monitoring Analysts or the relevant FINRA department to seek extensions.
FINRA may waive any late fees incurred by a member based on the member’s particular circumstance. In addition, if any data communications are disrupted, members should retain the relevant data until it can be transmitted to FINRA.
In considering regulatory filing requirements, members are reminded of the requirements in Rule 15c3-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (SEA) regarding reserve formula computations and required deposits that are intended to protect customer funds and securities. 2
Added March 24, 2020
MORE ABOUT Business Continuity Planning (BCP)
Documentation of Reliance on FINRA’s Temporary Relief
Q: Should a member firm document that it has relied upon any temporary relief provided by FINRA from obligations in rules or requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Yes. A member firm must document its reliance on any temporary relief provided by FINRA from obligations in rules or requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the member firm should document any new procedures that vary from its current written supervisory procedures. Public disclosure by a member firm of its reliance on particular relief provided by FINRA may be appropriate in certain circumstances. In these circumstances, FINRA will expressly include the requirement that the member firm publicly disclose its reliance on the relief when the relief is provided. Where appropriate, FINRA may also provide guidance on the manner in which the member firm should make such disclosures, for example, on its website or in the relevant publicly available filing.
Added May 21, 2020
Filing Extensions – Annual Reports and FOCUS Reports
Q: May members have additional time to file their annual report with FINRA?
A: Every member is required to file an annual report as specified under SEA Rule 17a-5. Rule 17a-5(d)(5) requires members to submit their annual reports to FINRA no later than 60 calendar days after the date of the member’s fiscal year end.
Based on discussions with the SEC staff, any member that (1) meets the exemptive provisions in SEA Rule 15c3-3(k) or (2) files a Part IIA FOCUS Report is being provided a 30 calendar day extension for submitting to FINRA their annual report related to fiscal years ending in January 2020 through March 2020. Further, the procedures set forth under Interpretation /01 under SEA Rule 17a-5(m)(1) are waived for purposes of this extension.
Added March 20, 2020
Q: May members have additional time to file a FOCUS report with FINRA?
A: Every member is required to file a Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single (FOCUS) report as specified under SEA Rule 17a-5. Rule 17a-5(a) requires members to submit their FOCUS reports no later than 17 business days after month-end.
Based on discussions with the SEC staff, any member that (1) meets the exemptive provisions in SEA Rule 15c3-3(k) or (2) files a Part IIA FOCUS Report is being provided a 10 business day extension for submitting any FOCUS report to FINRA related to a period ending in February 2020 through April 2020. Further, the written application and procedures required pursuant to SEA Rule 17a-5(a)(6), and the related Interpretations, are waived for purposes of this extension.
For any member that qualifies for the above extension, FINRA is providing a corresponding 10 business day extension for any applicable supplemental FOCUS schedules required pursuant to FINRA Rule 4524.
Updated March 24, 2020
Fingerprint Information
Termination of SEC Temporary Exemptive Relief from Fingerprinting Requirements for, Among Others, Members and All of Their Associated Persons; Termination of Additional Temporary Extension of Time for Submission of Fingerprint Information for Registered Persons and Persons Seeking Registration Under FINRA Rules New
On March 20, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) issued an order that, among other things, provided a temporary exemption until May 30, 2020, from the fingerprinting requirements of Securities Exchange Act Rule 17f-2 for FINRA members and transfer agents registered with the Commission (“March 20 Order”). On May 27, 2020, the Commission issued an order extending the temporary exemption until June 30, 2020. On June 26, 2020, the Commission issued an order extending the temporary exemption until a date to be specified in a public notice from Commission staff specifying the date on which the temporary exemption will terminate (“Termination Date”).
On March 24, 2020, FINRA temporarily extended, until June 29, 2020, the time period for a FINRA member to submit fingerprint information under FINRA Rule 1010(d), which requires a FINRA member to submit fingerprint information within 30 days after FINRA receives a person’s Form U4. On May 28, 2020, FINRA extended the time period for submitting fingerprint information until July 30, 2020. On June 29, 2020, FINRA extended the time period for submitting fingerprint information until 30 days after the Termination Date.
