https://arrowintsys.com/regulatory-activities Latest press releases, guidance, and enforcement actions from the OCC. Compiled by Arrow AIM. en-us https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-ia-2026-57.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-ia-2026-57.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Association (collectively, the agencies) today issued guidance to remind supervised financial institutions of existing supervisory expectations with respect to credit risk management, particularly as it relates to borrowers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. regulatory-guidance interagency lending https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-56.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-56.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver for Kentland Federal Savings and Loan Association, located in Kentland, Indiana. enforcement banking press-release https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-55.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-55.html Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced the promotion of Jamie Wilds to Deputy Comptroller for Supervision System and Analytical Support (SSAS). leadership supervision https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-54.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-54.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released a list of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations that became public during the period of June 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. community-reinvestment-act cra evaluation-schedule https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-53.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-53.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported cumulative trading revenue of U.S. commercial banks and savings associations of $16.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026. The first quarter trading revenue was $1.7 billion, or 11.4 percent, more than in the previous quarter and $862 million, or 5.6 percent, more than a year earlier. banking financial-results https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-52.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-52.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the first quarter of 2026. lending banking https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-ia-2026-51.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-ia-2026-51.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal bank regulatory agencies today released the 2026 list of certain geographies where certain bank activities are eligible for Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) credit. community-reinvestment-act cra interagency https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-50.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-50.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced two senior personnel changes to support the evolution of the agency's technology and information infrastructure and to elevate experienced supervisory leadership within our most complex portfolios. leadership https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-49.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-49.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould issued a statement today on his Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) votes concerning resolution planning, assessments, and the disclosure of confidential supervisory information. interagency policy-statement https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-48.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-48.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released enforcement actions for June 2026. enforcement https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-47.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-47.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today clarified the standards for its decisions on filings. regulatory-guidance transparency https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-46.html https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2026/nr-occ-2026-46.html Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould today testified on the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) priorities and activities before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services. supervision regulatory-guidance https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-134.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-134.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend its heightened standards guidelines for covered banks. The proposal would significantly increase the asset threshold for application of these guidelines from $50 billion to $700 billion in average total consolidated assets. This change aims to reduce regulatory burden by focusing the heightened standards on institutions whose size, complexity, and risk profile pose the greatest risk to the banking system. The proposal is part of the OCC's broader effort to tailor regulations and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burden, with a 60-day comment period following Federal Register publication. rulemaking regulatory-burden banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-51.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-51.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has proposed significantly raising the asset threshold for heightened governance and risk management standards from $50 billion to $700 billion in average total consolidated assets. This change would substantially reduce the number of national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches subject to these enhanced supervisory requirements, which were originally formalized in 2014. The proposal aims to reduce regulatory burden while focusing heightened standards on institutions whose size, complexity, and risk profile pose the greatest systemic risk to the banking system. The OCC is also seeking public comment on additional revisions to make the guidelines less prescriptive, with comments due 60 days after Federal Register publication. rulemaking regulatory-burden supervision https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-50.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-50.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is proposing a preemption determination that would conclude federal law preempts state laws restricting banks' flexibility to decide whether to pay interest on real estate escrow accounts or assess related fees. The proposal specifically targets New York's General Obligations Law section 5-601 and identifies 11 other states with substantively equivalent laws that would also be preempted. This action complements a concurrent OCC proposal to codify national banks' longstanding escrow account powers. The proposed rule would apply to all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches, including community banks with up to $30 billion in assets, with comments due 30 days after Federal Register publication. rulemaking lending community-banks https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-49.