OCC to Pause Fair Lending Exams

According to a major news outlet, the OCC recently informed staff via an internal email that it will “defer” all fair lending exams through January 31, 2026, and that all pending fair lending reviews are to be paused immediately.  The email reportedly directed examiners to consult with their managers on how to address existing fair lending-related issues which were noted in exams or where banks were instructed to take corrective action.  Further, all of the OCC’s fair lending trainings are suspended.

The OCC’s pause of fair lending exams comes after other recent changes to its fair lending enforcement, including removal of disparate impact provisions from its examination manual pursuant to an April 2025 executive order (see prior coverage here).