Title 12—Banks and Banking--Volume 1
PART 6—PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION
§ 6.1   Authority, purpose, scope, other supervisory authority, disclosure of capital categories, and transition procedures.
(a) Authority. This part is issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) pursuant to section 38 (section 38) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) as added by section 131 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (Pub. L. 102-242, 105 Stat. 2236 (1991)) (12 U.S.C. 1831o).
(b) Purpose. Section 38 of the FDI Act establishes a framework of supervisory actions for insured depository institutions that are not adequately capitalized. The principal purpose of this subpart is to define, for insured national banks and insured Federal savings associations, the capital measures and capital levels, and for insured Federal branches, comparable asset-based measures and levels, that are used for determining the supervisory actions authorized under section 38 of the FDI Act. This part 6 also establishes procedures for submission and review of capital restoration plans and for issuance and review of directives and orders pursuant to section 38.
(c) Scope. This subpart implements the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act as they apply to insured national banks, insured Federal branches, and insured Federal savings associations. Certain of these provisions also apply to officers, directors, and employees of these insured institutions. Other provisions apply to any company that controls an insured national bank, insured Federal branch, or insured Federal savings association and to the affiliates of an insured national bank, insured Federal branch, or insured Federal savings association.
(d) Other supervisory authority. Neither section 38 nor this part in any way limits the authority of the OCC under any other provision of law to take supervisory actions to address unsafe or unsound practices, deficient capital levels, violations of law, unsafe or unsound conditions, or other practices. Action under section 38 of the FDI Act and this part may be taken independently of, in conjunction with, or in addition to any other enforcement action available to the OCC, including issuance of cease and desist orders, capital directives, approval or denial of applications or notices, assessment of civil money penalties, or any other actions authorized by law.
(e) Disclosure of capital categories. The assignment of an insured national bank, insured Federal branch, or insured Federal savings association under this subpart within a particular capital category is for purposes of implementing and applying the provisions of section 38. Unless permitted by the OCC or otherwise required by law, no national bank or Federal savings association may state in any advertisement or promotional material its capital category under this subpart or that the OCC or any other Federal banking agency has assigned the national bank or Federal savings association to a particular capital category.
(f) Transition procedures. (1) [Reserved]
(2) Timing. On January 1, 2015 and thereafter, the calculation of the definitions of common equity tier 1 capital, the common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, the leverage ratio, the supplementary leverage ratio, tangible equity, tier 1 capital, the tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, total assets, total leverage exposure, the total risk-based capital ratio, and total risk-weighted assets under this subpart is subject to the timing provisions at 12 CFR § 3.1(f) and the transitions at 12 CFR part 3, subpart G.
§ 6.2   Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart, except as modified in this section or unless the context otherwise requires, the terms used have the same meanings as set forth in section 38 and section 3 of the FDI Act.
Advanced approaches national bank or advanced approaches Federal savings association means a national bank or Federal savings association that is subject to subpart E of part 3 of this chapter.
Common equity tier 1 capital means common equity tier 1 capital, as defined in accordance with the OCC's definition in subpart A of part 3 of this chapter.
Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio means the ratio of common equity tier 1 capital to total risk-weighted assets, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter, as applicable.
Control. (1) Control has the same meaning assigned to it in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1841), and the term controlled shall be construed consistently with the term control.
(2) Exclusion for fiduciary ownership. No insured depository institution or company controls another insured depository institution or company by virtue of its ownership or control of shares in a fiduciary capacity. Shares shall not be deemed to have been acquired in a fiduciary capacity if the acquiring insured depository institution or company has sole discretionary authority to exercise voting rights with respect thereto.
(3) Exclusion for debts previously contracted. No insured depository institution or company controls another insured depository institution or company by virtue of its ownership or control of shares acquired in securing or collecting a debt previously contracted in good faith, until two years after the date of acquisition. The two-year period may be extended at the discretion of the appropriate Federal banking agency for up to three one-year periods.
