OCC Issues Revisions to Fair Lending Booklet

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today issued a revised version of the “Fair Lending” booklet of the Comptroller’s Handbook.

The “Fair Lending” booklet provides information and examination procedures to assist OCC examiners in assessing fair lending risk and evaluating compliance with the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), and ECOA’s implementing regulation, Regulation B. The revised booklet reflects changes to laws and regulations since it was last published to explain the OCC’s current approach to fair lending examinations and to provide additional instructional guidance for examiners.

“Ensuring compliance with fair lending laws will help put an end to discriminatory lending practices that create and exacerbate inequity in the federal financial sector,” said Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu. “The OCC’s revised ‘Fair Lending’ booklet is an important tool to promote equal access to credit for all consumers. It frames our supervisory approach applicable to each OCC-supervised bank that engages in lending, and provides additional guidance for examiners in this critically important area.”

The revised booklet includes new and clarified details and risk factors for a variety of examination scenarios. In addition, it updates references to supervisory guidance, sound risk management practices, and applicable legal standards.

Related Links

• “Fair Lending”
• OCC Bulletin 2023-2, “Fair Lending: Revised Comptroller’s Handbook Booklet and Revisions”
• Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu