Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2021

To require the appropriate Federal banking agencies to establish a 3-year phase-in period for de novo financial institutions to comply with Federal capital standards, to provide relief for de novo rural community banks, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2021 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Trends in bank closures and consolidation have left many communities without access to banking services and disproportionately impact underserved rural and urban communities. (2) De novo bank formation has slowed significantly following the financial crisis. (3) A November 2019 report by the Federal Reserve System found that 44 counties in the U.S. were deeply affected (4) 89 percent of the deeply affected counties were rural. (5) Rural counties deeply affected by branch closures had higher poverty rates, lower median income, and a higher share of their population were African American compared to all rural communities. 3. Phase-in of capital standards The appropriate Federal banking agencies shall issue rules that provide for a 3-year phase-in period for a financial institution to meet any Federal capital requirements that would otherwise be applicable to the financial institution, where such 3-year period begins on the date on which the deposit insurance that the financial institution has obtained from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation becomes effective. 4. Changes to business plans (a) In general During the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the deposit insurance that the financial institution has obtained from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation becomes effective, a financial institution may request to deviate from a business plan that has been approved by the appropriate Federal banking agency by submitting a request to such agency pursuant to this section. (b) Review of changes An appropriate Federal banking agency shall, not later than the end of the 30-day period beginning on the receipt of a request under subsection (a)— (1) approve, conditionally approve, or deny such request; and (2) notify the financial institution of such decision and, if the agency denies the request— (A) provide the financial institution with the reason for such denial; and (B) suggest changes to the request that, if adopted, would allow the agency to approve such request. (c) Result of failure To act If an appropriate Federal banking agency fails to approve or deny a request within the 30-day period required under subsection (b), such request shall be deemed to be approved. 5. Rural community bank leverage ratio (a) In general During the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the deposit insurance that a rural community bank has obtained from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation becomes effective, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio for the rural community bank shall be 8 percent. (b) Phase-In authority The Federal banking agencies shall issue rules to phase-in the Community Bank Leverage Ratio described under subsection (a) with respect to a rural community bank by setting lower Community Bank Leverage Ratio percentages during the first 2 years of the 3-year period described under subsection (a). (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Community Bank Leverage Ratio The term Community Bank Leverage Ratio 12 U.S.C. 5371 (2) Federal banking agency The term Federal banking agency 12 U.S.C. 1813 (3) Rural community bank The term rural community bank (A) with total consolidated assets of less than $10,000,000,000; and (B) located in a rural area, as defined under section 1026.35(b)(iv)(A) of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations. 6. Agricultural loan authority for Federal savings associations Section 5(c) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1464(c) (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: (V) Agricultural loans Secured or unsecured loans for agricultural purposes. ; and (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking business, or agricultural or business 7. Study on de novo financial institution (a) Study The appropriate Federal banking agencies shall, jointly, carry out a study on— (1) the principal causes for the low number of de novo financial institutions in the 10-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) ways to promote more de novo financial institutions in areas currently underserved by financial institutions. (b) Report to Congress Not later than the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the appropriate Federal banking agencies shall, jointly, issue a report to Congress containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a). 8. Definitions In this Act: (1) Financial institution The term financial institution (2) Other banking terms The terms appropriate Federal banking agency depository institution depository institution holding company

Summary: Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2021 This bill eliminates and reduces certain requirements applicable to new financial institutions, certain rural community banks, and federal savings associations. Federal banking agencies must issue rules allowing new financial institutions three years to meet capital requirements. During this period, a financial institution may request to deviate from an approved business plan and the appropriate agency has 30 days to approve or deny the request. The community bank leverage ratio&#8212;a way of evaluating debt levels&#8212;is reduced for certain rural community banks. Specifically, new rural community banks must have a ratio of 8%, with a three-year phase-in of the rate. Currently, the ratio is 8.5%. The bill removes certain restrictions to allow federal savings associations to invest in, sell, or otherwise deal in agricultural loans.