Controlling person means any person having control of an insured depository institution and any company controlled by that person.
Federal savings association means an insured Federal savings association or an insured Federal savings bank chartered under section 5 of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933.
Leverage ratio means the ratio of tier 1 capital to average total consolidated assets, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Management fee means any payment of money or provision of any other thing of value to a company or individual for the provision of management services or advice to the national bank or Federal savings association or related overhead expenses, including payments related to supervisory, executive, managerial, or policymaking functions, other than compensation to an individual in the individual's capacity as an officer or employee of the national bank or Federal savings association.
National bank means all insured national banks and all insured Federal branches, except where otherwise provided in this subpart.
Supplementary leverage ratio means the ratio of tier 1 capital to total leverage exposure, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Tangible equity means the amount of tier 1 capital, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter, plus the amount of outstanding perpetual preferred stock (including related surplus) not included in tier 1 capital.
Tier 1 capital means the amount of tier 1 capital as defined in subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio means the ratio of tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Total assets means quarterly average total assets as reported in a national bank's or Federal savings association's Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report), minus any deductions as provided in § 3.22(a), (c), and (d) of this chapter. The OCC reserves the right to require a national bank or Federal savings association to compute and maintain its capital ratios on the basis of actual, rather than average, total assets when computing tangible equity.
Total leverage exposure means the total leverage exposure, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Total risk-based capital ratio means the ratio of total capital to total risk-weighted assets, as calculated in accordance with subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
Total risk-weighted assets means standardized total risk-weighted assets, and for an advanced approaches national bank or advanced approaches Federal savings association also includes advanced approaches total risk-weighted assets, as defined in subpart B of part 3 of this chapter.
§ 6.3   Notice of capital category.
(a) Effective date of determination of capital category. A national bank or Federal savings association shall be deemed to be within a given capital category for purposes of section 38 of the FDI Act and this part as of the date the national bank or Federal savings association is notified of, or is deemed to have notice of, its capital category pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Notice of capital category. A national bank or Federal savings association shall be deemed to have been notified of its capital levels and its capital category as of the most recent date:
(1) A Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) is required to be filed with the OCC;
(2) A final report of examination is delivered to the national bank or Federal savings association; or
(3) Written notice is provided by the OCC to the national bank or Federal savings association of its capital category for purposes of section 38 of the FDI Act and this part or that the national bank's or Federal savings association's capital category has changed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, or § 6.4(e) and subpart M of part 19 of this chapter.
(c) Adjustments to reported capital levels and capital category —(1) Notice of adjustment by national bank or Federal savings association. A national bank or Federal savings association shall provide the OCC with written notice that an adjustment to the national bank's or Federal savings association's capital category may have occurred no later than 15 calendar days following the date that any material event has occurred that would cause the national bank or Federal savings association to be placed in a lower capital category from the category assigned to the national bank or Federal savings association for purposes of section 38 and this part on the basis of the national bank's or Federal savings association's most recent Call Report or report of examination.
(2) Determination to change capital category. After receiving notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the OCC shall determine whether to change the capital category of the national bank or Federal savings association and shall notify the national bank or Federal savings association of the OCC's determination.
§ 6.4   Capital measures and capital categories.
(a) Capital measures. (1) For purposes of section 38 of the FDI Act and this part, the relevant capital measures shall be:
(i) Total Risk-Based Capital Measure: the total risk-based capital ratio;
(ii) Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Measure: the tier 1 risk-based capital ratio;
(iii) Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Measure: The common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio;
(iv) The Leverage Measure:
(A) The leverage ratio; and
(B) With respect to an advanced approaches national bank or advanced approaches Federal savings association, on January 1, 2018, and thereafter, the supplementary leverage ratio; and
(2) For a qualifying community banking organization (as defined in § 3.12 of this chapter), that has elected to use the community bank leverage ratio framework (as defined in § 3.12 of this chapter), the leverage ratio calculated in accordance with § 3.12(b) of this chapter is used to determine the well capitalized capital category under paragraph (b)(1)(i) (A) through (D) of this section.
