Examinations Overview (2024)

Examinations are fundamental to the supervision of national banks. Examiners evaluate bank activities and management processes to ensure that banks operate in a safe and sound manner, do not take excessive risks, and comply with laws and regulations.

What is a bank examination?

The OCC examines national banks pursuant to the authority conferred by 12 USC 481 and the requirements of 12 USC 1820(d). These requirements establish minimum frequencies and scopes for examinations, known as the "supervisory cycle."

Two basic examination types:

1. Full-scope, on-site review of bank

  • Occurs once every "supervisory cycle" (generally, every 12–18 months)
  • Focuses on three main areas:
    • Competence of bank management
    • Quality of bank assets, principally loans ("safety and soundness")
    • Compliance with federal banking regulations

2. Review of specialty areas. Examiners are also required to ensure a bank is meeting its legal obligations in the following areas

  • Asset Management - includes trust and fiduciary activities, fiduciary-related services, transfer agent activities, and retail brokerage.
  • Bank Information Technology (BIT) - determining that the electronic records produced by a bank’s automated systems are valid and reliable.
  • Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) - verifying that a bank is keeping accurate records and filing necessary reports about currency transactions. Includes anti-money laundering measures and counter-terrorist financing measures.
  • Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) - the CRA requires that a bank's record in helping meet the credit needs of its entire community be evaluated periodically.

When and how the full-scope examination and the specialty examinations take place depends on the size and complexity of the bank. The exact process differs for

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02/16/2024NR 2024-16Agencies Issue 2023 Shared National Credit Program Report
02/15/2024NR 2024-14OCC Releases Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test Scenarios for 2024
09/28/2023NR 2023-109OCC Releases Bank Supervision Operating Plan for Fiscal Year 2024
Examinations Overview (2024)

FAQs

What is the general examination? ›

A general examination is a regulatory measure set up to give a detailed assessment of all aspects of a bank. Specialist examiners evaluate the management processes and activities of banks to ensure that they are in compliance with laws and regulations and are operating in a sound manner.

What do bank examiners look for? ›

Full-scope, on-site review of bank

Focuses on three main areas: Competence of bank management. Quality of bank assets, principally loans ("safety and soundness") Compliance with federal banking regulations.

What is an OCC examination? ›

They evaluate bank activities and management processes to ensure national banks operate in a safe and sound manner and comply with laws and regulations.

What does OCC cease and desist mean? ›

Cease & Desist Orders (C&D) or Personal Cease-and-Desist Order (PC&D): A final order issued pursuant to 12 USC 1818(b) that may, among other things, require a bank or IAP to cease and desist from an unsafe or unsound practice or violation and to take affirmative action to correct or remedy any conditions resulting from ...

What are the three parts of an examination? ›

What are the three parts of a complete patient examination? Health history, the physical examination , and laboratory and diagnostic test. List two functions of the physical examination? Determine patient's general health, and to prescribe treatment.

What are the four steps of examination? ›

Physical examination
  • 1 Inspection.
  • 2 Palpation.
  • 3 Auscultation.
  • 4 Percussion.

Why does no one want to be a bank examiner? ›

The regulators' hiring and retention struggles have long been linked to government compensation that trails private-sector pay. An entry-level government examiner can take home far less than $100,000, making it difficult to hire and retain in expensive cities such as New York and San Francisco.

What do examiners look for? ›

Help yourself get marks. Examiners look out for particular points you've made so they can give you marks. They won't give you extra marks just for writing a lot and some exams have a word limit, so answer the question, make reference to your module themes, topics and examples, and move on.

How do I pass a bank assessment test? ›

Review Relevant Bank Assessment Test Questions and Answers

Understand the key responsibilities of a bank teller and the procedures involved. Brush up on your verbal communication skills, numerical and reasoning abilities, attention to detail, and coding with numbers and letters.

How often are banks examined? ›

Two exams are required every 12 months. One of the two exams must be a full-scope exam. Both exams must be conducted by the Federal Reserve or jointly with the relevant state banking agency.

What is a regulatory examination? ›

Regulatory exams are typically required, regular, and, of course, regulated. These exams are required in order to work in specific jobs, like safety-sensitive positions in the Department of Transportation.

What is a safety and soundness exam? ›

During these exams, our examiners assess a bank's financial condition, as well as its risk management practices. They review the bank's overall balance sheet and the practices it has in place to monitor, identify and control risks. Compliance with federal and state regulations is also reviewed.

What is the most severe supervisory action? ›

Cease and desist orders are typically the most severe and can be issued either with or without consent.

What does the OCC enforce? ›

The OCC may take enforcement actions for violations of laws, rules or regulations, final orders or conditions imposed in writing; unsafe or unsound practices; and for breach of fiduciary duty by institution-affiliated parties (IAPs). We are authorized to take enforcement actions against: National banks.

What are the powers of the OCC? ›

Power of the OCC

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has the power to approve or deny applications for new charters, branches, capital, and other changes in the banking structure. They may take supervisory actions against banks under its jurisdiction for noncompliance with laws and regulations.

What is a general medical examination? ›

A physical exam checks your overall health. Your healthcare provider will evaluate the basic function of your organs, address any concerns, update your vaccinations and help you get healthy or maintain good health. Get a physical exam each year. It takes about 30 minutes to complete.

How do I prepare for a general exam? ›

General exam tips
  1. LEARN AS MUCH ABOUT THE TEST AS POSSIBLE. ...
  2. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PREPARATION TIME. ...
  3. BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION WHEN YOU TAKE THE TEST. ...
  4. ORGANIZE THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE THE EXAM CAREFULLY. ...
  5. USE TIME WISELY DURING THE TEST. ...
  6. LEARN TO FIGHT TEST ANXIETY.

What is a general appearance physical exam? ›

The general appearance of a patient may provide diagnostic clues to the illness, severity of disease, and the patient's values, social status, and personality. The astute physician will begin to gather this information immediately upon meeting the patient.

What is general oral exam? ›

The oral exam (also oral test or viva voce; Rigorosum in German-speaking nations) is a practice in many schools and disciplines in which an examiner poses questions to the student in spoken form. The student has to answer the question in such a way as to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the subject to pass the exam.

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