The Board is publishing amendments to Subpart B of Regulation K (Foreign Banking Organizations). The amendments permit the establishment of U.S. representative offices by certain foreign banks through prior notice procedures. These prior notice procedures are designed to permit foreign banks meeting certain requirements to establish representative offices without the need to file a formal application with the Board. A foreign bank that is subject to federal regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act (BHC Act), either directly or through the International Banking Act (IBA), and that the Board has previously determined is subject to comprehensive supervision or regulation on a consolidated basis by its home country supervisor, or which previously has been approved for a representative office by Board order, would be permitted to establish a full service representative office by prior notice. In addition, the amendments clarify that only those foreign banking organizations subject to the IBA and the BHC Act may establish under general consent procedures a representative office to engage in limited administrative functions in connection with their existing U.S. banking operations. Lastly, the Board has determined to review and act upon inquiries by ``special purpose government banks'' seeking exemptions from regulation under the Foreign Bank Supervision Enhancement Act (FBSEA) on the basis that they do not fall within the definition of ``foreign bank'' under Regulation K. Such inquiries would be handled on a case-by-case basis.