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-49.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to formally codify the longstanding authority of national banks and federal savings associations to establish and maintain escrow accounts for real estate lending. The proposal would confirm that banks have discretion to determine the terms and conditions of these accounts, including decisions about investing escrowed funds, assessing fees, and whether to pay interest or other compensation to customers. This rule would apply to all community banks, defined as institutions with up to $30 billion in assets. Comments on the proposed rule are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. rulemaking lending community-banks https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-133.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-133.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued two proposals regarding national banks' and federal savings associations' authority over real estate lending escrow accounts. The first proposal seeks to codify the longstanding power of these institutions to establish escrow accounts and exercise business judgment on terms and conditions, including whether to pay interest or assess fees. The second proposal would formally determine that federal law preempts state laws requiring interest payments on escrow accounts, specifically targeting a New York law and substantively equivalent laws in 11 other states. The OCC frames these actions as reducing regulatory burden and promoting economic growth through federal preemption, with comments due 30 days after Federal Register publication. press-release lending regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-48.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-48.html Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has announced revised asset-size thresholds for defining small banks and intermediate small banks under the Community Reinvestment Act regulations, effective January 1, 2026. Beginning that date, banks with assets below $1.649 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years will be classified as small banks, an increase from the previous $1.609 billion threshold. Intermediate small banks are defined as those with assets of at least $412 million as of December 31 of both prior years and less than $1.649 billion as of December 31 of either prior year, up from the previous $402 million floor. These adjustments reflect a 2.51 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers during the period ending November 2025, as required by regulation. community-reinvestment-act cra banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-132.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-132.html Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reported that U.S. commercial banks and savings associations generated $18.4 billion in trading revenue during the third quarter of 2025, representing a 10.9 percent increase from the previous quarter and a 12.7 percent increase year-over-year. The agency's quarterly derivatives report shows that 1,221 insured institutions held derivatives, with four large banks controlling 86.3 percent of the total notional amount. Total derivative notional amounts increased by $8.3 trillion to $231.8 trillion in the third quarter, while net current credit exposure decreased by $15.8 billion to $252.0 billion. Interest rate products remained the dominant derivative type, accounting for $154.5 trillion or 66.7 percent of total derivative notional amounts. financial-results banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-47.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-47.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The OCC and FDIC issued a joint statement providing permanent supervisory relief for banks extending credit to portfolio companies controlled by investment fund complexes that are principal shareholders of the bank. Under Regulation O, such portfolio companies would typically be considered insiders subject to strict lending limits, but the agencies will not take enforcement action against banks that meet certain conditions when lending to these entities. This statement replaces the previous annual extensions that began in 2019 and will remain effective until the Federal Reserve Board issues a final rule amending Regulation O to address this issue. The relief aims to prevent disruption of existing lending relationships while ensuring banks continue to comply with the Change in Bank Control Act and other applicable banking laws. interagency lending regulatory-guidance https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-131.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-131.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced the termination of six enforcement actions in December 2025. The terminated actions include an amended consent order with Citibank, National Association in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from July 2024, and formal agreements with four community banks: First National Bank of Lake Jackson, The First National Bank of Dennison, The Idabel National Bank, and The National Bank of Coxsackie. Additionally, a cease-and-desist order against UBS AG's Stamford Branch from May 2018 was terminated. The OCC terminates enforcement actions when banks demonstrate full compliance, when non-compliant articles become outdated or irrelevant, or when such articles are incorporated into new actions. enforcement banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-46.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-46.html Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has completed a comprehensive review of its issuances and is rescinding 76 outdated or obsolete documents. This includes 55 OCC issuances published between 1983 and 2023 that are no longer needed, have been replaced by subsequent publications, or have been incorporated into other OCC documents. Additionally, 21 transmittal bulletins issued between 2003 and 2023 that served as cover letters for other documents are being rescinded, though the underlying conveyed documents remain in effect. The rescissions apply to all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies, though not all rescinded issuances originally applied to community banks. regulatory-guidance regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-130.