On June 6, 2022, Commission staff issued a public notice announcing the termination of the temporary exemption from the fingerprinting requirements that was originally set forth in the March 20 Order and subsequently extended. The Termination Date of the Commission’s temporary exemptive relief for any registrant relying on or otherwise availing itself of such relief, including both FINRA members and transfer agents registered with the Commission, is September 6, 2022.
In addition, FINRA will terminate the temporary extension of the time period for submitting fingerprint information under FINRA Rule 1010(d) on September 6, 2022. As described in more detail below, the date by which a FINRA member relying on the exemptive relief must submit fingerprint information depends on whether the person to be fingerprinted obtained or is seeking FINRA registration and therefore is subject to FINRA Rule 1010(d).
Updated June 6, 2022
Time Frame for Submission of Fingerprint Information for Persons Who Have Obtained or are Seeking FINRA Registration
Q: Our firm has submitted a Form U4 to register a person with FINRA, but our firm has been unable to submit fingerprint information for this person due to the limitations and restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. As such, our firm has been relying on the temporary relief to the fingerprinting requirements provided by the Commission and FINRA. Now that this temporary relief is being terminated, by what date must our firm submit fingerprint information for this person to be in compliance with the fingerprinting requirements? New
A: A FINRA member that submitted, or will submit, a person’s initial or transfer Form U4 between February 15, 2020, and September 6, 2022, will have until October 6, 2022 to submit the necessary fingerprint information. A FINRA member that submits a person’s initial or transfer Form U4 after September 6, 2022 must submit fingerprint information for the person no later than 30 days after FINRA receives the person’s Form U4.
Updated June 6, 2022
Time Frame for Submission of Fingerprint Information for Associated Persons Required to be Fingerprinted but Not Seeking Registration
Q: Our firm has a non-registered associated person who is required to be fingerprinted (“NRF”), but our firm has been unable to submit fingerprint information for this person due to the limitations and restrictions imposed as a result of COVID-19. As such, our firm has been relying on the Commission’s temporary relief to the fingerprinting requirements initially set forth in the March 20 Order and subsequently extended. Now that this temporary relief is being terminated, by what date must our firm submit fingerprint information for this NRF to be in compliance with the fingerprinting requirements? New
A: A FINRA member that has availed itself of the temporary exemptive relief for an NRF will have until September 6, 2022 to submit the necessary fingerprint information.
Updated June 6, 2022
Fixed Income
Fixed Income Mark-up Disclosure
Q: How might volatile market conditions, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, impact a firm’s process for providing customers with fixed income mark-up disclosure under FINRA Rule 2232?
A: Rule 2232 requires firms to provide retail customers with mark-up disclosure (and other related disclosures) for trades in corporate and agency debt securities that firms offset on the same day with other principal trades in the same security. Disclosed mark-ups must be calculated from a security’s Prevailing Market Price (PMP), consistent with FINRA Rule 2121 and applicable FAQ guidance (available here).
FINRA recognizes that the volatile market conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic may make it more difficult to determine PMP according to a firm’s existing procedures. In particular, where customer trades are not tied to immediately offsetting principal trades, it may be more difficult for a firm to evaluate whether its offsetting principal trades remain reasonably indicative of PMP, based on the factors identified in Rule 2121 and applicable guidance, given such volatile market conditions. Accordingly, while these current market conditions persist, FINRA understands that firms may generate a higher number of exceptions that they evaluate as part of their supervisory review process.
FINRA believes its existing guidance may be helpful for firms to consider as they work through any exception review processes that they employ in connection with mark-up disclosure requirements. Specifically, under Rule 2232 and SEA Rule 10b-10, confirmations must be given or sent at or before the completion of a transaction, and FAQ 3.8.1 discusses the potential for reviewing PMP determinations before or after confirmations are sent to customers. While FAQ 3.8.1 states that FINRA expects it will be rare for the PMP of a security to be corrected based on exception reporting, FINRA understands that volatile market conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may impact the rate at which such corrections occur. Firms that perform an exception review process after they issue confirmations with mark-up disclosure should continue to follow existing guidance, including FAQs 3.5.1 and 3.8.1, on providing corrected confirmations when needed. In all cases, firms should take particular care to document the basis for correcting a PMP and to apply their policies and procedures consistently, in line with applicable guidance.
