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OCC Bulletin 2014-55 | November 7, 2014
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Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, and Federal Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks; Department and Division Heads; All Examining Personnel; and Other Interested Parties
On March 22, 2013, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (collectively, the agencies) jointly issued supervisory guidance on leveraged lending. The 2013 guidance, published in the Federal Register on that same day, applies to all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks (collectively, banks). Since the 2013 guidance was issued, the agencies have addressed numerous questions regarding the applicability and implementation of the guidance. The attached frequently asked questions (FAQ) document is designed to foster industry and examiner understanding of the 2013 guidance and to promote consistent application of the guidance in policy formulation, implementation, and regulatory supervisory assessments.
The number of community banks with substantial involvement in leveraged lending is small; therefore, the agencies generally expect community banks to be largely unaffected by this bulletin. Nonetheless, community banks should be aware of the content of this guidance and incorporate consideration of the risks and expectations contained in the guidance in their due diligence efforts for purchasing loan participations. For community banks that engage more fully in leveraged lending activities, the risk management and other expectations of the guidance should be followed.
The attached FAQs focus on the following:
Banks that engage in leveraged lending transactions should consider and implement all applicable aspects and sections of the 2013 guidance. Examiners evaluate banks’ implementation of the guidance and the supporting FAQs when assessing risk management frameworks, determining risk ratings on leveraged borrowers, and evaluating overall compliance with the guidance.
Direct questions or comments to Lou Ann Francis, National Bank Examiner and Commercial Credit Technical Expert, Credit Risk Policy Division, at (202) 649-6670.
Darrin Benhart Deputy Comptroller for Credit and Market Risk