Last week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released significant updates regarding crypto banking, aiming to clarify regulations and expectations for banks involved in digital asset services. Here’s a breakdown of the key points from their latest releases: Interpretive Letter and Withdrawals The OCC issued an interpretive letter reinstating guidance on two critical fronts: crypto custody services and stablecoin reserves. This move effectively re-establishes the framework for banks to provide custody services […]
Category: OCC
Who’s Who at the Helm?
Who’s Who at the Helm of Federal Banking Regulatory Agencies? Newly inaugurated President Trump signed his first batch of Executive Orders on January 20, 2025. Among them was an Executive Order that included a regulatory freeze, blocking all regulatory agencies from proposing or issuing any rules until they are reviewed and approved by a Trump-appointed executive. We have started to see those Trump-appointed executives take their places across the financial regulatory agencies and expect them […]
OCC Takes Action Against TD Bank for BSA/AML Deficiencies
Yesterday, The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a cease and desist order against TD Bank, N.A. and TD Bank USA, N.A., and imposed a substantial $450 million civil money penalty due to significant deficiencies in the bank’s compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. In addition to the monetary penalty, the OCC has restricted the bank’s growth and mandated that it allocate resources to rectify its […]
Federal Regulators Extend Comment Period For RFI on Bank-Fintech Partnerships
On September 13, 2024, Federal regulators (FDIC, OCC, FBR) announced an extension of the comment period for its Request for Information (RFI) concerning partnerships between banks and financial technology (fintech) companies. Originally set to close at the end of September 2024, the new deadline is now October 30, 2024. Key Highlights of the Announcement Purpose of the RFI: The regulators aim to gather insights on the evolving landscape of bank-fintech partnerships, particularly regarding how these […]
OCC Assesses a $15 Million Civil Money Penalty for Governance and Oversight of Third-Party Affiliate
Today, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced a $15 million civil money penalty against American Express National Bank (American Express). The penalty is a result of American Express failing to govern and oversee a third-party affiliate and for violations of regulations relating to certain efforts to retain small business customers. This is the first CMP issued since the agencies released their interagency guidance on June, 9th. The OCC found that American […]