In response to a request from three Democratic House members, the GAO recently issued a report on its review of fair lending oversight conducted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. According to a Law360 report, the lawmakers had petitioned the GAO nearly two years ago to open an investigation into allegations that
OCC
OCC highlights risks associated with compliance staffing concerns, Russia sanctions, environmental crimes, cyber attacks and digital assets
On June 23, 2022, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released its Semiannual Risk Perspective (SRP) for spring 2022. In the SRP, the OCC opines on its current safety and soundness concerns for banks under its regulatory umbrella, focusing on Russia sanctions, climate-related risk, and rising inflation. Despite these challenges, the OCC…
Key differences between the OCC’s rescinded 2020 CRA final rule and the 2022 CRA revisions proposed by U.S. banking regulators
As we previously reported, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) rescinded its 2020 Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) final rule (the “2020 CRA Final Rule” or the “Rescinded Rule”) in December 2021 and has since been operating under a CRA framework largely based on the OCC’s 1995 CRA rule (the “1995 Rule”)…
OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve propose amendments to CRA regulations
After moving alone in 2020 to reform its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has joined the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Federal Reserve Board in issuing a joint notice of proposed rulemaking setting forth proposed amendments to their regulations implementing the CRA. The action follows…
OCC targets BSA/AML compliance by Anchorage Digital Bank – only 15 months after granting bank charter to the crypto custodian
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency entered into a Consent Order with Anchorage Digital Bank (“Anchorage”), which requires Anchorage to create a compliance committee and take steps to remediate alleged shortcomings with respect to the implementation and effectiveness of Anchorage’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”) program. Notably, Anchorage will pay no civil penalty.
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California federal district court upholds OCC and FDIC “Madden-fix” rules
A California federal district court judge has rejected challenges to the OCC’s and FDIC’s Madden-fix rules brought in two separate lawsuits by state attorneys general. The OCC rule is codified at 12 C.F.R. Section 7.4001(e) and the FDIC rule is codified at 12 C.F.R. Section 160.110(d). The rules provide that a loan made by…
OCC approves national bank charter applications of fintech company
The OCC announced this week that it has conditionally approved applications from Social Finance Inc. (SoFi) to create SoFi Bank, National Association (SoFi Bank, N.A.), as a full service national bank headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.
The OCC’s press release indicates that as part of the transaction, SoFi Bank, N.A. is acquiring Golden Pacific Bank,…
CSBS withdraws lawsuit seeking to block OCC approval of Figure Technologies charter application
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has withdrawn its lawsuit filed in D.C. federal district court in December 2020 seeking to block the OCC from granting a national bank charter to Figure Technologies Inc. The lawsuit represented the CSBS’s third challenge to the OCC’s authority to issue special purpose national bank (SPNB) charters to…
OCC Requests Feedback on Principles of Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Banks
On December 16, 2021, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) released draft principles for climate-related financial risk management for large banks. Feedback must be submitted by February 14, 2022.
The OCC is looking for feedback on all aspects of the draft principles. Noting the emerging risks to banks and the financial system…
OCC issues final rule rescinding June 2020 CRA rule and restoring 1995 framework
On December 4, 2021, the OCC issued a final rule that rescinds its June 2020 Consumer Reinvestment Act (CRA) final rule and replaces it with a rule that is largely based on the OCC’s 1995 CRA rule that was adopted jointly with the Federal Reserve Board and FDIC. The final rule is effective January 1,…