The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued proposed guidance setting out a simplified strategic plan process for community banks to comply with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The proposal is designed to reduce regulatory burden by clarifying what must be included in a CRA strategic plan and streamlining how community banks draft and submit a plan for OCC approval. Under the strategic plan option, a bank can tailor its CRA examination to local community needs and to its own capacity and constraints, product offerings, and business strategy. The OCC indicated the simplified process could be used by a wide range of community banks, including the smallest retail community banks and larger, non-traditional community banks that deliver products and services through the internet, and positioned the proposal as part of its broader community bank burden-reduction reforms announced in October and November. Comments on the proposed guidance will be accepted for 60 days from its publication in the Federal Register.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 2025-12-17
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency proposes simplified CRA strategic plan process to reduce compliance burden for community banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposed guidance to simplify the strategic plan process for community banks under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The proposal aims to reduce regulatory burden by clarifying plan requirements and streamlining submission for OCC approval, allowing banks to tailor CRA examinations to local needs and their strategies. This initiative is part of broader reforms to reduce community bank burdens.