Added April 24, 2020
Individual Registration
Verification of Form U4 Information
Q: FINRA Rule 3110(e) (Responsibility of Member to Investigate Applicants for Registration) requires members to establish and implement written procedures reasonably designed to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in an applicant’s initial or transfer Form U4 no later than 30 calendar days after the Form U4 is filed with FINRA. Rule 3110(e) requires that each member’s procedures shall, at a minimum, provide for a search of reasonably available public records to be conducted by the member, or a third-party service provider, to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the applicant's initial or transfer Form U4. Due to the limitations and restrictions imposed as a result of the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), our firm is currently unable to verify the accuracy and completeness of some of the information contained in the Form U4 within the 30-day period. How should firms address this issue?
A: If verification of some of the information contained in an initial or transfer Form U4 filed with FINRA between February 15, 2020 and July 1, 2020 is not currently feasible or practical within the 30-day period following the submission of the Form U4 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, firms should document which information could not be verified and the reasons (including the steps taken to verify the information) and should maintain an appropriate record. For any such initial or transfer Form U4, firms should make reasonable efforts to verify the information contained in the Form by no later than July 31, 2020 and, if necessary, file an amended Form U4 to correct any discrepancies.
Added June 29, 2020
Termination of Registration
Q: Our firm’s current practice is to mail a hard copy of the Form U5 (Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) filed with FINRA to each terminated individual concurrently with the submission of the Form U5 to FINRA. Is it permissible to provide copies of the Form U5 to terminated individuals electronically?
A: Yes. Pursuant to Article V, Section 3(a) of the FINRA By-Laws, following the termination of the association of a registered person, the member with which the individual was associated must submit a Form U5 not later than 30 days to FINRA and, concurrently, provide the individual a copy of the Form U5 as filed with FINRA. Article V, Section 3(a) of the FINRA By-Laws does not specify the format in which members must provide the Form U5 copy to terminated individuals. Accordingly, Article V, Section 3(a) of the FINRA By-Laws permits providing copies of the Form U5 to terminated individuals electronically.
Added April 6, 2020
Continuing Education
Q: May registered persons have additional time to complete the Regulatory Element of Continuing Education (CE)?
A: Yes. FINRA Rule 1240(a) (Regulatory Element) requires registered persons to complete the Regulatory Element of CE during a 120-day window based on their registration anniversary date. If a registered person fails to complete the Regulatory Element within the prescribed period, the individual’s registration is deemed inactive and the individual is prohibited from performing, or being compensated for, any registered activities. However, FINRA understands that some individuals may be unable to complete their Regulatory Element prior to the expiration date due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Rule 1240(a) authorizes FINRA to extend the time period for completion of the Regulatory Element for good cause shown. Consistent with this authority and due to the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, FINRA is temporarily extending the time period for completing the Regulatory Element of CE. Specifically, FINRA is providing an extension to any registered person whose 120-day window for completing the Regulatory Element is currently expired, or will expire, between March 16, 2020 and May 2020. The Regulatory Element end date for each registered person will be extended through the same end date of May 31, 2020. FINRA will continue to assess this situation and consider any additional extensions of time as appropriate. Information about this extension is also available on our Continuing Education page.
Added April 6, 2020
Late Filing Fees for Forms U4/U5
Q: Due to the significant impacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), will FINRA consider refunding or reducing a late filing fee pertaining to Forms U4 or U5 filings?
A: Yes. FINRA is committed to ensuring that members and their associated persons provide timely, complete and accurate disclosure information in response to the questions on Forms U4 and U5 as required under its rules. FINRA recognizes, however, that members may encounter difficulties obtaining documents and other information needed to report such information due to the implementation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) measures. Accordingly, FINRA will consider requests to refund or reduce late filing fees in appropriate circumstances. For further information, contact the FINRA Support Center at (301) 869-6699.
