HR6955119th CongressWALLET

Main Street Capital Access Act

Sponsored By: Representative Hill (AR)

Introduced

Summary

Expand formation of new and rural banks by giving de novo institutions phased capital flexibility and clearer supervisory treatment. The bill would also tailor rules for small banks and index statutory thresholds to GDP.

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  • New and rural de novo banks would get a three-year phase-in of federal capital rules and may request business-plan deviations during that window. The bill creates a Rural Community Depository Institution Leverage Ratio capped at 7.5% for the phase-in period and defines rural depositories as those with under $10 billion in assets in nonurban areas.
  • Small banks and credit unions would face lighter, more predictable examinations and reporting. Insured institutions with $6.0 billion or less in consolidated assets could move to limited-scope exams after a full-scope review. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio qualifying threshold rises to $15.0 billion and the small holding company asset limit rises to $25.0 billion.
  • Regulators, depositors, and markets would see tighter rules for supervisory transparency and appeals. The bill would require objective CAMELS criteria, create an independent examination review board with a 60-day appeal window, ban supervisory actions based on "reputational risk," and exempt merger competition review for deals that produce firms under $10.0 billion while indexing many thresholds to GDP.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Big-bank stress tests and resolution rules

If enacted, the law would change several big‑bank rules and oversight tools. The FDIC could choose a resolution option that costs more to the Deposit Insurance Fund if it limits concentration in global systemically important banks, subject to a one‑year rulemaking and purchaser assessments payable over at least five years. The Federal Reserve would have to review the discount window quickly and deliver a remediation plan within a year, and the Fed must publish stress‑test methods and scenarios with set deadlines. The bill raises many statutory asset thresholds, lengthens merchant‑banking holding periods to 15 years, and changes FDIC board appointment and service limits. The bill would also bar the Fed from doing climate‑related stress tests under section 165(i).

New custodial and reciprocal deposit rules

If enacted, some deposit balances would be less likely to be treated as brokered deposits. Eligible banks with under $10 billion in assets that meet rating and capital tests could treat up to 20% of total liabilities in custodial deposits as not brokered. The bill would also set a tiered reciprocal deposit safe‑harbor: apply 50% to liabilities up to $1 billion, 40% to the next $9 billion, and 30% to liabilities from $10 billion up to $250 billion to compute non‑brokered reciprocal amounts.

Clearer bank exam appeals and ratings

If enacted, banks and credit unions could seek an independent, de novo review of material findings in a final exam report. Institutions must file within 60 days, agencies must provide requested exam materials within 14 days, and the review board must issue a written decision within 60 days after the record closes; that decision would bind the agency and be subject to judicial review. The bill would create a new independent Office of Independent Examination Review, require timely written agency determinations and anonymized public summaries, set examination timing rules, and add explicit anti‑retaliation protections for parties using appeals. The bill would also require clearer, more objective CAMELS components and add AML/CFT compliance to composite ratings.

Community bank relief and startup rules

If enacted, smaller banks and new banks would get several targeted reliefs and reviews. Banks and credit unions with $6 billion or less that are well managed and well capitalized could get limited-scope exams and combined exams on request. The Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) cap would rise to $15 billion and the CBLR range would change to 6–8%; rural banks newly insured get a three‑year CBLR not above 7.5% with phased-in percentages and a short-form report requirement. New insured banks would get a three‑year phase-in of federal capital rules, and de novo banks could request business‑plan deviations with a 30‑day deemed approval rule. Federal agencies must study and report on modernizing supervision, de novo formation, and rural bank revitalization within set timeframes.

Easier rules for small community banks

If enacted, this would raise several bank asset thresholds and shift supervision toward community banks. Certain FDIC dollar references would change from $3 billion to $6 billion. The Federal Reserve would have to raise the small bank holding company asset cutoff to $25 billion within 180 days. The Fed Chair would also name a Board member with community bank experience to oversee banks under $17 billion, and those dollar thresholds would be adjusted yearly when nominal GDP rises.

Faster bank merger decisions

If enacted, agencies would speed merger and acquisition reviews for banks and holding companies. Agencies must respond within 30 days about completeness and generally approve or deny applications within 90 days, with limited applicant-requested extensions. Inspectors General must review merger review procedures within one year and every three years, and the GAO must study merger review practices and report to Congress within one year.

Reviewing and updating bank rules

If enacted, regulators would change how they review, tailor, and report on bank rules. The Board must index some dollar thresholds by U.S. GDP every five years starting in 2031 and publish the results. Agencies must review rule‑made asset thresholds by June 30, 2026 and every five years, shorten paperwork review cycles to every seven years, and perform internal cumulative‑impact reviews. The bill also requires more public reporting about global forum work, changes FFIEC definitions and cost shares, and excludes small transactions (deals under $10 billion, adjusted for GDP) from Board monopoly reviews.

Federal thrifts can make farm loans

If enacted, Federal savings associations would be expressly allowed to make agricultural loans, secured or unsecured, as a permissible loan type. The Home Owners' Loan Act wording would be updated to reflect this change. The change takes effect upon enactment and could expand loan sources for farmers who use these lenders.

Agencies must say guidance is not law

If enacted, heads of listed financial agencies would have to put a clear statement on the first page of new guidance saying the guidance is not law. The statement would also say that failing to follow guidance does not by itself prove a legal violation. Covered agencies include CFPB, HUD, Treasury, FDIC, FHFA, the Federal Reserve, NCUA, OCC, and SEC. Some rules and internal legal advice are excluded, and the change would apply on and after enactment.

Limits on high interest custodial deposits

If enacted, a bank that is not well capitalized and that accepts custodial deposits would not be allowed to pay an interest rate that "significantly exceeds" a specified limit. The allowed limit would be the lower of the local market rate for similar maturities or a national FDIC rate for out‑of‑area deposits. This rule would apply while the institution is not well capitalized and acting under the eligible‑institution rules. It would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hill (AR)

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Barr

    KY • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Huizenga

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Lucas

    OK • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Sessions

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Wagner

    MO • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Williams (TX)

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Emmer

    MN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Loudermilk

    GA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Davidson

    OH • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Rose

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Steil

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Timmons

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Stutzman

    IN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Norman

    SC • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Meuser

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Kim

    CA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Donalds

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Garbarino

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Fitzgerald

    WI • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Flood

    NE • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Lawler

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • De La Cruz

    TX • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Ogles

    TN • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Nunn (IA)

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • McClain

    MI • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Salazar

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Downing

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Haridopolos

    FL • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Moore (NC)

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Kennedy (UT)

    UT • R

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Knott

    NC • R

    Sponsored 1/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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