OCC Bulletin 2025-9 | May 8, 2025
Business Combinations Under the Bank Merger Act: Rescission: Interim Final Rule
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) has issued an interim final rule to rescind its 2024 final rule 1 related to its regulations for business combinations involving national banks and federal savings associations in 12 CFR 5.33. The agency also rescinded a policy statement issued at the same time as the 2024 final rule titled “Policy Statement Regarding Statutory Factors Under the Bank Merger Act” contained in an appendix to 12 CFR 5 subpart C.
This bulletin rescinds OCC Bulletin 2024-28, “Business Combinations Under the Bank Merger Act: Final Rule.”
Note for Community Banks
The regulatory amendments apply to all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. The rescinded policy statement applied to insured national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banks
Highlights
The interim final rule restores provisions in 12 CFR 5.33 related to expedited review and the use of the streamlined business combination application. In addition, the interim final rule rescinds the policy statement that discussed the OCC’s review of applications under the Bank Merger Act. The OCC welcomes comment on all aspects of the interim final rule, including information to include in any future policy statement.
Further Information
Please contact Valerie Song, Assistant Director; Christopher Crawford, Special Counsel; or Elizabeth Small, Counsel, Chief Counsel’s Office, (202) 649-5490; or Yoo Jin Na, Director for Licensing Activities, at (202) 649-6260.
Stuart E. Feldstein
Acting Principal Deputy Chief Counsel
Related Link
1Business Combinations Under the Bank Merger Act, 89 Fed. Reg. 78207 (September 25, 2024).