Added April 6, 2020
Rule 1010 (Electronic Filing Requirements for Uniform Forms)
Q: Our firm has implemented its BCP due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). During this time, it may not be possible to obtain an individual applicant’s manual (wet) signature on an initial or transfer Form U4 (Uniform Application for Securities Industry Registration or Transfer) for purposes of satisfying the requirements under FINRA Rule 1010(c). What are our obligations under these circumstances?
A: FINRA Rule 1010(c) requires that every initial and transfer electronic Form U4 filing be based on a manually signed Form U4 provided to the member or applicant for membership by the individual on whose behalf the Form U4 is being filed. However, due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), FINRA is providing temporary relief from this requirement. Specifically, in the interim, FINRA will permit firms to electronically file an initial or transfer Form U4 without obtaining the individual applicant’s manual signature if the firm:
- provides the applicant with a copy of the completed Form U4 prior to filing;
- obtains the applicant’s written acknowledgment (which may be electronic) prior to filing that the information has been received and reviewed, and that the applicant agrees that the content is accurate and complete;
- retains the written acknowledgment in accordance with SEA Rule 17a-4(e)(1) and makes it available promptly upon regulatory request; and
- obtains the applicant’s manual signature as soon as practicable.
Added March 18, 2020
Q: Are firms permitted to rely on applicants’ electronic signatures to satisfy Rule 1010(c)’s signature requirements?
A: Yes. Effective February 23, 2021, Rule 1010(c) was amended to allow firms to rely on applicants’ electronic signatures to satisfy the rule’s signature requirements.
Added February 23, 2021
Q: May firms continue to rely on applicants’ manual (wet) signatures to satisfy Rule 1010(c)’s signature requirements?
A: Yes. Rule 1010(c) continues to allow firms to rely on applicants’ manual (wet) signatures to satisfy the rule’s signature requirements. Further, firms may continue to rely on the relief provided above relating to manual signatures.
Added February 23, 2021
Q: Our firm has already filed Form U4s with FINRA on behalf of applicants consistent with the relief provided above. Can we rely on either manual (wet) signatures or electronic signatures of the applicants to satisfy Rule 1010(c)’s signature requirements?
A: Yes. If you have already filed a Form U4 with FINRA on behalf of an applicant consistent with the relief provided above, you can obtain either a manual (wet) or an electronic signature from the applicant to satisfy Rule 1010(c)’s signature requirements. In addition, if you previously obtained that applicant’s electronic signature consistent with amended Rule 1010(c), you do not need to obtain the applicant’s electronic signature again.
Added February 23, 2021
Active Military Duty
Q: Is any relief available for persons registered with FINRA who volunteer or are called into active military duty?
A: Yes. The declaration of an emergency in a specified area due to COVID-19 may result in some persons volunteering or being called into active military duty. FINRA Rule 1210 (Registration Requirements) provides specific relief to persons registered with FINRA who volunteer or are called into active military duty.3 For information on providing the required notification to FINRA, visit FINRA’s Active Military Leave Guidance webpage.
Added March 24, 2020
Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Q: The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) allows eligible individuals and small businesses to obtain loans that can be used during the COVID-19 crisis. A PPP loan is eligible for forgiveness, provided the terms of the loan forgiveness are satisfied. If a registered person or a business they control obtains a PPP loan and the loan or part of the loan is forgiven, will the registered person be required to report that forgiveness in response to Question 14K on their Form U4 as a “compromise with a creditor?”
A: No, provided the PPP loan or part of the loan is forgiven consistent with the original terms of the loan. For purposes of Form U4 Question 14K, a compromise with one or more creditors “generally involves an agreement between a borrower and a creditor in which a creditor agrees to accept less than the full amount owed in full satisfaction of an outstanding debt, unless such an agreement is included in the original terms of the loan.”4 Because a PPP loan contemplates forgiveness of some or all of the loan as part of the original terms of the loan, such forgiveness will not involve a new agreement by the creditor, but will be an event consistent with the loan’s original terms. In those circumstances, the forgiveness of a PPP loan will not be a “compromise with creditors” for purposes of Form U4 Question 14K. Any forgiveness beyond the original terms of the loan would be considered a “compromise with creditors.”
