Capital Briefs: Small Banks Could Get Break from OCC

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Monday proposed a series of changes to help small national banks.

To help these banks qualify for subchapter S treatment, the proposal would make it easier for a bank to acquire outstanding shares of its stock and to pay cash to shareholders for their stock interests. Board members of small banks could also acquire qualifying shares from shareholders under buyback agreements.

These proposals are part of Comptroller John D. Hawke Jr.'s larger plan to ease the regulatory burden on banks with less than $1 billion of assets. Comments are due Aug. 11.

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