This bill, the "Main Street Capital Access Act," makes many changes to federal banking rules. It aims to make it easier to start new banks, reduce some supervisory and reporting burdens on smaller and community banks, increase transparency about bank applications and supervisory actions, and encourage partnerships between banks and fintech firms. Key changes include a 3-year phase-in for capital requirements for new insured banks; faster agency decision deadlines and rules about what counts as a complete application; special, lower leverage rules and phase-ins for small rural banks; and new public reports from federal agencies about charter and deposit-insurance applications. The bill also updates who and how regulators consider risk, asks agencies to tailor rules by institution type, raises some asset thresholds that trigger enhanced regulation and requires periodic indexing of those thresholds to GDP, and directs studies and reports on topics such as de novo banks, reciprocal deposits, discount window operations, and bank-fintech partnerships.
The bill would change supervision and appeals. It calls for more objective CAMELS criteria, time limits for completing exams and for agencies to answer written requests for guidance, and creation of an Office of Independent Examination Review with a small presidentially appointed board to hear appeals of major supervisory decisions. Well-managed, well-capitalized banks and credit unions under certain size limits would qualify for alternating limited-scope exams and combined examinations on request. The bill includes limits on using "reputational risk" in supervision, new rules on stress tests and disclosure of stress scenarios, and several changes to merger review and resolution rules, including rules that narrow competitive review for mergers that produce institutions under a set asset threshold and a limited exception to the least-cost resolution rule in specific circumstances.
No publicly available information.
According to the bill text, supporters say the bill will promote new bank formation, especially in rural and underserved areas, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on small and community institutions, make supervision more consistent and transparent, improve access to deposits and local funding, modernize the discount window and supervisory technology, and encourage bank–fintech innovation. The bill highlights tailoring rules to institution type and creating clearer timelines and review rights to increase predictability for banks.
No publicly available information.