On September 10, 2025, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould issued a statement at the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) meeting about the OCC's work to reset the risk tolerance for the federal banking system. Comptroller Gould discussed the OCC’s work to review the agency’s post-2008 chartering, regulatory, and supervisory framework to ensure the federal banking system remains relevant and fulfills its mission.
Gould outlined the OCC’s commitment to resetting the risk tolerance for the federal banking system. According to Gould, the regulatory approach has overly focused on compliance and micromanagement, resulting in a stagnating banking system since the 2008 financial crisis. This low risk tolerance has led to a significant shift of risk from banks into the broader financial services sector, weakening the banking system overall. He emphasized that the common idea of choosing between economic growth and financial stability is misleading. Instead, he highlighted the critical interconnection between the two, noting that financial stability depends on fostering economic growth.
Gould stated that the OCC is reviewing the entire post-2008 chartering, regulatory, and supervisory framework. In particular, the OCC will:
Enhance the chartering and licensing function to make swift decisions on de novo charters and bank mergers, ensuring a more dynamic and diverse federal banking system while addressing debanking issues as per the President’s executive order;
Simplify and tailor banking regulations, focusing on capital and liquidity reforms, particularly for community banks, while addressing the regulatory framework for national banks to enhance accountability and material risk management; and
Tailor bank supervision, focusing on community banks and revising examination approaches to reduce regulatory burdens while ensuring attention to material financial risks.
Gould’s full statement can be found here.