The OCC, Fed, and FDIC issued an interim final rule in September amending eligibility requirements for the 18-month examination cycle, raising the asset threshold from $3 billion to $6 billion. An estimated 188 additional banks and savings associations will qualify. Banks must be well capitalized, have a management rating of 1 or 2, and have no outstanding enforcement actions.
What you should do: If your bank qualifies, this is real relief: exams should be less frequent and less burdensome. If you are near the threshold, consider whether growth might push you back into the 12-month cycle. Use the extra time productively: focus on remediation of any outstanding findings and strengthen your risk management documentation.
Press release: https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2026/agencies-reduce-regulatory-burden-community-banks-increase-eligibility-18