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NYDFS Submits Comment Letter Opposing OCC FinTech Charter
On January 17, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Superintendent Maria T. Vullo submitted a comment letter in stern opposition to the OCC proposal to create a new FinTech charter, stating that the proposed regulatory scheme is not authorized by federal law and would create a number of problems, including a serious risk of regulatory confusion and uncertainty. New York’s top financial regulator is of the opinion that “the OCC should not use technological advances as an excuse to attempt to usurp state laws.” More specifically, NYDFS’ contends, among other things, that: (i) state regulators are better equipped to regulate cash-intensive nonbank financial service companies; (ii) a national charter is likely to stifle rather than encourage innovation; (iii) the proposal could permit companies to engage in regulatory arbitrage and avoid state consumer protection laws; and (iv) a national charter would encourage large “too big to fail” institutions, permitting a small number of technology-savvy firms to dominate different types of financial services.
An interview of Superintendent Vullo discussing this topic may be accessed here.
PA Secretary of Banking and Securities Voices Concerns About OCC FinTech Charter
On January 17, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Robin L. Wiessmann, submitted a comment letter calling upon the OCC to give “more thoughtful deliberation about the intended and unintended consequences that will result from such an apparent departure from the OCC’s current policy and scope of supervision.” Specifically, Wiessman requested that the federal bank regulator address three concerns regarding: (i) the broad application and ambiguity of the term “fintech”; (ii) the need by the OCC to have an adequate regulatory scheme in place before approving charters; and (iii) the possible federal preemption of existing state consumer protection laws. The Secretary’s letter echoes many of the concerns raised in a recent comment letter submitted by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) “reiterating its opposition to the [OCC] proposal to issue a special charter for fintech companies.”
OCC FinTech Proposal Draws a Range of Comments from Industry Stakeholders
A number of stakeholders submitted comment letters this week in response to the OCC's recent proposal to move forward with developing a special purpose national bank charter for financial technology (“FinTech”) companies and accompanying white paper outlining the OCC’s authority to grant such charters to FinTech companies and potential minimum supervisory standards for successful FinTech bank applicants. With the comment period for its white paper closing this week, the bank regulator drew a range of reactions from the stakeholders, several of which are described below:
Consumer Bankers Association (CBA): In its comment letter, the CBA noted that the OCC needs to provide more clarity about the regulatory and supervisory framework that will be applied to FinTech companies, and to proceed cautiously and “provide the public with more information about the potential risks and rewards presented by” FinTech companies. The trade association recommended that the OCC utilize its new Office of Innovation and Responsible Innovation Framework to conduct a study of the FinTech sector to provide sufficient information to evaluate the need for and public benefits of a FinTech charter. Although the CBA confirmed support for “any effort to enhance the ability of banks to innovate,” it stated that it could not “yet support the inclusion of fintech companies into the federal banking system.”
Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA): In its comment letter, the ICBA stressed the need for the OCC to issue new chartering rules pursuant to the procedure under the Administrative Procedure Act, in consultation with the other bank regulators, and that ultimately these new institutions should be subject to the same supervision and regulation as community banks. The ICBA also expressed “strong concerns about issuing special purpose national bank charters to fintech companies without spelling out clearly the supervision and regulation that these chartered institutions and their parent companies would be subject to.”
American Bankers Association (ABA). The ABA’s comment letter expressed support of a special purpose national bank charter for FinTech companies, as long as existing rules and oversight are applied evenly and fairly. The letter noted, among other things, that significant benefits of financial innovation for consumers are “only realized when innovations are delivered responsibly,” which can be ensured by regulation and oversight. The letter added that “answers to many difficult questions should be made before granting any special purpose charter, including how to ensure that regulations and consumer protection are applied evenly; what protections must be in place to preserve existing laws regarding the separation of banking and commerce; and how would enforcement of operating agreements be accomplished.” The ABA also urged the OCC to work with other agencies “carefully and cooperatively” before any new charter is approved.
Financial Services Roundtable (FSR): Finally, a comment letter submitted by the FSR commended the OCC for developing the proposal, noting that regulations and regulators need to evolve with technology and changing customer preferences. The FSR letter noted that the OCC’s initiative should ensure parity among national charters, and not result in a two-tiered national banking system under which special purpose FinTech banks are subject to compromised supervisory standards. The letter added that to ensure parity in regulation and supervision, “the OCC may find it necessary to re-evaluate some standards applicable to full-service national banks and, as mentioned previously, examine the existing regulatory constraints inhibiting national banks from engaging in responsible innovation.”