(b) Capital categories. For purposes of section 38 of the FDI Act and this part, a national bank or Federal savings association shall be deemed to be:
(1)(i) Well capitalized if:
(A) Total Risk-Based Capital Measure: The national bank or Federal savings association has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0 percent or greater;
(B) Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Measure: The national bank or Federal savings association has a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent or greater;
(C) Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Measure: The national bank or Federal savings association has a common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5 percent or greater;
(D) Leverage Measure:
( 1 ) The national bank or Federal savings association has a leverage ratio of 5.0 percent or greater; and
( 2 ) With respect to a national bank or Federal savings association that is a subsidiary of a U.S. top-tier bank holding company that has more than $700 billion in total assets as reported on the company's most recent Consolidated Financial Statement for Bank Holding Companies (Form FR Y-9C) or more than $10 trillion in assets under custody as reported on the company's most recent Banking Organization Systemic Risk Report (Form FR Y-15), on January 1, 2018, and thereafter, the national bank or Federal savings association has a supplementary leverage ratio of 6.0 percent or greater; and
(E) The national bank or Federal savings association is not subject to any written agreement, order or capital directive, or prompt corrective action directive issued by the OCC pursuant to section 8 of the FDI Act, the International Lending Supervision Act of 1983 (12 U.S.C. 3907), the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1464(t)(6)(A)(ii)), or section 38 of the FDI Act, or any regulation thereunder, to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.
(ii) Qualifying community banking organization: A qualifying community banking organization, as defined under § 3.12 of this chapter, that has elected to use the community bank leverage ratio framework under § 3.12 of this chapter, shall be considered to have met the capital ratio requirements for the well capitalized capital category in paragraph (b)(1)(i) (A) through (D) of this section.
(2) Adequately capitalized if:
(i) Total Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0 percent or greater;
(ii) Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent or greater;
(iii) Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5 percent or greater;
(iv) Leverage Measure:
(A) The national bank or Federal savings association has a leverage ratio of 4.0 percent or greater; and
(B) With respect to an advanced approaches or Category III national bank or advanced approaches or Category III Federal savings association, the national bank or Federal savings association has a supplementary leverage ratio of 3.0 percent or greater; and
(v) The national bank or Federal savings association does not meet the definition of a “well capitalized” national bank or Federal savings association.
(3) Undercapitalized if:
(i) Total Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0 percent;
(ii) Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0 percent;
(iii) Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.5 percent; or
(iv) Leverage Measure:
(A) The national bank or Federal savings association has a leverage ratio of less than 4.0 percent; or
(B) With respect to an advanced approaches or Category III national bank or advanced approaches or Category III Federal savings association, on January 1, 2018, and thereafter, the national bank or Federal savings association has a supplementary leverage ratio of less than 3.0 percent.
(4) Significantly undercapitalized if:
(i) Total Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0 percent;
(ii) Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0 percent;
(iii) Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Measure: the national bank or Federal savings association has a common equity tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0 percent; or
(iv) Leverage Ratio: the national bank or Federal savings association has a leverage ratio of less than 3.0 percent.
(5) Critically undercapitalized if the national bank or Federal savings association has a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0 percent.
(c) Capital categories for insured Federal branches. For purposes of the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act and this part, an insured Federal branch shall be deemed to be:
(1) Well capitalized if the insured Federal branch:
(i) Maintains the pledge of assets required under 12 CFR 347.209; and
(ii) Maintains the eligible assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.210 at 108 percent or more of the preceding quarter's average book value of the insured branch's third-party liabilities; and
(iii) Has not received written notification from:
(A) The OCC to increase its capital equivalency deposit pursuant to § 28.15 of this chapter, or to comply with asset maintenance requirements pursuant to § 28.20 of this chapter; or
(B) The FDIC to pledge additional assets pursuant to 12 CFR 347.209 or to maintain a higher ratio of eligible assets pursuant to 12 CFR 347.210.
