OCC Finalizes Rule Banning Industrial, Commercial Metal Dealing

Federal Issues Banking OCC Bank Compliance

Last week, on December 28, 2016, the OCC announced the release of its final rule to prohibit national banks and federal savings associations from dealing or investing in industrial or commercial metals. Under the new restrictions, banks will no longer be permitted to deal or invest in metals and alloys in forms primarily suited for industrial or commercial purposes, such as copper cathodes, aluminum T-bars and gold jewelry. The final rule is effective as of April 1, 2017, and includes a divestiture period, which provides for institutions that previously acquired industrial or commercial metal through dealing or investing to unwind their investments as soon as practicable, but not later than April 1, 2018. The OCC may also—on a case-by-case basis—grant up to four separate one-year extensions of the divestiture period if the bank has made a good faith effort to dispose of its existing investments and the bank’s retention of the metal is not inconsistent with safe and sound operation.