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OCC issues Comptroller’s Handbook booklet updating sampling methodologies
On May 26, the OCC issued Bulletin 2020-56 announcing the revision of the Sampling Methodologies booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. Among other things, the revised booklet (i) discusses the differences between statistical and judgmental sampling; (ii) details the OCC’s statistical sampling methodologies; and (iii) includes look-up tables covering statistical sample sizes and upper confidence bounds. The revised booklet is effective for supervisory activities beginning on or after June 15.
OCC issues Comptroller’s Handbook booklet updating interest rate risk
On March 26, the OCC issued Bulletin 2020-26 announcing the revision of the Interest Rate Risk booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook, which replaces the June 1997 version of the same name. The revised booklet “incorporates and reflects applicable statutes and regulations, guidance, and examination procedures,” and expands model risk and model risk management discussions, “including developing, reviewing, and stress testing model assumptions.” The revised booklet also provides guidelines “consistent with the Pillar 2 supervisory approach outlined in the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book.”
OCC issues Comptroller’s Handbook booklet updating deposit-related credit guidance
On March 12, the OCC issued Bulletin 2020-14 announcing the revision of the Deposit-Related Credit booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook that was issued in September 2018. The revised booklet provides guidance for OCC examiners in connection with the examination and supervision of national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banking organizations that provide small-dollar, unsecured credit products and services such as check credit, overdraft protection, and deposit advance products. The revised booklet includes, among other things, (i) updated guidance following the rescission of OCC Bulletin 2018-28, Deposit-Related Credit: Updated Comptroller’s Handbook Booklet Advance Products (previously covered by InfoBytes here); (ii) changes to OCC issuances, laws, and regulations made since the last booklet; (iii) information explaining the applicability of references to covered savings associations; and (iv) clarifying edits regarding supervisory guidance and sound risk management practices. An appendix containing a sample request letter is also included.
OCC updates PTFA booklet in Comptroller’s Handbook
On March 2, the OCC announced an update to the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. The revised booklet is intended to provide examiners with information and procedures concerning foreclosure activities and related consumer protections under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 (PTFA). Among other things, the booklet provides a summary of requirements and addresses risks associated with a bank’s compliance with PTFA. The OCC notes that the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act made permanent certain sections of PTFA, and states that the applicable provisions “apply to any immediate successor in interest—including banks—that foreclose on a federally related mortgage loan or on any dwelling or residential real property, as defined in section 3 of [RESPA], that is subject to a bona fide lease, as defined in the PTFA and in 12 USC 2602.”
OCC updates four booklets in Comptroller’s Handbook
On September 30, the OCC issued updates to four booklets of the Comptroller’s Handbook: Bank Supervision Process, Community Bank Supervision, Federal Branches and Agencies Supervision, and Large Bank Supervision. Among other things, the updates include (i) the interim final rule for the expanded 18-month supervisory cycle for certain institutions (covered by InfoBytes here); (ii) a revised OCC report of examination policy based on the revised Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council report of examination policy; (iii) the revisions to the OCC’s enforcement action policies (covered by InfoBytes here); and (iv) changes to the OCC’s credit underwriting assessment.
OCC updates risk governance and audit booklets
On July 25, the OCC announced the issuance of a fully revised “Corporate and Risk Governance” booklet for the Comptroller’s Handbook, as well as limited updates to the “Internal and External Audits” booklet for examiners completing core assessments affected by audit functions. Among other things, the revised “Corporate and Risk Governance” booklet is intended to provide examiners with a summary of corporate and risk governance, related risks, the board’s role and responsibilities in corporate and risk governance, strategic planning, and examination procedures. The revised booklet identifies the following as the primary risk categories associated with corporate and risk governance: (i) strategic; (ii) reputation; (iii) compliance; and (iv) operational. Updates to both booklets incorporate references to relevant OCC issuances and auditing standards published since the booklets were last issued, reflect the integration of federal savings associations into certain regulations, and make clarifying edits regarding supervisory guidance, sound risk management practices, legal language, and the roles of the bank’s board and management.
OCC updates RESPA booklet in Comptroller’s Handbook
On May 7, the OCC announced an update to the RESPA booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. Among other things, the revisions to the booklet reflect updates to Regulation X made by the CFPB in recent years, including (i) the establishment and implementation of a definition of “successor in interest;” (ii) compliance with certain servicing requirements when a person is a debtor in bankruptcy; and (iii) clarifications and revisions to the provisions regarding force-placed insurance notices, policy and procedure requirements, and early intervention and loss mitigation requirements.
OCC updates recovery planning threshold in Comptroller’s Handbook
On March 15, the OCC announced an update to the Recovery Planning booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. Among other things, the revised booklet explains the purpose of effective recovery planning and provides guidance for OCC examiners to use when assessing the “appropriateness and adequacy of [a] covered bank’s recovery planning process and the integration of that process into the covered bank’s overall risk governance framework.” The updates reflect revisions made to the agency’s rule on enforceable guidelines, published December 27, 2018, which increased the average total consolidated assets threshold from $50 billion to $250 billion for covered insured national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches that are required to comply, unless determined otherwise. Additionally, a bank must now comply with the guidelines within 12 months after it first becomes subject to the guidelines.
OCC issues statement on student loan rehabilitation programs
On December 27, the OCC released Bulletin 2018-48, which announces an update to the “Student Lending” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook to include information about the rehabilitation programs for private education loans authorized under Section 602 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (the Act), signed into law in May 2018. Section 602 amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to give student loan borrowers the option to request the removal of student loan default information from their credit report, if, among other things, (i) the lender offers a Section 602 rehabilitation program that has been approved by the bank’s appropriate federal regulator; (ii) the borrower meets the bank’s program criteria, including a demonstrated willingness and ability to repay the loan; and (iii) the borrower has not previously removed a default on the same loan. Although the Act does not require lenders to offer a Section 602 rehabilitation program, those that do are entitled to a safe harbor from claims of inaccurate reporting for removing a default.
The Bulletin also details the process for obtaining regulatory approval for a Section 602 rehabilitation program. The Bulletin notes that banks intending to establish a Section 602 program must seek written approval from their supervisory office concerning the proposed program, and that the office will review the program to ensure it is consistent with the Act’s minimum requirements, other applicable laws and regulations, and safe and sound banking principles. The OCC will provide feedback or notify the bank of its decision within 120 days of the request.
OCC updates Comptroller’s Handbook booklets, addresses trade finance and services activities
On October 15, the OCC issued Bulletin 2018-38, which updates, among other things, the “Trade Finance and Services” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook previously issued in April 2015. The booklet provides guidance for OCC examiners to use in connection with the examination and supervision of national banks and federal savings associations that engage in international trade finance and services activites, including “letters of credit, guarantees, acceptances, open account financing, other specialized trade financing, financial supply chain solutions, prepayment, advising, trade collections, bank-to-bank reimbursement services, insourcing/outsourcing trade processing, and hedging services.”
The updated booklet (i) incorporates references to relevant OCC issuances published since April 2015; (ii) reflects the integration of federal savings associations into certain regulations; and (iii) makes “clarifying edits regarding supervisory guidance, sound risk management practices, legal language, or the roles of the bank’s board or management.”
Bulletin 2018-38 also updates the “Agricultural Lending” and “Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Lending” booklets and rescinds previously issued corresponding bulletins.