OCC Announces Actions to Depoliticize the Federal Banking System — 2025-09-08

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced actions to eliminate politicized or unlawful debanking in the federal banking system. The actions are consistent with the President’s Executive Order (EO) 14331, “Guaranteeing Fair Banking For All Americans,” and affirm that banks should provide access to financial services based on individualized, objective, and risk-based analyses. “The OCC is taking steps to end the weaponization of the financial system,” said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. “We are working to root out bank activities that unlawfully debank or discriminate against customers on the basis of political or religious beliefs, or lawful business activities. If and when the OCC identifies such activity, it will take action to end it.” In a bulletin to banks, the OCC clarifies how it considers politicized or unlawful debanking in certain licensing filings and in assessing banks’ records of performance under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).