London-based Bank Agrees to $32 Million Settlement with OCC Concerning Faulty Foreclosure Claims
On January 11, the OCC reported that it has ordered a large London-based bank to pay $32.5 million to settle claims that the bank failed to properly follow the regulator’s orders to improve mortgage foreclosure practices that led to borrowers being harmed after the 2008 credit crisis. Specifically, the OCC had accused the bank in 2015 of failing to meet the demands it had agreed to, and the agency imposed certain additional restrictions on the company’s mortgage-servicing abilities until it fixed the alleged shortcomings. The regulator also noted that the bank had failed to properly file documents in certain bankruptcy cases after the orders (for which it was ordered to pay $3.5 million in remediation to borrowers). The OCC confirmed, however, that the bank is now in compliance with all OCC orders related to the alleged foreclosure practices.
Banking Agencies Approve Streamlined Call Report
The Fed, FDIC, and OCC, as members of the FFIEC, recently announced that the implementation of a streamlined Call Report Form (FFIEC 051) for eligible small institutions—financial institutions with only domestic offices and less than $1 billion in total assets—which is proposed to take effect March 31, 2017. The FFIEC’s action is the result of an ongoing initiative to reduce the burden associated with Call Report requirements for community banks. Among other things, the streamlined Call Report reduces the existing Call Report from 85 to 61 pages, resulting from the removal of approximately 950 (or about 40 percent) of the nearly 2,400 data items in the Call Report. Because the OMB must approve the revisions before they can be implemented, the above-referenced banking agencies have also issued a joint notice reflecting that they have submitted the information collection to OMB for review.
OCC Finalizes Rule Banning Industrial, Commercial Metal Dealing
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.
Special Alert: OCC Takes the Next Step Toward a Fintech National Bank Charter
On December 2, 2016, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) announced its plans to move forward with developing a special purpose national bank charter for financial technology (“fintech”) companies. Accompanying the Comptroller of the Currency, Thomas J. Curry’s announcement, the OCC published a white paper that describes the OCC’s authority to grant national bank charters to fintech companies and outlines minimum supervisory standards for successful fintech bank applicants.[1] These standards would include capital and liquidity standards, risk management requirements, enhanced disclosure requirements, and resolution plans. Over the past several months, the OCC has taken a series of carefully calculated steps to position itself as the preeminent regulator of fintech companies in a hotly-contested race among other federal and state regulators who have similarly expressed interest in formalizing a regulatory framework for fintech companies. This proposal from the OCC reflects the culmination of those efforts.
Click here to read the full special alert
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BuckleySandler welcomes questions regarding this new approach to fintech and banking, and would be happy to assist companies in determining whether a national bank charter would be beneficial for executing on their corporate strategies. Questions regarding the matters discussed in this Alert may be directed to any of our lawyers listed below, or to any other BuckleySandler attorney with whom you have consulted in the past.
- Jeremiah S. Buckley, (202) 349-8010
- John P. Kromer, (202) 349-8040
- Jeffrey P. Naimon, (202) 349-8030
- Clinton R. Rockwell, (310) 424-3901
- Walter E. Zalenski, (202) 461-2910
OCC Releases Schedule of Fees and Assessments for 2017
On December 1, the OCC issued Bulletin 2016-43, which informs all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks of the fees and assessments the OCC will charge for calendar year 2017. The rates for all asset categories have been adjusted for inflation. The bulletin becomes effective January 1, 2017.
OCC Issues Q1 2017 CRA Evaluation Schedule
On December 2, the OCC posted its schedule of Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) evaluations to be conducted in the first quarter of 2017. In a press release accompanying the 2017 schedule, the OCC encouraged public comment on the national banks and federal savings associations scheduled to be evaluated, and suggested that “comments be submitted to the institutions themselves at the mailing addresses listed on the schedule, or to the appropriate OCC supervisory office prior to—or as early as possible during—the month in which the evaluation is scheduled.” The OCC will consider all public comments received prior to the close of the CRA evaluation.
Fed Forms Fintech Working Group
On December 2, Fed Governor Lael Brainard announced, at the Conference on Financial Innovation in Washington DC, that the Fed has formed a Fintech working group. The move comes as the OCC takes steps toward launching a fintech bank charter. According to Ms. Brainard, the group will incorporate personnel with a broad array of expertise and will be tasked with “facilitat[ing] innovation where it has the potential to yield broad social benefit, while ensuring that risks are thoroughly managed.” While Ms. Brainard highlighted several benefits from the growth of Fintech, the Fed Governor also raised certain concerns innovations relying on data sharing could create security, privacy, and data-ownership risks, despite increased convenience to consumers. Specifically, Ms. Brainard explained, the Fed must “be attentive to the potential social benefits of these new technologies, prepared to make the necessary regulatory adjustments if their safety and integrity are proven and . . . vigilant to ensure risks are well understood and managed.”