Added April 13, 2020
MORE ABOUT Individual Registration
Net Capital Treatment of Covered Loans Under the CARES Act
Q: Section 1106(b) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), provides that a recipient of a covered loan (as defined in Section 1106(a)(1)) is eligible for forgiveness of indebtedness on the covered loan in an amount (the “Forgivable Expense Amount”) equal to the sum of the following costs incurred and payments made during the “covered period” (as defined in Section 1106(a)(3) of the CARES Act, as amended) for the covered loan:
- Payroll costs (as defined in Section 1106(a)(8));
- Any payment of interest on any covered mortgage obligation (as defined in Section 1106(a)(2)), which shall not include any prepayment of or payment of principal on a covered mortgage obligation;
- Any payment on any covered rent obligation (as defined in Section 1106(a)(4)); and
- Any covered utility payment (as defined in Section 1106(a)(5)).
Can member firms add back to net capital amounts that they expect to be forgiven under Section 1106?
A: A member firm that has included a covered loan as a liability on its balance sheet may add the Forgivable Expense Amount back to net capital during and following the covered period to the extent that the firm is able to demonstrate that its recorded expenses for the costs and payments constitute a Forgivable Expense Amount, provided that the add-back to net capital may not exceed the amount of the balance sheet liability for the covered loan that the firm reasonably expects to be forgiven pursuant to Section 1106 (taking into account among other things the limits under Section 1106(d) on the amount of forgiveness). Since the add-back cannot be greater than the balance sheet liability for the covered loan, the add-back cannot increase net capital by more than the balance sheet liability for the covered loan.
A member firm that makes such an add-back must create and retain documentation of the basis of the add-back, including a record of its computation of the Forgivable Expense Amount, a record of the costs and payments making up that amount, and a record of its estimate of any limits under Section 1106(d) with the basis for such estimate. On the firm’s FOCUS Report Part II or Part IIA, the add-back must be reported in Item 3525 (Other (deductions) or allowable credits).
Updated November 24, 2020
Q: Can a member firm that has obtained a covered loan exclude the amount of the covered loan from its aggregate indebtedness?
A: A member firm that has included a covered loan as a liability on its balance sheet may exclude such covered loan from aggregate indebtedness during the “covered period” after the origination of such covered loan. After the end of the covered period, such firm may exclude from aggregate indebtedness the amount of its liability for such covered loan that the firm is permitted to add back to net capital, as described above. Any part of the covered loan excluded from aggregate indebtedness may be included on the firm’s Statement of Financial Condition in its FOCUS Report Part II in Item 1380 (Other – Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and expenses”) or in Item 1385 (Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, expenses and other) in its FOCUS Report Part IIA.
Updated November 24, 2020
Qualification Examinations
Temporary Extension of Time Under Rule 1220(b)(3)(B) (Qualifications)
Q: FINRA Rule 1220(b)(3)(B) allows eligible individuals to function as an Operations Professional for 120 calendar days before having to pass the appropriate qualification examination. In accordance with the rule, our firm currently has several individuals who have been designated to function as Operations Professionals. Is FINRA considering temporarily extending the 120-day period under Rule 1220(b)(3)(B)?
A: Yes. Pursuant to SR-FINRA-2020-026 as extended by SR-FINRA-2020-043 and SR-FINRA-2021-005, FINRA has adopted temporary Supplementary Material .07 under FINRA Rule 1220 providing that individuals who were designated to function as Operations Professionals prior to March 3, 2021 will be given until June 30, 2021 to pass the appropriate examination. FINRA does not anticipate providing any further extension of this relief beyond June 30, 2021.
