OCC

Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting explains why his agency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. have moved forward with a proposal to change the 42-year-old CRA.

Regulators’ sweeping proposal to reform implementation of the Community Reinvestment Act has drawn strong opinions on both sides.

The long-awaited proposal by the OCC and FDIC to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act would seek to make grading simpler and more transparent while allowing banks to spread loans and investments across a broader geographic area.

In a rare move, the House Financial Services Committee chairwoman will lead a congressional delegation to a public FDIC board meeting as it considers releasing a proposal to rework the Community Reinvestment Act.

The Fed chairman said he has not given up on the central bank agreeing with other regulatory agencies on a plan to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act, but admitted, "I don’t know whether that will be possible or not.”

The agency’s semiannual report warned institutions to be mindful of operational risks from the innovation in core banking systems, and detailed supervisory steps to monitor the adoption of a new reference rate.

The banking industry could finally have answers soon on the degree of agreement between regulators reforming the Community Reinvestment Act, how they envision CRA zones of the future and other key matters.

The meeting scheduled for Dec. 12 will also include discussion of a proposal on the agency's definition of brokered deposits.

Lawmakers blasted an apparent decision by the OCC and FDIC to move forward with a proposal to reform the Community Reinvestment Act without the support of the Fed.

Instead of imposing interest rate caps, policymakers should require online lenders to provide clear disclosures and promote partnerships with banks.