Archives

April 19, 2025 @ 10:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced that it has “conditionally” approved the merger of Discover Bank, Greenwood, Delaware, into Capital One, National Association, McLean, Virginia. The OCC conducted a fulsome review of the application “submitted March 21, 2024, to ensure all… Read More

March 21, 2025 @ 11:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced that it will no longer examine its regulated institutions for “reputation risk” and is removing references to reputation risk from its Comptroller’s Handbook booklets and guidance issuances. These actions reportedly aim to support the OCC’s… Read More

March 9, 2025 @ 4:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) took action to affirm that a range of cryptocurrency activities are permissible in the federal banking system. The previous administration had sought to deter regulated banks to participate in crypto affiliated activities. The OCC published Interpretive… Read More

February 10, 2025 @ 6:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

Rodney E. Hood has been selected as Acting Comptroller of the Currency. The US Department of Treasury said Hood’s leadership of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is effective immediately. Hood replaces Acting Comptroller Michael J. Hsu, who has been Comptroller since May… Read More

July 14, 2024 @ 7:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has recently issued an amendment to its October 7, 2020, Cease and Desist Order against Citibank, N.A, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, related “to deficiencies in enterprise-wide risk management, compliance risk management, data governance, and internal controls… Read More

June 8, 2024 @ 9:30 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

The American Fintech Council (AFC), an industry association representing Fintech companies and banks, applauded the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on the expansion of REACh 2.0 and continued commitment to collaboration. The AFC said the agency has continued its pragmatic approach to… Read More

March 16, 2024 @ 5:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) recently announced a $250 million civil money penalty against JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JPMC) (NYSE: JPM) related to deficiencies in its trade surveillance program. The OCC found that JPMC allegedly operated “with gaps in trading venue… Read More

December 11, 2023 @ 10:17 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

The CEO of the American Fintech Council voiced his support for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s recent statements on BNPL products. Phil Goldfeder said they provide clarity for banks and fintechs that offer responsible BNPL services. Goldfeder explained that responsibility includes identifying… Read More

April 26, 2023 @ 10:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Representative Patrick McHenry, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has joined with Representatives French Hill, Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion Subcommittee Chairman, and Bill Huizenga, Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman, to send letters to federal agencies demanding information on the move to de-bank… Read More

February 23, 2023 @ 12:18 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), have joined once again in issuing a warning on crypto. Last month, the three federal entities issued a statement cautioning banks… Read More

November 15, 2022 @ 5:12 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael J. Hsu, testified in front of the Senate Committee on Banking today. In prepared testimony, the Acting Comptroller outlined his priorities for the bank regulator. In opening statements, the Chair of the Committee, Senator Sherrod Brown, took a… Read More

October 30, 2022 @ 1:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently announced it will “establish an Office of Financial Technology early next year to bolster the agency’s expertise and ability to adapt to a rapidly changing banking landscape.” The Office of Financial Technology will “build on and… Read More

May 30, 2022 @ 12:28 pm By JD Alois  |  

Speaking recently at the DC Blockchain Summit, acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu took the crypto industry to task in light of the spectacular collapse of TerraUSD (UST) – an aspiring algorithmic stablecoin that failed in its mission. Hsu lambasted the sector of Fintech… Read More

April 21, 2022 @ 4:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

  Anchorage Digital Bank, the first-ever charted digital asset bank, has been hit with a consent order from the Office of the Currency of the Comptroller (OCC), the lead federal bank regulator. According to a statement by the OCC, that action was taken due to… Read More

April 8, 2022 @ 11:35 am By JD Alois  |  

Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael J. Hsu, has shared his thoughts on stablecoins and how they should be regulated. As the Biden Administration has messaged its intent to review digital assets as well as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins, the most pressing… Read More

April 1, 2022 @ 6:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael J. Hsu, addressed the American Bankers this week speaking about “tail risks” – or low probability, high impact risk events. In a world pummelled by geopolitical challenges like Russia’s war with Ukraine, and the ever-present concern of cyberattacks, Hsu… Read More

January 18, 2022 @ 5:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved  SoFi’s (NASDAQ:SOFI) application to operate a bank. According to the OCC, SoFi Bank National Association (SoFi Bank, N.A.), may operate as a full-service national bank headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. As part of… Read More

December 7, 2021 @ 5:57 pm By JD Alois  |  

President Joe Biden has withdrawn the nomination of Saule Omarova to become the Comptroller of the Currency, according to a statement by the Whitehouse. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is an independent bureau under the US Department of Treasury and the lead… Read More

November 25, 2021 @ 9:48 am By JD Alois  |  

The confirmation of Saule Omarova, President Joe Biden’s selection to head the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) – the top bank regulator, appears to be doomed as multiple Democrat Senators have expressed to the Whitehouse they will not support the nominee. Omarova,… Read More

November 3, 2021 @ 7:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu delivered a compelling speech today during a presentation at the American Fintech Council, Fintech Policy Summit. The AFC largely represents digital and neo-banks as well as non-bank lenders. Hsu recently spoke at a Blockchain Association event where he… Read More