Member firms are reminded that, as discussed in the “Documentation of Reliance on FINRA’s Temporary Relief” FAQ, a member firm must document its reliance on any temporary relief provided by FINRA from obligations in rules or requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated April 1, 2021
Availability of Waiver Process for Qualification Examinations
Q. Our firm intends to rehire and re-register several individuals whose two-year registration period under FINRA Rule 1210.08 (Lapse of Registration and Expiration of SIE) recently lapsed. In the past, we have requested that FINRA waive the qualification examination requirement for such individuals. Is FINRA currently processing waiver requests for such individuals as it would normally?
A: Yes, FINRA’s waiver process is currently functioning as it would normally. As set forth in FINRA Rule 1210.03 (Qualification Examinations and Waivers of Examinations), FINRA may, in exceptional cases and where good cause is shown, waive the applicable qualification examination(s) and accept other standards as evidence of an applicant's qualifications for registration; however, FINRA will only consider waiver requests that are submitted by a member for individuals associated with the member who are seeking registration in a representative or principal registration category. Accordingly, members may request, on behalf of such an applicant for registration whose prior registration with FINRA has been terminated for two or more years, a waiver of the applicable FINRA qualification examinations, including the SIE examination.5 FINRA evaluates on a case-by-case basis requests for waivers from the sponsoring firms. In evaluating each request, FINRA considers, among other factors, the applicant’s previous registration history, including the length of time since the applicant was last registered. The sponsoring firm must submit the request for an applicant via the FINRA Gateway, as part of the process of registering the applicant. More information on the waiver process is available on finra.org.
Added May 12, 2020
Temporary Extension of Time Under Rule 1210.04 (Requirements for Registered Persons Functioning as Principals for a Limited Period)
Q: FINRA Rule 1210.04 allows eligible individuals to function in a principal capacity for 120 calendar days before having to pass the appropriate examination(s). In accordance with the rule, our firm currently has several individuals who have been designated to function as principals. Is FINRA considering temporarily extending the 120-day period under Rule 1210.04?
A: Yes. Pursuant to SR-FINRA-2020-026 as extended by SR-FINRA-2020-043 and SR-FINRA-2021-005, FINRA has adopted temporary Supplementary Material .12 under FINRA Rule 1210 providing that individuals who were designated to function as principals prior to March 3, 2021 will be given until June 30, 2021 to pass the appropriate examination(s). FINRA does not anticipate providing any further extension of this relief beyond June 30, 2021.
Member firms are reminded that, as discussed in the “Documentation of Reliance on FINRA’s Temporary Relief” FAQ, a member firm must document its reliance on any temporary relief provided by FINRA from obligations in rules or requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updated April 1, 2021
MORE ABOUT Qualification Exams
Rule 4530 Reporting Requirements
Q: May members have additional time to report to FINRA statistical and summary information regarding written customer complaints pursuant to FINRA Rule 4530(d) (Reporting Requirements)?
A: Yes. FINRA Rule 4530(d) requires that each member report to FINRA statistical and summary information regarding written customer complaints by the 15th day of the month following the calendar quarter in which customer complaints are received by the member. FINRA is providing additional time for members to report to FINRA this statistical and summary information regarding customer complaints for the first quarter of 2020. Members have until May 31, 2020 to report to FINRA statistical and summary information regarding written customer complaints received by the member in the first quarter of 2020.
Added March 24, 2020
More about rule 4530 Reporting Requirements
Relief for Funding Portal Members
Funding Portal Members Will Be Permitted To Spread Out Payment of Their Gross Income Assessment
Q: In light of the challenges presented by the pandemic, will FINRA permit funding portal members additional time to pay the Funding Portal Gross Income Assessment (FPGIA), in similar fashion to small firms?
A: Yes. Although FINRA’s funding portal members are not identified as small firms under the FINRA By-Laws because they do not have registered persons, they are similarly situated to small firms in terms of the Gross Income Assessment. Accordingly, FINRA is providing relief to funding portal members similar in fashion to small firms. Ordinarily, invoices for the FPGIA are distributed in April of each year and are due in full within 30 days. However, FINRA is permitting funding portal members to treat the invoices as billed as of August 1, 2020, rather than as due in full within 30 days of the invoice. Further, funding portal members that choose to do so will be allowed to pay 50% of the amount due on September 1, 2020, and the remaining 50% on December 1, 2020.
