Since 1996, when California became the first state to legalize marijuana (at the time, for medicinal purposes only), 28 additional states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana to some extent. Public support for legalization continues to rise as more and more jurisdictions loosen their marijuana laws, with 64 percent of Americans in favor … Continue Reading
As part of its push to promote innovation in the financial services industry, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) plans to allow financial technology (“fintech”) companies to become special purpose national banks. If the proposal is successful, fintech companies could secure a charter providing them with preemptive effects of federal law over … Continue Reading
From mobile deposits to securing account access with biometric data, financial institutions are interacting with their customers in never-before-seen ways. But long before these advances come to market they must survive regulators’ scrutiny. To effectively screen new developments, regulators must therefore innovate alongside industry. To that end, the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) … Continue Reading
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has revised its civil monetary penalty (CMP) policy, effective February 26, 2016. The revised Policy and Procedures Manual sets forth the OCC’s new scheme for the assessment of CMPs against national banks, federal savings associations, and bank service companies and service providers. The heart of the … Continue Reading
Yesterday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released its Semiannual Risk Perspective (the “Semiannual Risk Perspective”). The Semiannual Risk Perspective covers “key issues facing banks, focusing on those that pose threats to the safety and soundness of banks and their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.” While the OCC identifies four main … Continue Reading
