Frequently Asked Questions About the Assessment Process

• How often do national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks pay the assessment, when is it due, and who is subject to the assessment?
• What period does the assessment payment cover?
• Does the OCC prorate assessment fees for national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that enter the federal banking system after the December 31 and June 30 Call Report?
• Does the OCC offer refunds on a prorated basis to national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that exit the federal banking system?
• How is the assessment calculated?
• Does the OCC calculate the assessment fee?
• Does the OCC provide an invoice?
• When does the OCC notify institutions that their assessment fees are due?
• How does the OCC notify the institutions that it supervises of the current fee and assessment structure?
• How does a national bank, federal savings association and federal branch and agency of foreign banks dispute an assessment invoice (billed assessment amount)?
• Who is responsible for updating the institution’s account information?
• Is assessment information available on the OCC’s website?

How often do national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks pay the assessment, when is it due, and who is subject to the assessment? 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) assessment on national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks is paid semiannually. Assessments are due March 31 and September 30 of each year, based on call report information as of December 31 and June 30, respectively. An assessment is based on an institution’s total assets and other information as reported in the call reports as of December 31 and June 30. National banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that depart the federal banking system on or before December 31 or June 30 are not subject to the semiannual assessment.

What period does the assessment payment cover? 

The assessment due March 31 covers the period January 1 through June 30, and the assessment due September 30 covers the period July 1 through December 31.

Does the OCC prorate assessment fees for national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that enter the federal banking system after the December 31 and June 30 Call Report? 

Yes. The OCC will assess new entrants to the federal charter on a prorated basis using Call Report information as of December 31 or June 30 depending on the date the institution enters the federal banking system. The OCC has implemented this revised policy to ensure that supervisory efforts and resources are allocated and aligned once an institution is subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC.

Does the OCC offer refunds on a prorated basis to national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that exit the federal banking system? 

Yes. Institutions that leave the federal banking system after December 31, 2019, or June 30, 2020, and before March 31, 2020, or September 30, 2020, respectively, will receive a refund of the second half of their semiannual assessment for the assessment period. Institutions that leave the federal banking system after March 31, 2020, or September 30, 2020, respectively, will be subject to the full semiannual assessment for the assessment period.

How is the assessment calculated? 

National banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks are responsible for types of assessments: the general assessment that applies to all institutions, the independent trust bank fee, and the independent credit card bank fee. The independent trust bank fee and independent credit card bank fee apply only to certain institutions. Trust banks not affiliated with a full-service national bank or federal savings association are subject to the independent trust bank fee. Similarly, credit card banks not affiliated with a full-service national bank or federal savings association are subject to the independent credit card bank fee.

A bank’s or federal savings association’s assessment may be adjusted if the institution is considered a problem bank or if it is a non-lead bank or federal savings association controlled by a company owning two or more national banks or federal savings associations.

• A problem bank or federal savings association is an institution that is rated a 3, 4, or 5 under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System or the Risk Management, Operational Controls, Compliance, and Asset Quality rating system as of the relevant call report date (i.e., December 31 or June 30). The surcharge is applied to a problem institution’s assessment to cover the additional cost of supervising that institution. A 50 percent surcharge is applied to a 3-rated institution’s assessment, and a 100 percent surcharge is applied to a 4- or 5-rated institution. The surcharge is levied on the assessment applicable to the institution’s book assets up to $40 billion.
• A non-lead national bank or federal savings association is entitled to reduce its assessment by 12 percent. A non-lead bank is a national bank or federal savings association that is not the largest national bank or federal savings association, based on total assets, controlled by a company owning two or more national banks or federal savings associations. All non-lead banks and federal savings associations within that controlling company are entitled to the discount, provided the company has at least 25 percent or more of any class of voting securities of the bank, and the company controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or trustees of the bank. The 12 percent discount does not apply to the independent trust bank fee or the independent credit card bank fee.

If an institution enters the federal banking system in the time between assessment cycles, the OCC will assess the new entrant to the federal charter on a prorated basis using Call Report information as of December 31 and June 30 depending on the date the institution enters the federal banking system.

In addition, the OCC may charge $140 per hour to recover the cost of conducting special examinations and investigations described in 12 CFR 8.6.

Does the OCC calculate the assessment fee? 

Yes. The OCC computes the assessment amount using the current fee schedule contained in the “Calendar Year Fees and Assessment Structure” and notifies the institution by posting the invoice to BankNet and sending the invoice via e-mail, identifying the date that the payment will be drafted from its designated account.

Does the OCC provide an invoice? 

Yes. The OCC sends the invoice of the assessment amount due by e-mail to each institution’s designated assessment contacts and posts the invoice to BankNet.

When does the OCC notify institutions that their assessment fees are due? 

The OCC provides a minimum of seven business days’ notice of the amount that will be drafted from an institution’s designated account. The institution is responsible for ensuring that the account is funded properly on the due dates. The OCC drafts the fee amount on March 31 and September 30.

How does the OCC notify the institutions that it supervises of the current fee and assessment structure? 

A bank’s assessment is calculated based on the schedule that is published at least annually. The “Calendar Year Fees and Assessment Structure” is made available to the public at least 30 days before becoming effective. The fee schedule is typically published in the Federal Register and made available on the OCC’s website in December and is effective on January 1. The fee schedule addresses all aspects of the OCC’s assessments and fees and includes a complete list of the OCC’s licensing fees.

How does a national bank, federal savings association and federal branch and agency of foreign banks dispute an assessment invoice (billed assessment amount)? 

The institution must request an administrative review for a revised assessment notice or refund of overpayment. All requests for revised assessment notices and refunds must be made after timely payment of the semi-annual assessment.

Who is responsible for updating the institution’s account information? 

The institution is responsible for providing updated assessment points of contact and account information to the OCC through BankNet.

Is assessment information available on the OCC’s website? 

Yes. For more detailed information concerning the OCC assessment, visit the following links.

• Notice of Comptroller of the Currency Fees and Assessments: a copy of the current assessment and fee schedules.
• 12 CFR 8: the OCC’s current assessment policy as published in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.

For additional information, please contact Bank Assessment Customer Service at (202) 649‑7946.