Added April 23, 2020
Q: Will a funding portal member still be responsible for paying the FPGIA for 2020 if the funding portal member terminates its membership of FINRA in June 2020?
A: No. A funding portal member that exits FINRA membership before September 1, 2020, will not be expected to pay the FPGIA for 2020.
Added April 23, 2020
Supervision
Q: Our branch office staff is working remotely due to the recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). During this time can firm mail that would ordinarily be delivered to the branch be directed or forwarded to an associated person's residence?
A: Yes. A firm may choose to direct or forward firm mail that would ordinarily be delivered to the branch to an associated person's residence (e.g., because the firm does not have the option of collecting it in a central operations center or other location for principal review and handling). Because a principal is responsible for reviewing and handling certain communications, FINRA would expect a firm to direct or forward the mail from a branch office to a principal's residence. If this is not possible, and due to extenuating circumstances the firm elects to have the mail directed or forwarded to the residence of an associated person who is not a principal (e.g., a registered representative's residence), the firm must ensure that it has implemented a supervisory structure reasonably designed to supervise the activities of its associated persons, including implementing controls for the handling of customer correspondences received so that a principal may complete the appropriate reviews. The firm should document any new procedures that vary from its current written supervisory procedures. These procedures should take into consideration the additional risks associated with directing or forwarding firm business correspondence, including checks, to a personal residence (e.g., the retention and reporting of customer complaints, the handling of customer non-public information and the possible net capital implications of checks received).
Depending upon the activities conducted at a person's residence, the residence may qualify as a “branch office” under FINRA Rule 3110(f)(2) (Supervision). However, as provided in Regulatory Notice 20-08, a firm is not required to file a Form BR to register a temporary branch office resulting from an emergency relocation due to the pandemic.
Added April 16, 2020
Q: May firms have additional time to complete and submit their Rule 3120 Report?
A: Yes. FINRA is providing additional time for some members to complete and submit to their senior management the report required under Rule 3120 that details a member's supervisory controls system (and with respect to certain members, additional information). Members whose annual deadline for submitting the report falls between March 1 and July 1, 2020, may take up to and including July 31, 2020 to complete and submit the report to their senior management.
Updated June 29, 2020
Q: May firms have additional time to execute their Rule 3130 certification?
A: Yes. FINRA is providing additional time for some members to execute their Rule 3130 certification. The deadline for executing the Rule 3130 certification is no later than on the anniversary date of the previous year's certification. As such, members may have different deadlines for their next certification. A member whose certification deadline falls between March 1 and July 1, 2020, may take up to and including July 31, 2020 to complete its certification.
Among other things, Rule 3130 requires as a condition for certification that the CEO(s) has conducted one or more meetings with the CCO(s) in the preceding 12 months to discuss the member's processes. FINRA notes that those meetings may be conducted virtually.
Updated June 29, 2020
1. Additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on strategies for businesses and employers to plan for and respond to COVID-19 is available on the CDC’s website.
2. SEA Rule 15c3-3(e)(3) requires a broker-dealer to prepare the reserve formula computations, necessary to determine the amount required to be deposited as specified in Rule 15c3-3(e)(1), to be made weekly, as of the close of the last business day of the week, and the deposit so computed to be made no later than one hour after the opening of banking business on the second following business day.
3. Under Supplementary Material .10 to Rule 1210, these persons would be placed in a specially designated “inactive” status once FINRA is notified of their military call-up, but would remain registered for FINRA purposes.
4. See Form U4 and U5 Interpretative Questions and Answers at p. 11, https://www.finra.org/sites/default/files/Interpretive-Guidance-final-03.05.15.pdf
5. The representative- and principal-level examinations remain valid for two years following the termination of an individual’s registration. The SIE examination remains valid for four years following the termination of an individual’s registration. However, as noted in Rule 1210.03, FINRA will not consider a waiver of the SIE examination for individuals who are not associated persons or for associated persons who are not registering as representatives or principals.