OCC: Proposed Guidance Issued on CRA Simplified Strategic Plan Process to Reduce Regulatory Burden for Community Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued proposed guidance for a simplified strategic plan process for community banks to comply with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The OCC’s action builds on a series of reforms the OCC announced in October and November to reduce burden and tailor examination activities for community banks. “Community banks are…
OCC: Mortgage Performance Report Issued for Third Quarter of 2025
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the third quarter of 2025. The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Third Quarter 2025 showed that 97.4 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, remaining unchanged…
Agencies Announce Dollar Thresholds for Smaller Loan Exemption from Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today announced that the 2026 threshold for higher-priced mortgage loans that are subject to special appraisal requirements will increase from $33,500 to $34,200. The threshold amount will be effective January 1, 2026, and is based on the…
ABA: Statement Issued on OCC’s Announcement Regarding National Trust Charters
“Today’s decision by the OCC to approve conditionally a group of novel national trust charters raises important questions about the scope and oversight of these institutions. While innovation in financial services can benefit consumers, it is critical that any chartered entity operates under a regulatory framework that appropriately addresses its activities and risks. We are…
ICBA: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Approval of Five National Trust Charter Applications
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed opposition to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s conditional approval opens in a new tab of five national trust bank charter applications from nonbank fintechs. ICBA has repeatedly said in letters to the OCC that the agency lacks statutory authority to expand trust powers under Interpretive…
OCC: Conditional Approvals Announced for Five National Bank Charter Applications
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced its conditional approval of five national trust bank charter applications. Subject to meeting the OCC’s conditions, these institutions will join approximately 60 other national trust banks currently supervised by the OCC. In granting these conditional approvals, the OCC applied the same rigorous review and…
OCC: Comptroller Issues Statement on Bank Supervision and Regulation at the Financial Stability Oversight Council Meeting
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today issued a statement at the Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting about the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) work to strengthen its supervision and regulation of banks to better support the U.S. economy. In his statement, Comptroller Gould discussed the OCC’s recent regulatory efforts to…
OCC: Preliminary Findings Released from OCC Review of Large Banks’ Debanking Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released preliminary findings from its supervisory review of debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises: JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank. The OCC conducted its supervisory review…
OCC: Agency Confirms Bank Authority to Engage in Riskless Principal Crypto-Asset Transactions
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today confirmed permissible bank activities related to riskless principal transactions in crypto-assets. The OCC published Interpretive Letter 1188 confirming that a national bank may engage in riskless principal crypto-asset transactions as part of the business of banking. Such transactions involve a bank acting as principal in…
OCC: Comptroller Gould Discusses De Novo Charters
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today discussed the agency’s activities to reinvigorate the chartering of new banks following the 2008 financial crisis in remarks at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit. In his remarks, Comptroller Gould explained the importance of a robust pipeline of de novo banks to a healthy financial system and the…