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-130.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in the case National Association of Industrial Bankers v. Weiser, urging the full court to review a panel decision. The OCC argues that the panel's decision undermines the federal interest rate framework Congress established for state banks and creates a competitive disadvantage compared to national banks. The action supports the dual banking system and the preemption of state laws for state-chartered banks as permitted by law. The OCC commended the FDIC for also filing an amicus brief in support of these congressionally-granted benefits, reinforcing the position that competitive equality between state and federally chartered banks should be maintained. policy-statement banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-129.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-129.html Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued proposed guidance for a simplified strategic plan process to help community banks comply with the Community Reinvestment Act. The proposal aims to reduce regulatory burden by providing clarity on measurable goals and simplifying the method for drafting and submitting strategic plans for OCC approval. The strategic plan option allows banks to tailor their CRA examinations based on their community's needs and the bank's capacity, product offerings, and business strategy. This action is part of a broader series of reforms announced by the OCC in October and November 2025 to reduce burden and tailor examination activities for community banks. Comments on the proposed guidance will be accepted for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. community-reinvestment-act cra regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-128.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-128.html Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released its Semiannual Risk Perspective for Fall 2025, reporting that the federal banking system remains sound with satisfactory balance sheets, high capital ratios, and strong liquidity positions. The report emphasizes that while financial innovation presents opportunities, insufficient investment in new technologies could pose material risks to long-term bank performance and viability. Key risk themes identified include credit, market, operational, and compliance risks, with particular attention to increasing threats from foreign state-sponsored actors and sophisticated cybercriminal groups targeting the financial sector. The OCC noted that commercial and retail loan delinquencies remain manageable, but banks continue facing challenges from elevated levels of fraud and scams. supervision cybersecurity banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-127.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-127.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released its Mortgage Metrics Report for the third quarter of 2025, covering approximately 10.5 million loans totaling $2.7 trillion in principal balances, representing about 20 percent of all U.S. residential mortgage debt. The report showed that 97.4 percent of mortgages remained current and performing, unchanged from the previous year, while the percentage of seriously delinquent mortgages also remained stable. Servicers initiated 7,903 new foreclosures during the quarter, representing an increase from both the previous quarter and the prior year, while completing 8,190 loan modifications, of which 94.7 percent were combination modifications involving multiple affordability measures. The OCC announced a transition to a new interactive online format for the quarterly report, providing enhanced transparency and search capabilities for mortgage metric data compiled since the third quarter of 2016. lending transparency banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-126.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-126.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve Board, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced that the 2026 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $33,500 to $34,200, effective January 1, 2026. This adjustment reflects a 2.1 percent annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers as of June 1, 2025. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, creditors must obtain written appraisals based on physical interior home visits for higher-priced mortgage loans, but loans at or below this threshold amount are exempt from these requirements. The threshold is adjusted annually to reflect changes in the CPI-W. interagency lending consumer-protection https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-125.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-125.html Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced conditional approval of five national trust bank charter applications, including two de novo charters for First National Digital Currency Bank and Ripple National Trust Bank, and three conversions from state trust companies for BitGo Bank & Trust, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos Trust Company. These institutions will join approximately 60 other national trust banks under OCC supervision once they meet specified conditions. The OCC applied its standard rigorous review process to each application based on individual merits and applicable statutory and regulatory factors. Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould emphasized that new entrants enhance consumer access to financial products and services while promoting a dynamic and competitive federal banking system that keeps pace with the evolution of finance. press-release banking crypto-assets https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-124.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-124.html Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould issued a statement at the Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting outlining the OCC's efforts to strengthen bank supervision and regulation. The statement highlighted recent regulatory initiatives aimed at promoting financial stability and increasing lending capacity while reducing regulatory burden on community banks through tailored examination activities. Gould discussed reforms to liquidity risk management and Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering compliance requirements. The Comptroller also signaled upcoming efforts to reinvigorate the de novo bank chartering process to support the broader U.S. economy. policy-statement supervision regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-123.