Supervisory Policy and Guidance Topics
Applications
Banking organizations are generally required to seek prior Federal Reserve approval to become a bank holding company, to acquire ownership in a bank holding company, or to engage in new activities. The Federal Reserve also reviews filings by individuals and companies that seek to acquire ownership in a bank holding company or state member bank under the Change in Bank Control Act. Merger applications and membership applications are reviewed by the Federal Reserve when the resulting institution would be a state member bank.
For bank holding company applications, the Federal Reserve is required to take into account the likely effects of the acquisition on competition, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the companies and banks involved, and the effectiveness of the company’s policies to combat money laundering. In additional, a bank holding company seeking financial holding company status must file a written declaration with the Federal Reserve System, certifying that the company meets the capital, managerial, and other requirements to be a financial holding company.
Policy Letters
ApplicationsSupervisory Nonobjection Process for State Member Banks Seeking to Engage in Certain Activities Involving Dollar Tokens
FedEZFile™ and FedEZFile Fluent™ to be Released for Filing Applications with the Federal Reserve
Updated Fingerprinting Process Related to Applications Reviewed by the Federal Reserve
Supervision of De Novo State Member Banks
Final Rule Revising the Board's Delegation Rules for Certain Types of Applications, Notices, and Requests
Statement on the Implications of the New Lease Accounting Standard on Regulation H
Procedures for a Banking Entity to Request an Extension of the One-Year Seeding Period for a Covered Fund
Supervisory Concerns Related to Shareholder Protection Arrangements
Examinations of Insured Depository Institutions Prior to Membership or Merger into a State Member Bank
Name Check Process for Domestic and International Applications
Enhancing Transparency in the Federal Reserve's Applications Process
State Member Bank Branching Considerations
Interagency Statement on Restrictions on Conversions of Troubled Banks
Implementation of a New Process for Requesting Guidance from the Federal Reserve Regarding Bank and Nonbank Acquisitions and Other Proposals
Guidance Regarding Prior Notices with Respect to Dividend Declarations by Savings Association Subsidiaries of Savings and Loan Holding Companies
Deregistration Procedures for Certain Savings and Loan Holding Companies
De Novo Interstate Branching by State Member Banks
Interagency Supervisory Guidance on Bargain Purchases and FDIC- and NCUA-Assisted Acquisitions
Processing of De Novo Bank Membership Applications
Guidance on Change in Bank Control Procedures
Application Filing Information Web Page
Guidance Regarding Restrictions on Institutions in Troubled Condition
Adoption of Regulation W Implementing Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act
Guidance Regarding Indemnification Agreements and Payments
Guidance Regarding Significant Changes in the General Character of a State Member Bank’s Business and Compliance with Regulation H
Implementation of Section 327 of the USA Patriot Act in the Applications Process
Revisions to Procedures for Processing Applications and Prior Notifications under Regulation K Resulting From Recent Revisions to Regulation K
Interagency Policy Statement on Branch Names
Streamlined Section 3 Procedures for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Banking Organizations
Streamlined Section 4 Procedures for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Banking Organizations
Guidance on Protested Proposals
Joint Venture Proposals Pursuant to Regulation Y: Guidance Regarding Issues, and Criteria for Delegation
Subchapter S Election for Federal Income Taxes
Additional Resources
- Application Filing Information Forms
- Applications and Reports Received
- FAQs regarding the review process for bank acquisitions, mergers, and other transactions
October 9, 2014
- FFIEC Statement on Regulatory Conversions
July 1, 2009
- Orders on Banking Applications
- Policy Statement on Equity Investments in Banks and BHCs
September 22, 2008
- Regulation Y
GPO Access
- Semiannual Report on Banking Applications Activity
Manual References
- Bank Holding Company Supervision Manual
- Section 2090.0, "Control and Ownership – General"
- Section 2090.05, "Qualified Family Partnerships"
- Section 2090.1, "Control and Ownership (Change in Control)"
- Section 2090.2, "BHC Formations"