Banks affected by severe weather conditions associated with Hurricane Lane in the Hawaiian Islands were given the green light to close by the federal regulator national banks, in a statement released Friday.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks are allowed by the agency to closed. However, the OCC said it expects that only those bank offices directly affected by potentially unsafe conditions will close. “Those offices should make every effort to reopen as quickly as possible to address the banking needs of their customers,” the agency stated.
The agency said its Bulletin 2012-28 “Supervisory Guidance on Natural Disasters and Other Emergency Conditions” provides guidance on actions bankers could consider implementing when their bank or savings association operates or has customers in areas affected by a natural disaster or other emergency.