OCC issues bulletin to community banks on SBA lending activities

Agency Rule-Making & Guidance OCC Small Business Lending SBA Bank Regulatory

On August 5, the OCC issued Bulletin 2021-34 to inform banks and examiners on risk management principles consistent with safe and sound banking practices when engaging in SBA guaranteed lending programs. According to the OCC, “[a] bank’s SBA lending activities, including purchasing investments backed by SBA-guaranteed loans, should be consistent with the bank’s overall business plans, strategies, risk appetite, and sound risk management.” The bulletin notes that primary risk areas associated with SBA lending activities are credit, operational, compliance, liquidity, price, and strategic risks. The bulletin also highlights sound risk management principles, such as strategic planning, policies and processes, personnel, and control systems, and highlights that the bank’s board “should have satisfactory knowledge of and engage in sound oversight of SBA lending.”