(a) Designation of Custodian
A member that files a Form BDW shall designate on the Form BDW, as the custodian of the member's books and records: (i) a person associated with the member at the time that the Form BDW is filed; or (ii) another FINRA member.
(b) Obligations of Custodians
The custodian designated on the Form BDW shall preserve the books and records of the member that filed the Form BDW for the remainder of the applicable retention periods under FINRA and Exchange Act rules and make such records available for inspection by FINRA upon request. Further, the custodian shall preserve and produce such books and records in the same manner in which they were received from the member that filed the Form BDW.
Where a member has agreed to act as custodian of the books and records of another member that has filed a Form BDW, the member that has agreed to act as custodian shall: (i) treat such books and records as if they were its own books and records; and (ii) arrange upon its dissolution for such books and records to continue to be retained for the remainder of the applicable retention periods under FINRA and Exchange Act rules in the same manner as its own books and records consistent with this Rule.
(c) Consent Requirement
A member that is filing a Form BDW shall, before the submission of the form, obtain from the person designated on the form as custodian of the member's books and records the person's affirmative consent to act in such a capacity. Prior to obtaining a custodian's consent, such member shall inform the custodian of its obligations under the Exchange Act and FINRA Rules, including this Rule.
A person designated on a Form BDW as custodian of a member's books and records shall, at the time that the Form BDW is filed, represent to FINRA, in a method prescribed by FINRA, that the person: (i) consented to act as a custodian; (ii) understands the responsibilities of a custodian; and (iii) shall provide to FINRA upon request during the course of the required retention periods the books and records of the member for which the person is acting as a custodian.
• • • Supplementary Material: --------------
.01 Converting Records to Other Acceptable Formats. Nothing in paragraph (b) of this Rule shall preclude the custodian from converting a record from a format acceptable under FINRA and Exchange Act rules to another format acceptable under such rules (e.g., converting from paper to electronic storage media), provided that such records are not altered or deleted during the conversion process.
.02 Members Acting as Custodians. Nothing in paragraph (b) of this Rule shall require a member that is acting as custodian to verify the completeness or accuracy of the books and records that it is receiving from the member that filed the Form BDW.