(2) Adequately capitalized if the insured Federal branch:
(i) Maintains the pledge of assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.209;
(ii) Maintains the eligible assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.210 at 106 percent or more of the preceding quarter's average book value of the insured branch's third-party liabilities; and
(iii) Does not meet the definition of a well capitalized insured Federal branch.
(3) Undercapitalized if the insured Federal branch:
(i) Fails to maintain the pledge of assets required under 12 CFR 347.209; or
(ii) Fails to maintain the eligible assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.210 at 106 percent or more of the preceding quarter's average book value of the insured branch's third-party liabilities.
(4) Significantly undercapitalized if it fails to maintain the eligible assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.210 at 104 percent or more of the preceding quarter's average book value of the insured Federal branch's third-party liabilities.
(5) Critically undercapitalized if it fails to maintain the eligible assets prescribed under 12 CFR 347.210 at 102 percent or more of the preceding quarter's average book value of the insured Federal branch's third-party liabilities.
(d) Reclassification based on supervisory criteria other than capital. The OCC may reclassify a well capitalized national bank or Federal savings association as adequately capitalized and may require an adequately capitalized or an undercapitalized national bank or Federal savings association to comply with certain mandatory or discretionary supervisory actions as if the national bank or Federal savings association were in the next lower capital category (except that the OCC may not reclassify a significantly undercapitalized national bank or Federal savings association as critically undercapitalized) (each of these actions are hereinafter referred to generally as reclassifications) in the following circumstances:
(1) Unsafe or unsound condition. The OCC has determined, after notice and opportunity for hearing pursuant to subpart M of part 19 of this chapter, that the national bank or Federal savings association is in unsafe or unsound condition; or
(2) Unsafe or unsound practice. The OCC has determined, after notice and opportunity for hearing pursuant to subpart M of part 19 of this chapter, that in the most recent examination of the national bank or Federal savings association, the national bank or Federal savings association received, and has not corrected a less-than-satisfactory rating for any of the categories of asset quality, management, earnings, or liquidity.
§ 6.5   Capital restoration plan.
(a) Schedule for filing plan —(1) In general. A national bank or Federal savings association shall file a written capital restoration plan with the OCC within 45 days of the date that the national bank or Federal savings association receives notice or is deemed to have notice that the national bank or Federal savings association is undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized, unless the OCC notifies the national bank or Federal savings association in writing that the plan is to be filed within a different period. An adequately capitalized national bank or Federal savings association that has been required, pursuant to § 6.4 and subpart M of part 19 of this chapter to comply with supervisory actions as if the national bank or Federal savings association were undercapitalized is not required to submit a capital restoration plan solely by virtue of the reclassification.
(2) Additional capital restoration plans. Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, a national bank or Federal savings association that has already submitted and is operating under a capital restoration plan approved under section 38 and this subpart is not required to submit an additional capital restoration plan based on a revised calculation of its capital measures or a reclassification of the institution pursuant to § 6.4 and subpart M of part 19 of this chapter unless the OCC notifies the national bank or Federal savings association that it must submit a new or revised capital plan. A national bank or Federal savings association that is notified that it must submit a new or revised capital restoration plan shall file the plan in writing with the OCC within 45 days of receiving such notice, unless the OCC notifies the national bank or Federal savings association in writing that the plan must be filed within a different period.
(b) Contents of plan. All financial data submitted in connection with a capital restoration plan shall be prepared in accordance with the instructions provided on the Call Report, unless the OCC instructs otherwise. The capital restoration plan shall include all of the information required to be filed under section 38(e)(2) of the FDI Act. A national bank or Federal savings association that is required to submit a capital restoration plan as the result of a reclassification of the national bank or Federal savings association, pursuant to § 6.4 and subpart M of part 19 of this chapter shall include a description of the steps the national bank or Federal savings association will take to correct the unsafe or unsound condition or practice. No plan shall be accepted unless it includes any performance guarantee described in section 38(e)(2)(C) of that Act by each company that controls the national bank or Federal savings association.
