On November 18, 2021, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) (each, an “Agency” and, collectively, the “Agencies”) finalized a uniform regulation, codified at 12 C.F.R. Part 53, 12 C.F.R. Part 225.300 and 12 C.F.R. Part 304, with the stated purpose of improving the sharing of information about cybersecurity incidents harmful to the U.S. banking system (the “Regulation”). Pursuant to the Regulation, banks will be required to notify their primary federal regulatory Agency within thirty-six (36) hours of “any significant computer-security incident.”Continue Reading Federal Bank Regulators Expand Duty to Notify after a Cybersecurity Event

On July 11, 2018, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) (the OCC, FRB and FDIC are collectively, the “Federal Banking Agencies”) issued revisions to the Interagency Biographical and Financial Report (the “Report”).

In general, individual directors, officers, or an individual or group of shareholders acting in concert that will own or control 10 percent (10%) or more of a bank must file the Report in connection with the following: (i) applications to establish a de novo bank, (ii) notices for a change in control, (iii) Section 914 applications for new executive officers and directors, and (iv) applications for new executive officers and directors following a change in control.Continue Reading Bringing a Level of Clarity to the Interagency Biographical and Financial Report

On April 10, 2018, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (the “FFIEC”), an interagency body composed of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the State Liaison Committee, issued guidance to assist financial institutions in analyzing the use of cyber insurance in an effective risk management program (the “Guidance”).
Continue Reading How to Evaluate Cyber Insurance Options?

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), from 2000 to 2008 there were 1,042 de novo community banks newly chartered in the United States.  From 2011-2017, the FDIC received only 30 de novo applications for deposit insurance.  Of those 30 applications received, six have been approved, 10 withdrawn and 14 remain outstanding.  At year end 2017, the number of U.S. banks fell below 5,700 – a number the industry hasn’t seen since the 19th century.  Recently, the FDIC indicated that it has warmed to the idea of accepting de novo bank applications. Now may be the time for interested investors to assess the possibility of entering the community bank industry.
Continue Reading Phoenix Rising: De Novo Bank Formation?

In November 2016, with the election results confirmed, the banking industry was awash in hopes for a more lenient regulatory posture. To date, the industry has seen no reform. However, on March 14, 2018, the Senate passed and sent to the House of Representatives the bipartisan Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) (the “Consumer Protection Act”). Below we provide a brief summary of some of the Consumer Protection Act’s major provisions.