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-123.html Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released preliminary findings from its supervisory review of nine large national banks regarding debanking activities between 2020 and 2023. The review, conducted under a presidential executive order, found that these banks made inappropriate distinctions among customers by maintaining policies that restricted access to banking services for certain lawful business sectors including oil and gas, firearms, private prisons, tobacco, and digital assets, sometimes based on activities being contrary to bank values rather than legality. The OCC identified that all nine banks reviewed had such policies or practices in place, with some banks imposing restrictions on industries engaged in activities that were legal but not aligned with their stated values. The agency stated it will hold banks accountable for these actions and continues to review thousands of complaints to identify instances of political and religious debanking. debanking supervision enforcement https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-122.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-122.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Comptroller of the Currency issued a statement expressing concern over the Tenth Circuit Court's decision in National Association of Industrial Bankers v. Weiser, which allows Colorado to impose its interest rate requirements on out-of-state banks lending within Colorado. The Comptroller warns this ruling undermines state banks' ability to manage multi-state lending programs and creates a competitive disadvantage for state banks compared to national banks and federal savings associations operating in Colorado. The statement emphasizes this outcome contradicts Congressional intent to maintain competitive equality between state and federally chartered banks. The Comptroller calls for either judicial or Congressional action to remedy this situation. policy-statement banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-121.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-121.html Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued Interpretive Letter 1188 confirming that national banks have the authority to engage in riskless principal transactions involving crypto-assets as part of their banking business. These transactions allow banks to act as intermediaries by simultaneously entering into offsetting crypto-asset transactions with different customers without holding the assets in inventory, functioning similarly to brokers acting as agents. The OCC emphasized that banks must conduct these activities in a safe and sound manner while complying with all applicable laws and regulations. This interpretive letter clarifies the permissible scope of bank involvement in cryptocurrency transactions within existing regulatory frameworks. crypto-assets banking regulatory-guidance https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-120.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-120.html Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould addressed efforts to reinvigorate the chartering of new banks at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit, focusing on activities following the 2008 financial crisis. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a robust pipeline of de novo banks for a healthy financial system and outlined the OCC's work to embrace federal chartering authority and encourage new bank formation. Gould highlighted the OCC's extensive history of chartering national trust banks, noting their engagement in non-fiduciary activities that currently manage nearly $2 trillion in assets under custody. The remarks signal the agency's commitment to actively promoting new bank charters as part of its regulatory mandate. banking leadership https://occ.gov/news-issuances/speeches/2025/pub-speech-2025-120.pdf https://occ.gov/news-issuances/speeches/2025/pub-speech-2025-120.pdf Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced it is reopening the application process for de novo national trust bank charters, which has been closed since 2017. This decision aims to expand access to the federal banking system for institutions focused on trust and fiduciary services, including those serving the digital asset industry. The OCC will accept applications from qualified entities seeking to provide trust services under federal supervision, with the agency emphasizing that applicants must demonstrate strong risk management capabilities and compliance frameworks. This policy change reflects the agency's commitment to fostering innovation in financial services while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight and consumer protection standards. banking digital-assets https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-45.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-45.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has updated its guidance on commercial lending to companies in early, expansion, or late stages of corporate development, known as venture loans. The bulletin explicitly states the OCC's policy of not discouraging banks from prudent venture lending activities while emphasizing that bank boards and management must ensure these loans align with risk appetite, are properly documented and underwritten, accurately risk-rated, and sufficiently reserved. Given the higher default risk associated with venture borrowers who may lack sustainable cash flows or sufficient collateral, the guidance requires banks to implement strong risk management practices including appropriate credit enhancements, robust monitoring systems, and realistic assessment of repayment sources. The bulletin clarifies that uncommitted future equity raises and unrestricted declining cash balances are not considered satisfactory primary sources of repayment, and emphasizes that venture loans should be risk-rated based on expected borrower performance and actual repayment capacity rather than optimistic projections. commercial-credit lending regulatory-guidance https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-44.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-44.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are withdrawing from the 2013 Interagency Guidance on Leveraged Lending and the 2014 Frequently Asked Questions that implemented that guidance. The agencies are also rescinding the communications that originally transmitted these documents to banks. Going forward, banks engaged in leveraged lending activities, including purchasing loan participations, will be expected to manage their risks according to general principles of safe and sound lending rather than the specific leveraged lending guidance. Examiners will continue to review banks' underwriting practices, risk ratings, and loan loss reserves using general safe and sound lending principles tailored to each institution's size, complexity, and risk profile. leveraged-lending interagency regulatory-guidance https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-119.