OCC Bulletin 2025-36 | November 13, 2025

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: Updated Comptroller’s Handbook Booklet

To

Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, and Federal Branches and Agencies; Department and Division Heads; All Examining Personnel; and Other Interested Parties

Summary

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued version 1.1 of the “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook. The booklet provides information and procedures for examiners in connection with the consumer protections that servicemembers are eligible for under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

Rescissions

The updated booklet replaces version 1.0 of the booklet with the same title issued March 2021. Also rescinded is OCC Bulletin 2021-11, “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: Revised Comptroller’s Handbook Booklet and Rescissions,” which transmitted version 1.0 of the booklet.

Note for Community Banks

The “Servicemembers Civil Relief Act” booklet applies to the OCC’s supervision of community banks.¹

Highlights

The updated booklet

applies the OCC’s risk-based supervision approach to assessing compliance with the SCRA.
eliminates the prior OCC policy requirement to conduct an SCRA examination that included transaction testing at least once every three supervisory cycles.
clarifies language on servicemember verification and distribution of excess payments.
removes references to reputation risk.²

Further Information

Please contact Consumer Compliance Policy, Office of the Chief National Bank Examiner, at (202) 649-5470.

James M. Gallagher
Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief National Bank Examiner