Bulletin outlines processes for input from states on national banks’ performance under local community reinvestment laws

Processes for considering input from state banking commissioners regarding national banks’ performance under state community reinvestment laws are addressed in a bulletin issued Wednesday by the national bank regulator.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said its bulletin 2022-2 also addresses implementation of community reinvestment-related provisions of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act (Riegle-Neal Act), which the agency noted does not apply to federal savings associations, which are regulated and supervised by the OCC.

The agency said its bulletin also addresses expectations regarding the handling of consumer complaints that state officials refer to national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks) and state referrals of complaints to the OCC.

The OCC said the highlights of the bulletin include that it outlines agency policy and procedures for considering state input on Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance of OCC-supervised banks. Other highlights of the bulletin are that it:

  • includes an email address for state banking commissioners to submit input regarding a national bank’s record of performance under applicable state community reinvestment laws;
  • provides general guidance for banks on handling consumer complaints that state officials refer to banks and addresses state referrals of complaints to the OCC;
  • provides updated mailing addresses for the OCC’s Customer Assistance Group and the OCC’s Chief Counsel’s Office.

OCC Bulletin 2022-2: State Community Reinvestment Laws; Consumer Complaints: Input From State Officials and Consumer Complaint Referrals From States