WASHINGTON Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., have unveiled legislation that would allow more community banks to qualify for an 18-month exam schedule rather than an annual one.
The bill, introduced Thursday, would raise the threshold from $500 million to $1 billion of assets for well-managed banks. Banks smaller than $1 billion with high ratings would be eligible to move to the 18-month exam schedule.
We have a strong community bank presence across our state and they help create opportunities for many Hoosier businesses and families, said Donnelly in a press release. This legislation would make a common sense update to existing rules in order to make things a little easier for those banks that are in good standing.
Rep. Sam Tipton, R-Colo., introduced similar legislation in the House last month. Regulators, including Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry, have also endorsed raising the cutoff.
We have long believed that healthy, well-managed community banks ought to qualify for the 18-month examination cycle, he said in a