The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recently updated the structure and references of the OCC Cybersecurity Supervision Work Program (CSW) used by examiners. As cyberattacks evolve and as banks adopt various standardized tools and frameworks to assess cybersecurity preparedness, the OCC continues to…
Why this matters
This is an administrative update to the OCC's Cybersecurity Supervision Work Program that realigns its structure with the updated NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The bulletin explicitly states that no new procedures were added, no new regulatory expectations were established, and banks are not required to use this work...
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 August 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026.
Why this matters
This is a standard OCC news release announcing the public disclosure of Community Reinvestment Act performance ratings for a cohort of national banks and federal savings associations.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released its schedule of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) evaluations to be conducted in the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027.
Why this matters
This is a standard OCC administrative announcement of the Community Reinvestment Act evaluation schedule for Q4 2026 and Q1 2027. It informs banks when they will be evaluated and invites public comment, but contains no new rules, guidance, or enforcement actions.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Justice, and Federal Housing Finance Agency are rescinding the "Interagency Statement on Special…
AI Analysis
On August 25, 2026, the OCC and six other federal agencies rescinded the 2022 Interagency Statement on Special Purpose Credit Programs and OCC Bulletin 2022-3. The rescission removes that guidance as a reference point and emphasizes that special purpose credit programs must not discriminate on prohibited bases under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Regulation B, and, where applicable, the Fair Housing Act.
Key dates
2026-04-22
The CFPB published a final rule amending Regulation B provisions concerning special purpose credit programs, including new restrictions applicable to programs offered or participated in by for-profit organizations.
2026-07-21
The CFPB's Regulation B amendments became effective. For-profit special purpose credit programs offered or participated in on or after this date must comply with the amended requirements, including the prohibition on using race, color, national origin, or sex as a common eligibility criterion.
2026-08-25
The seven agencies rescinded the 2022 interagency statement and OCC Bulletin 2022-3, effective immediately. Creditors should no longer rely on those issuances or related guidance.
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to inventory special purpose credit programs, marketing, eligibility criteria, underwriting policies, written plans, and monitoring practices that were developed or supported by the 2022 interagency statement, OCC Bulletin 2022-3, or related guidance.
Firms should consider reassessing any program that uses race, color, national origin, or sex as a common eligibility criterion, particularly for credit extended on or after July 21, 2026, against 12 CFR 1002.8 as amended.
For-profit creditors may wish to confirm that each written special purpose credit program plan contains evidence of need, explains why the relevant class would not receive credit under the organization's ordinary creditworthiness standards, and supports any eligibility characteristic used by the program.
Compliance teams may wish to remove rescinded guidance from policies, procedures, training materials, legal inventories, product governance documents, and examiner-facing materials, while retaining records needed to explain prior program design and implementation.
Firms should consider reviewing program communications and applicant data practices for potential discrimination or misleading reliance on the rescinded statement, including communications suggesting that protected-class distinctions are broadly authorized.
Banks and credit unions may wish to brief fair-lending, legal, product, underwriting, marketing, and model-risk stakeholders and document the governance decision regarding whether each program should be amended, suspended, or continued under current law.
What changed
The 2022 interagency statement and OCC Bulletin 2022-3 are rescinded, effective immediately, and creditors are instructed not to rely on those issuances or related guidance. The rescission does not eliminate the statutory or regulatory framework for special purpose credit programs under ECOA and Regulation B, including 12 CFR 1002.8; rather, it clarifies that those programs remain subject to applicable fair-lending prohibitions. The agencies specifically identify the prior version of Regulation B referenced by the 2022 statement as having been amended.
Compliance impact
The rescission creates a meaningful fair-lending and product-governance risk for creditors whose special purpose credit programs relied on the withdrawn guidance, although it does not itself create a new statutory prohibition or abolish Regulation B's special purpose credit program provisions. Regulatory and litigation exposure may increase where a program uses prohibited characteristics, lacks the documentation required by amended 12 CFR 1002.8, or treats the rescinded statement as a safe harbor.
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould today discussed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) work under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to support the Administration's efforts to grow the economy and lead the global digital currency…
Why this matters
This is a news release documenting a Comptroller speech at an industry event. It contains noteworthy regulatory signals: (1) an eightfold increase in digital asset-related bank charter applications (23 of 40 recent applications), (2) confirmation that a final GENIUS Act rule will be issued by November 2026, and (3)...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released its annual update to the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS).
Why this matters
This is an informational news release announcing the OCC's annual update to the Bank Accounting Advisory Series. The BAAS is explicitly stated as non-binding interpretive guidance rather than rules or regulations.