(c) Review of capital restoration plans. Within 60 days after receiving a capital restoration plan under this subpart, the OCC shall provide written notice to the national bank or Federal savings association of whether the plan has been approved. The OCC may extend the time within which notice regarding approval of a plan shall be provided.
(d) Disapproval of capital restoration plan. If a capital restoration plan is not approved by the OCC, the national bank or Federal savings association shall submit a revised capital restoration plan within the time specified by the OCC. Upon receiving notice that its capital restoration plan has not been approved, any undercapitalized national bank or Federal savings association (as defined in § 6.4) shall be subject to all of the provisions of section 38 and this part applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions. These provisions shall be applicable until such time as a new or revised capital restoration plan submitted by the national bank or Federal savings association has been approved by the OCC.
(e) Failure to submit a capital restoration plan. A national bank or Federal savings association that is undercapitalized (as defined in § 6.4) and that fails to submit a written capital restoration plan within the period provided in this section shall, upon the expiration of that period, be subject to all of the provisions of section 38 and this part applicable to significantly undercapitalized national banks or Federal savings associations.
(f) Failure to implement a capital restoration plan. Any undercapitalized national bank or Federal savings association that fails, in any material respect, to implement a capital restoration plan shall be subject to all of the provisions of section 38 and this part applicable to significantly undercapitalized national banks or Federal savings associations.
(g) Amendment of capital restoration plan. A national bank or Federal savings association that has submitted an approved capital restoration plan may, after prior written notice to and approval by the OCC, amend the plan to reflect a change in circumstance. Until such time as a proposed amendment has been approved, the national bank or Federal savings association shall implement the capital restoration plan as approved prior to the proposed amendment.
(h) Notice to FDIC. Within 45 days of the effective date of OCC approval of a capital restoration plan, or any amendment to a capital restoration plan, the OCC shall provide a copy of the plan or amendment to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
(i) Performance guarantee by companies that control a national bank or Federal savings association —(1) Limitation on liability —(i) Amount limitation. The aggregate liability under the guarantee provided under section 38 and this subpart for all companies that control a specific national bank or Federal savings association that is required to submit a capital restoration plan under this subpart shall be limited to the lesser of:
(A) An amount equal to 5.0 percent of the national bank's or Federal savings association's total assets at the time the national bank or Federal savings association was notified or deemed to have notice that the national bank or Federal savings association was undercapitalized; or
(B) The amount necessary to restore the relevant capital measures of the national bank or Federal savings association to the levels required for the national bank or Federal savings association to be classified as adequately capitalized, as those capital measures and levels are defined at the time that the national bank or Federal savings association initially fails to comply with a capital restoration plan under this subpart.
(ii) Limit on duration. The guarantee and limit of liability under section 38 and this subpart shall expire after the OCC notifies the national bank or Federal savings association that it has remained adequately capitalized for each of four consecutive calendar quarters. The expiration or fulfillment by a company of a guarantee of a capital restoration plan shall not limit the liability of the company under any guarantee required or provided in connection with any capital restoration plan filed by the same national bank or Federal savings association after expiration of the first guarantee.
(iii) Collection on guarantee. Each company that controls a given national bank or Federal savings association shall be jointly and severally liable for the guarantee for such national bank or Federal savings association as required under section 38 and this subpart, and the OCC may require payment of the full amount of that guarantee from any or all of the companies issuing the guarantee.
(2) Failure to provide guarantee. In the event that a national bank or Federal savings association that is controlled by any company submits a capital restoration plan that does not contain the guarantee required under section 38(e)(2) of the FDI Act, the national bank or Federal savings association shall, upon submission of the plan, be subject to the provisions of section 38 and this part that are applicable to national banks or Federal savings associations that have not submitted an acceptable capital restoration plan.
