Bank Community Credit Rules Get Another Bureaucratic Tune-Up
Published Date: 8/12/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government is updating rules to help banks better support their local communities by making loans and grants that really count. These changes aim to cut red tape, especially for smaller banks, and make it clearer how banks can get credit for helping out. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until October 13, 2026, to speak up!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Refocus CRA Supervision on Lending
The agencies propose to refocus the Community Reinvestment Act supervision on encouraging banks to meet local credit needs by increasing the focus on lending. The proposal keeps large banks subject to lending, investment, and service tests and retains tailored lending tests for small banks and a new "intermediate banks" category.
Tighten How Community Development Grants Are Counted
The proposal seeks to better ensure that community development (CD) grants actually reach the communities they are meant to benefit and are not diverted to other activities or excessive operating costs. The agencies state they will revise the rules to make clearer how banks can receive CRA consideration for CD funding and to ensure funds benefit intended LMI communities.
Reduced Burden for Small Community Banks
The proposal says it will cut unnecessary regulatory burden, especially for community banks. It explicitly says this relief is intended for "small banks" (currently defined as those with assets less than $1.649 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years) and for banks that previously met the "intermediate small bank" threshold (currently at least $412 million).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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