The OCC has issued the 2026 edition of the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS). The BAAS contains staff responses to frequently asked questions from the banking industry and bank examiners on a variety of accounting topics and promotes consistent application of accounting standards and regulatory reporting among…
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin announcing the 2026 edition of the Bank Accounting Advisory Series (BAAS), which the OCC explicitly states does not represent rules or regulations but rather interpretive guidance on accounting standards.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency continues to prioritize reinvigorating de novo chartering to build a robust, diverse banking system that supports the U.S. economy and commends the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for its recent efforts to do the same.
Why this matters
This is a news release announcing policy priorities and regulatory alignment rather than a binding rule or enforcement action. The content specifically addresses de novo chartering processes, application timelines, and encouragement of new entrants including fintech and digital asset-focused entities.
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 July 1, 2026, through July 30, 2026.
Why this matters
This is an administrative news release announcing the public disclosure of Community Reinvestment Act performance ratings for a specific cohort of national banks and federal savings associations.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued a revised compliance guide for the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework as part of its ongoing work to provide regulatory relief for community banks.
Why this matters
This is a news release announcing a revised compliance guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework that became effective July 1, 2026. The update provides guidance to help community banks understand the revisions and outlines multiple regulatory relief measures (simplified capital requirements, reduced...
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively, the agencies) are publishing revisions to the Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework.
AI Analysis
The OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC issued an updated Community Bank Compliance Guide for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) framework to reflect rule changes effective July 1, 2026. For community banks that use the optional CBLR election, the practical significance is a lower qualifying leverage threshold and a more flexible grace-period mechanism for temporary noncompliance.
Key dates
2026-07-01
Revisions to the CBLR framework became effective, including the lower 8% threshold and revised grace-period rules
2026-07-30
OCC Bulletin 2026-34 published the updated Community Bank Compliance Guide
Suggested considerations
Compliance teams may wish to review whether current capital planning and reporting processes reflect the revised 8% CBLR entry threshold.
Firms that use or may elect the CBLR framework may wish to reassess whether they can remain above the 7% grace-period floor during any temporary noncompliance.
Banks may wish to confirm how the four-quarter cure period and the eight-quarter cap over five years would operate in their internal capital contingency planning.
Community banking organizations may wish to reconcile the updated guide with the text of the capital rule, since the guide is only a summary and not binding legal text.
What changed
The agencies revised the non-binding compliance guide to align with the updated CBLR framework in the capital rule. The key substantive change is the minimum leverage ratio for CBLR qualification, which was lowered from greater than 9% to greater than 8%. The grace period for a bank that elects the CBLR framework but temporarily fails to meet the qualifying criteria was revised from two quarters to four quarters, provided the bank maintains a leverage ratio greater than 7% and does not exceed eight quarters in grace-period status over a five-year period.
Compliance impact
The OCC describes this as a regulatory-relief update for qualifying community banks, with the main compliance impact being easier access to the CBLR framework and more time to cure temporary breaches. The consequence of dropping to 7% or below is the need to return to the generally applicable risk-based capital standards.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued version 2.0 of the "Allowances for Credit Losses" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook. The booklet provides information for examiners regarding allowances for credit losses under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326, "Financial Instruments-Credit…
Why this matters
This is an informational bulletin updating the Comptroller's Handbook to reflect the now-mandatory CECL accounting standard (ASC Topic 326) and interagency policy revisions. It rescinds prior guidance and provides examiners with current supervisory expectations for credit loss allowances.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), along with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively, the agencies), issued a joint statement today on the handling of highly sensitive information during examinations of supervised banks.
Why this matters
This is a policy statement issued jointly by OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC addressing examination procedures and data security practices for supervised banks. It establishes binding expectations around identification, minimization, and handling of highly sensitive information, plus a specific 72-hour breach...
Agencies Issue Joint Statement on Handling of Highly Sensitive Information During Bank Examinations The federal bank regulatory agencies today issued a joint statement describing enhanced security procedures for review of highly sensitive information in connection with examinations of supervised banks, such as…
Why this matters
This is a coordinated policy statement from the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC describing enhanced procedures for managing highly sensitive information during bank examinations.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today issued the "Lending and Loan Portfolio Risk Management" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook.
Why this matters
The OCC Bulletin 2026-29 announces the issuance of a revised 'Lending and Loan Portfolio Risk Management' booklet that rescissions and combines multiple prior guidance documents.