OCC Finalizes Its Heightened Standards For Large Financial Institutions

On September 2, the OCC published final guidelines to strengthen the governance and risk management practices of large financial institutions. The guidelines apply to insured national banks, insured federal savings associations, and insured federal branches of foreign banks with US$50 billion or more in average total consolidated assets. The guidelines also apply to an OCC-regulated institution with less than US$50 billion in average total consolidated assets if that institution's parent company controls at least one other covered institution. The guidelines provide that covered institutions should establish and adhere to a written risk governance framework to manage and control risk-taking activities. The guidelines also provide minimum standards for the institutions' boards of directors to oversee the risk governance framework. Release.