Acting Comptroller Outlines Four-Part Agenda for Financial Resurgence
At the US Chamber of Commerce Capital Markets Forum, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood outlined a four-part agenda aimed at advancing a "resurgent" banking system.
Mr. Hood said the OCC's priorities are:
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Accelerating bank-fintech partnerships. Mr. Hood said the OCC has "embraced agile tools like regulatory sandboxes, TechSprints, and virtual office hours to help banks and fintechs develop, test, and launch innovative solutions within a responsible framework." He cited a recent OCC approval of a national bank's transformation into a technology-driven small business lender.
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Expanding responsible engagement with digital assets. Mr. Hood pointed to the OCC's March 2025 Interpretive Letter 1183, which removed the requirement for prior non-objection before banks engage in permissible digital asset activities. (See related coverage.) He described the change as "a turning point" that restored regulatory clarity and encouraged innovation under sound risk management.
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Advancing financial inclusion, which Mr. Hood called "the civil rights issue of our time." Mr. Hood highlighted Project REACh, a public-private initiative to expand economic opportunity for underserved communities. He emphasized the need for scalable solutions in affordable housing, alternative credit scoring and minority banking.
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Modernizing regulation, with a focus on tailoring rules to institution-specific risk profiles and eliminating unnecessary complexity. Mr. Hood cited the agency's recent withdrawal of proposed climate risk principles (see related coverage) and its decision to end examinations for "reputation risk" (see related coverage). He also referenced the OCC's participation in the EGRPRA review, describing it as a "critical opportunity" to streamline outdated rules.
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