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-119.html Fri, 05 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are rescinding the 2013 Interagency Guidance on Leveraged Lending and the 2014 Frequently Asked Questions that implemented it. The agencies determined these issuances were overly restrictive and impeded banks' risk management, resulting in banks losing market share to nonbanks and pushing leveraged lending outside the regulatory perimeter. Additionally, the guidance was overly broad, capturing unintended loan types including those to investment-grade companies, and was never properly submitted to Congress as required under the Congressional Review Act. Banks are now expected to manage leveraged lending exposures using general principles for safe and sound lending, with each institution defining its own criteria for leveraged loans while maintaining effective risk management practices tailored to the activity's complexity and risk profile. leveraged-lending interagency regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-118.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-118.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced the appointment of Brian P. Hudak as Deputy Chief Counsel, where he will advise the Chief Counsel and senior officials on legal, policy, and administrative matters affecting the federal banking system. In this role, Hudak will oversee the OCC's enforcement, litigation, and internal agency matters. He brings nearly two decades of experience from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, where he most recently served as Civil Chief overseeing thousands of civil cases and personally recovered over $1 billion in civil enforcement actions. Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould emphasized that Hudak's litigation and enforcement expertise will advance the OCC's supervisory mission and ensure regulated institutions remain accountable for statutory and regulatory compliance. leadership enforcement https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-117.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-117.html Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould testified before the House Committee on Financial Services regarding the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's activities and priorities. The testimony focused on the agency's efforts to reset its risk tolerance and refocus supervision on material financial risks to enable banks to better support economic growth. Key initiatives discussed included eliminating debanking practices from the federal banking system, improving capital standards, and implementing the GENIUS Act. The Comptroller also addressed operational improvements within the agency to enhance its regulatory effectiveness. policy-statement supervision leadership https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-116.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-116.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations for 32 national banks and federal savings associations that became public during November 2025. Under the CRA, the OCC assesses how well financial institutions meet the credit needs of their entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, while maintaining safe and sound operations. Of the 32 institutions evaluated, seven received outstanding ratings while the remaining 25 received satisfactory ratings, with no institutions receiving needs to improve or substantial noncompliance ratings. The evaluated institutions are located across 17 states, with the highest concentration in Illinois, Iowa, and Texas. community-reinvestment-act cra evaluation-schedule https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-115.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-115.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced it will maintain assessment rates for national banks and federal savings associations for the 2026 calendar year at the reduced levels implemented in September 2025. The September 2025 reduction lowered general assessment fee schedule rates by 30 percent for assets up to $40 billion and 22 percent for assets above $40 billion, while independent trust and independent credit card assessment fee schedules were reduced by 22 percent. The maintained 2026 rates will provide the OCC with sufficient resources to ensure adequate staffing to address emerging trends and new technologies while fulfilling its mission to maintain the safety and soundness of the federal banking system. The 2026 assessment rates take effect January 1, 2026, and will apply to assessments paid on March 31, 2026, and September 30, 2026. banking cost-reduction https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-43.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-43.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is maintaining assessment rates for calendar year 2026 at the reduced levels established in September 2025 for national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The OCC will now assess new entrants to the federal banking system on a prorated basis between regular assessment cycles, using call report data from December 31 or June 30 depending on entry date, with banks lacking prior call reports assessed at the lowest tier rate. Semiannual assessments remain due March 31 and September 30, with continued application of surcharges for banks rated 3, 4, or 5 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System and a 12 percent discount for non-lead banks. The hourly fee for special examinations and investigations remains unchanged at $137 for calendar year 2026. banking regulatory-burden https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-114.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-114.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould issued a statement supporting a congressional report that found the Biden Administration coordinated efforts to prevent banks from engaging with digital assets customers. The OCC has taken transparency measures by publishing all formal bank requests related to digital asset activities under Interpretive Letter 1179 and the agency's responses. The agency has removed references to reputation risk from its handbooks and guidance documents and proposed codifying its elimination from supervisory programs. Consistent with a presidential executive order on fair banking, the OCC is investigating whether large banks unlawfully denied services to digital asset customers or other legal businesses and intends to hold institutions accountable for any violations identified. debanking digital-assets policy-statement https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-42.