OCC: Fintech Business Model for a National Bank Conditionally Approved
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced conditional approval of the application for financial technology (fintech) company SmartBiz Loans to change the business model of CenTrust Bank, N.A., Northbrook, Illinois, upon its acquisition of CenTrust Bank, N.A. Upon acquisition, CenTrust Bank, N.A. was renamed SmartBiz Bank, N.A. CenTrust further applied to…
OCC: Agency to Host Virtual Innovation Office Hours in May
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced virtual Office Hours with its Office of Financial Technology on May 6-8, 2025, to promote responsible innovation in the federal banking system. Office Hours are an opportunity for banks and financial technology (fintech) companies to engage with OCC staff on matters related to bank-fintech…
Agencies Issue 2024 Shared National Credit Program
Federal bank regulatory agencies today reported in the 2024 Shared National Credit (SNC) report that credit risk associated with large, syndicated bank loans remains moderate. However, the agencies noted weakened credit quality trends continue due to the pressure of higher interest rates on leveraged borrowers and compressed operating margins in some industry sectors. The agencies…
OCC: Agency Clarifies Bank Authority to Engage in Certain Cryptocurrency Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today took action to reaffirm that a range of cryptocurrency activities are permissible in the federal banking system. The OCC published Interpretive Letter 1183 to confirm that crypto-asset custody, certain stablecoin activities, and participation in independent node verification networks such as distributed ledger are permissible for…
ICBA: ICBA Applauds Treasury Secretary Bessent for Pro-Community Bank Remarks and Support for Independence of Prudential Banking Regulators
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today applauded Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for his remarks supporting community banks and committing to the continued independence of the nation’s prudential banking regulators and dual banking system. “ICBA and the nation’s community banks strongly support Secretary Bessent’s remarks on the positive role of community banks to Main…
OCC: Second and Third Quarter 2025 CRA Evaluation Schedule Issued
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released its schedule of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) evaluations to be conducted in the second and third quarters of 2025. The OCC encourages public comment on the CRA-related activities of the national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) scheduled to be evaluated under the…
ICBA: Statement Issued Opposing Consolidation of the Nation’s Banking Regulators
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey issued the following statement opposing the consolidation of the nation’s banking regulators. “While Wall Street bank executives and others have called for consolidating the nation’s banking regulators, ICBA and community bankers have long supported the independence of the federal banking agencies and our…
ABA: Statement on Nominations of Jonathan Gould as Comptroller of the Currency and Jonathan McKernan as CFPB Director
“We congratulate Jonathan Gould on his nomination to serve as comptroller of the currency. His prior experience at the OCC – as well as his time as a top staffer on the Senate Banking Committee and as a financial regulatory attorney – will serve him well as the agency continues its important mission to promote…
ABA: ABA, Federal Reserve and OCC Leaders to Address Community Bankers at ABA Conference; Livestream Available February 17th and 18th
ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols, ABA Chair and Atlantic Union Bankshares CEO John Asbury, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman, San Francisco Fed President Mary C. Daly and Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood will address community bankers from across the country at the American Bankers Association’s Conference for Community Bankers next week in Phoenix….