OCC Finalizes Rules to Reduce Regulatory Burden for Community Banks

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recently issued two final rules aimed both at reducing the regulatory burdens of national banks and federal savings associations and tailoring bank supervision and regulation to the institution’s risk profile. 

Under Bulletin 2026-05, the OCC is officially rescinding the Fair Housing Home Loan Data System regulation under 12 CFR 27.  The OCC determined that these data collection and recordkeeping requirements were obsolete and duplicative of existing obligations under HMDA and ECOA. By removing this burden, the OCC aims to level the playing field for national banks and their subsidiaries without having a material impact on the OCC’s ability to conduct fair housing and fair lending supervisory activities.

Simultaneously, Bulletin 2026-06 simplifies licensing requirements for “covered community banks,” defined as national banks or savings associations with less than $30 billion in total assets that meet specific capital and supervisory criteria, and provides such institutions access to all currently available expedited or reduced filing procedures. This rule broadens eligibility for expedited review and reduced filing procedures for corporate activities, including business combinations, branch establishments, and capital reorganizations.

Both final rules become effective on April 3, 2026.