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-42.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, along with the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, published a request for information seeking input on regulatory reporting burden for institutions that file Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income. The request applies to all banks filing any of the three call report versions and aims to identify sources of regulatory reporting burden. Comments on the request for information must be submitted by January 30, 2026. Banks interested in providing feedback on streamlining call report requirements should contact the Office of the Chief Accountant for further information. public-comment regulatory-burden banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-113.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-113.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released its schedule for Community Reinvestment Act evaluations to be conducted during the first and second quarters of 2026. The schedule identifies national banks and federal savings associations that will undergo CRA evaluations during this period. The OCC is encouraging public comment on the CRA-related activities of the scheduled banks, with comments to be submitted either directly to the banks at their listed mailing addresses or to the appropriate OCC supervisory office before the month of evaluation. All public comments received before the close of each CRA evaluation will be considered by the OCC. community-reinvestment-act cra evaluation-schedule https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-41.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-41.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Reserve, and FDIC have adopted a final rule modifying enhanced supplementary leverage ratio standards for the largest U.S. banking organizations. The rule reduces the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio requirement for covered institutions from 6 percent to a lower standard calculated as 3 percent plus the lesser of 1 percent or 50 percent of the bank holding company's risk-based capital surcharge. The modification removes the enhanced ratio from the prompt corrective action framework's "well capitalized" definition and instead implements it as a capital buffer that triggers distribution restrictions if breached. The changes are designed to ensure leverage ratios serve as backstops to risk-based requirements rather than binding constraints, thereby reducing disincentives for large banks to participate in low-risk activities like Treasury market intermediation. The rule becomes effective April 1, 2026, with optional early adoption available January 1, 2026, and does not apply to community banks. rulemaking regulatory-capital interagency https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-112.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-112.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule modifying certain regulatory capital standards for the largest and most systemically important banking organizations. The rule adjusts leverage capital standards to reduce disincentives for these institutions to engage in lower-risk activities such as intermediating in U.S. Treasury markets. For depository institution subsidiaries, the final rule caps the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio standard at one percent, making the overall requirement no more than four percent, which differs from the original proposal. The agencies estimate that overall capital levels will remain broadly unchanged, with tier 1 capital requirements for affected bank holding companies decreasing by less than two percent. The rule takes effect on April 1, 2026, with an option for early adoption beginning January 1, 2026. regulatory-capital interagency banking https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-40.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-40.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, along with the Federal Reserve and FDIC, has proposed revisions to the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework to reduce regulatory burden on qualifying community banks. The proposal would lower the minimum CBLR requirement from greater than 9 percent to greater than 8 percent of tier 1 capital divided by average total consolidated assets. Additionally, the grace period for banks temporarily failing to meet qualifying criteria would be extended from two quarters to four quarters, provided they maintain a leverage ratio above 7 percent. The framework applies to community banks with less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets that meet specific prudential criteria and choose to opt into the simplified capital adequacy measure. rulemaking regulatory-capital community-banks https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-111.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-ia-2025-111.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The federal bank regulatory agencies have proposed changes to the community bank leverage ratio framework that would reduce the required ratio from nine percent to eight percent. The proposal would also extend the grace period for banks that fall out of compliance from two quarters to four quarters. These modifications aim to reduce regulatory burden and provide community banks with greater flexibility in capital management while maintaining safety and soundness standards. The community bank leverage ratio framework, adopted in 2019, allows qualifying banks to use a simplified leverage ratio instead of calculating complex risk-based capital ratios. Public comments on the proposal are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. press-release regulatory-capital community-banks https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-39.html https://occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2025/bulletin-2025-39.html Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued a request for information seeking public comment on challenges community banks face when engaging with core service providers and other essential third-party service providers. The RFI addresses issues including contract negotiations, fees, billing practices, oversight, due diligence, innovation, core conversions, data access, and interoperability. The agency is also soliciting input on potential actions the OCC could take to address these challenges, including possible burden reduction related to supervisory practices and third-party risk management guidance. Comments must be submitted within 60 days of publication in the Federal Register, and the RFI does not impose any obligations or create any rights. public-comment third-party-service-providers community-banks