(3) Failure to perform guarantee. Failure by any company that controls a national bank or Federal savings association to perform fully its guarantee of any capital plan shall constitute a material failure to implement the plan for purposes of section 38(f) of the FDI Act. Upon such failure, the national bank or Federal savings association shall be subject to the provisions of section 38 and this part that are applicable to national banks or Federal savings associations that have failed in a material respect to implement a capital restoration plan.
(j) Enforcement of capital restoration plan. The failure of a national bank or Federal savings association to implement, in any material respect, a capital restoration plan required under section 38 and this section shall subject the national bank or Federal savings association to the assessment of civil money penalties pursuant to section 8(i)(2)(A) of the FDI Act.
§ 6.6   Mandatory and discretionary supervisory actions.
(a) Mandatory supervisory actions —(1) Provisions applicable to all national banks and Federal savings associations. All national banks and Federal savings associations are subject to the restrictions contained in section 38(d) of the FDI Act on payment of distributions and management fees.
(2) Provisions applicable to undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized national banks or Federal savings associations. Immediately upon receiving notice or being deemed to have notice, as provided in § 6.3, that the national bank or Federal savings association is undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized, the national bank or Federal savings association shall become subject to the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act:
(i) Restricting payment of distributions and management fees (section 38(d));
(ii) Requiring that the OCC monitor the condition of the national bank or Federal savings association (section 38(e)(1));
(iii) Requiring submission of a capital restoration plan within the schedule established in this subpart (section 38(e)(2));
(iv) Restricting the growth of the national bank's or Federal savings association's assets (section 38(e)(3)); and
(v) Requiring prior approval of certain expansion proposals (section 38(e)(4)).
(3) Additional provisions applicable to significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized national banks or Federal savings associations. In addition to the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, immediately upon receiving notice or being deemed to have notice, as provided in this subpart, that the national bank or Federal savings association is significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized, or that the national bank or Federal savings association is subject to the provisions applicable to institutions that are significantly undercapitalized because it has failed to submit or implement, in any material respect, an acceptable capital restoration plan, the national bank or Federal savings association shall become subject to the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act that restrict compensation paid to senior executive officers of the institution (section 38(f)(4)).
(4) Additional provisions applicable to critically undercapitalized national banks or Federal savings associations. In addition to the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act described in paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this section, immediately upon receiving notice or being deemed to have notice, as provided in § 6.3, that the national bank or Federal savings association is critically undercapitalized, the national bank or Federal savings association shall become subject to the provisions of section 38 of the FDI Act:
(i) Restricting the activities of the national bank or Federal savings association (section 38 (h)(1)); and
(ii) Restricting payments on subordinated debt of the national bank or Federal savings association (section 38 (h)(2)).
(b) Discretionary supervisory actions. In taking any action under section 38 that is within the OCC's discretion to take in connection with a national bank or Federal savings association that is deemed to be undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized, or has been reclassified as undercapitalized or significantly undercapitalized; an officer or director of such national bank or Federal savings association; or a company that controls such national bank or Federal savings association, the OCC shall follow the procedures for issuing directives under subpart B of this part and subpart N of part 19 of this chapter, unless otherwise provided in section 38 of the FDI Act or this part.
§ 6.20   Scope.
The rules and procedures set forth in this subpart apply to insured national banks, insured Federal branches, Federal savings associations, and senior executive officers and directors of national banks and Federal savings associations that are subject to the provisions of section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (section 38) and subpart A of this part.
§ 6.21   Notice of intent to issue a directive.
