Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§9050 Temporary Relief for Community Banks

Title 15 › CHAPTER 116 — CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC STABILIZATION (CARES ACT) › SUBCHAPTER III — ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND ASSISTANCE TO SEVERELY DISTRESSED SECTORS OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY › Part A — Coronavirus Economic Stabilization › § 9050

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal banking agencies must create a temporary rule saying the Community Bank Leverage Ratio is 8 percent and giving qualifying community banks a reasonable grace period if they fall below that ratio. The rule takes effect when it is issued and ends on the earlier of the end of the COVID‑19 national emergency declared March 13, 2020, or December 31, 2020. During the grace period, a qualifying community bank can keep its status and is treated as meeting the capital and leverage rules in section 201(c) of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. Definitions: "appropriate Federal banking agency" — the federal agencies listed in that Act; "Community Bank Leverage Ratio" and "qualifying community bank" — as defined in section 201(a) of that Act.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §9050

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions
In this section
(1)
(2)the terms “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” and “qualifying community bank” have the meanings given the terms in section 201(a) of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5371 note).
(b)Interim rule
(1)In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, the appropriate Federal banking agencies shall issue an interim final rule that provides that, for the purposes of section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5371 note)—
(A)the Community Bank Leverage Ratio shall be 8 percent; and
(B)a qualifying community bank that falls below the Community Bank Leverage Ratio established under subparagraph (A) shall have a reasonable grace period to satisfy the Community Bank Leverage Ratio.
(2)Effective period
The interim rule issued under paragraph (1) shall be effective during the period beginning on the date on which the appropriate Federal banking agencies issue the rule and ending on the sooner of— (A)
(B)December 31, 2020.
(c)Grace period
During a grace period described in subsection (b)(1)(B), a qualifying community bank to which the grace period applies may continue to be treated as a qualifying community bank and shall be presumed to satisfy the capital and leverage requirements described in section 201(c) of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5371 note).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 2 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is section 2 of Pub. L. 115–174,
May 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 1297, which is set out as a note under section 5365 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2), (b)(1), and (c), is section 201 of Pub. L. 115–174,
May 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 1306, which is set out as a note under section 5371 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. The National Emergencies Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(A), is Pub. L. 94–412, Sept. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1255, which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1601 of Title 50 and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 9050

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110