(a) Notice of intent to issue a directive —(1) In general. The OCC shall provide an undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized national bank or Federal savings association prior written notice of the OCC's intention to issue a directive requiring such national bank, Federal savings association, or company to take actions or to follow proscriptions described in section 38 that are within the OCC's discretion to require or impose under section 38 of the FDI Act, including section 38(e)(5), (f)(2), (f)(3), or (f)(5). The national bank or Federal savings association shall have such time to respond to a proposed directive as provided under § 6.22.
(2) Immediate issuance of final directive. If the OCC finds it necessary in order to carry out the purposes of section 38 of the FDI Act, the OCC may, without providing the notice prescribed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, issue a directive requiring a national bank or Federal savings association immediately to take actions or to follow proscriptions described in section 38 that are within the OCC's discretion to require or impose under section 38 of the FDI Act, including section 38(e)(5), (f)(2), (f)(3), or (f)(5). A national bank or Federal savings association that is subject to such an immediately effective directive may submit a written appeal of the directive to the OCC. Such an appeal must be received by the OCC within 14 calendar days of the issuance of the directive, unless the OCC permits a longer period. The OCC shall consider any such appeal, if filed in a timely matter, within 60 days of receiving the appeal. During such period of review, the directive shall remain in effect unless the OCC, in its sole discretion, stays the effectiveness of the directive.
(b) Contents of notice. A notice of intention to issue a directive shall include:
(1) A statement of the national bank's or Federal savings association's capital measures and capital levels;
(2) A description of the restrictions, prohibitions or affirmative actions that the OCC proposes to impose or require;
(3) The proposed date when such restrictions or prohibitions would be effective or the proposed date for completion of such affirmative actions; and
(4) The date by which the national bank or Federal savings association subject to the directive may file with the OCC a written response to the notice.
§ 6.22   Response to notice.
(a) Time for response. A national bank or Federal savings association may file a written response to a notice of intent to issue a directive within the time period set by the OCC. The date shall be at least 14 calendar days from the date of the notice unless the OCC determines that a shorter period is appropriate in light of the financial condition of the national bank or Federal savings association or other relevant circumstances.
(b) Content of response. The response should include:
(1) An explanation why the action proposed by the OCC is not an appropriate exercise of discretion under section 38;
(2) Any recommended modification of the proposed directive; and
(3) Any other relevant information, mitigating circumstances, documentation, or other evidence in support of the position of the national bank or Federal savings association regarding the proposed directive.
(c) Failure to file response. Failure by a national bank or Federal savings association to file with the OCC, within the specified time period, a written response to a proposed directive shall constitute a waiver of the opportunity to respond and shall constitute consent to the issuance of the directive.
§ 6.23   Decision and issuance of a prompt corrective action directive.
(a) OCC consideration of response. After considering the response, the OCC may:
(1) Issue the directive as proposed or in modified form;
(2) Determine not to issue the directive and so notify the national bank or Federal savings association; or
(3) Seek additional information or clarification of the response from the national bank or Federal savings association, or any other relevant source.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 6.24   Request for modification or rescission of directive.
Any national bank or Federal savings association that is subject to a directive under this subpart may, upon a change in circumstances, request in writing that the OCC reconsider the terms of the directive, and may propose that the directive be rescinded or modified. Unless otherwise ordered by the OCC, the directive shall continue in place while such request is pending before the OCC.
§ 6.25   Enforcement of directive.
(a) Judicial remedies. Whenever a national bank or Federal savings association fails to comply with a directive issued under section 38, the OCC may seek enforcement of the directive in the appropriate United States district court pursuant to section 8(i)(1) of the FDI Act.
(b) Administrative remedies. Pursuant to section 8(i)(2)(A) of the FDI Act, the OCC may assess a civil money penalty against any national bank or Federal savings association that violates or otherwise fails to comply with any final directive issued under section 38 and against any institution-affiliated party who participates in such violation or noncompliance.
(c) Other enforcement action. In addition to the actions described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the OCC may seek enforcement of the provisions of section 38 or this part through any other judicial or administrative proceeding authorized by law.