RESCUE Act for Black and Community Banks

To provide regulatory relief for Black and community banks, to codify the Minority Bank Deposit Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reenergized Economic Sustainability for Community and Urban Entities Act for Black and Community Banks RESCUE Act for Black and Community Banks 2. Regulation of Black and Community Banks (a) Office of Black and Community Banks (1) Establishment There is established within the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency an office to be known as the Office of Black and Community Banks (2) Supervision and examination of Black banks and community banks The Comptroller of the Currency, acting through the Office of Black and Community Banks, shall supervise and examine Black banks and community banks. (3) Regulatory relief (A) In general The Comptroller shall issue regulations to partially or completely exempt Black banks and community banks from Federal banking statutes and regulations, to the extent the Comptroller determines it appropriate without endangering the safety and soundness of such banks. (B) Treatment of manual underwriting For purposes of risk-based capital requirements for Black banks and community banks, the Comptroller shall issue regulations to assign a lower level of risk to loans that are issued by such banks using manual underwriting, in recognition of the individualized scrutiny provided by manual underwriting. (C) Encouraging small-dollar lending The Comptroller shall issue regulations to encourage affordable small-dollar lending by Black banks and community banks by providing regulatory flexibility with respect to such lending. (b) Regulatory relief under the securities laws (1) Investment products With respect to investment products sold by a Black bank or a community bank (or an affiliate of such bank) to individuals in the community in which such bank is located, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to partially or completely exempt the bank from the securities laws and regulations issued under the securities laws, to the extent the Commission determines it appropriate without endangering the protection of investors. (2) Securities (A) In general The Securities and Exchange Commission shall issue regulations to reduce the regulatory burden applicable to Black banks and community banks— (i) under the amendments made by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act; (ii) issuing mortgage-backed securities; and (iii) issuing securities backed by loans guaranteed by the Small Business Act. (B) Crowdfunding exemption Section 4A of the Securities Act of 1933 ( 15 U.S.C. 77d–1 (c) Conforming change to definition of appropriate Federal banking agency Section 3(q)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1813(q)(1) (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking and (2) in subparagraph (C), by adding and (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), any Black bank or community bank (as such terms are defined under section 5 of the RESCUE Act for Black and Community Banks); . 3. Codification of the Minority Bank Deposit Program (a) In general (1) In general Section 1204 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ( 12 U.S.C. 1811 1204. Expansion of use of minority banks, women’s banks, and low-income credit unions (a) Minority Bank Deposit Program (1) Establishment There is established a program to be known as the Minority Bank Deposit Program (2) Administration The Secretary of the Treasury, acting through the Fiscal Service, shall— (A) on application by a depository institution or credit union, certify whether such depository institution or credit union is a minority bank, women’s bank, or low-income credit union; (B) maintain and publish a list of all depository institutions and credit unions that have been certified pursuant to subparagraph (A); (C) periodically distribute the list described in subparagraph (B) to— (i) all Federal departments and agencies; (ii) interested State and local governments; and (iii) interested private sector companies; and (D) support the creation of ratings, online Black bank resources, and database products, including online lending and investment facilities. (3) Inclusion of certain entities on list A depository institution or credit union that, on the date of the enactment of this section, has a current certification from the Secretary of the Treasury stating that such depository institution or credit union is a minority bank, women’s bank, or low-income credit union shall be included on the list described under paragraph (2)(B). (b) Expanded use among Federal departments and agencies (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the establishment of the program described in subsection (a), the head of each Federal department or agency shall develop and implement standards and procedures to ensure, to the maximum extent possible as permitted by law, the use of minority banks, women’s banks, and low-income credit unions to serve the financial needs of each such department or agency. (2) Minimum requirement Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the head of each Federal department or agency shall ensure that at least 10 percent of the financial needs of each such department or agency are met by the use of minority banks, women’s banks, and low-income credit unions. (3) Report to Congress Not later than 2 years after the establishment of the program described in subsection (a), and annually thereafter, the head of each Federal department or agency shall submit to Congress a report on the actions taken to increase the use of minority banks, women’s banks, and low-income credit unions to serve the financial needs of each such department or agency. (c) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Credit union The term credit union insured credit union 12 U.S.C. 1752 (2) Depository institution The term depository institution insured depository institution 12 U.S.C. 1813 (3) Low-income credit union The term low-income credit union (4) Minority The term minority (5) Minority bank The term minority bank (A) more than 50 percent of the outstanding shares of which are held by 1 or more minority individuals; (B) the majority of the directors on the board of directors of which are minority individuals; and (C) a significant percentage of senior management positions of which are held by minority individuals. (6) Women’s bank The term women’s bank (A) more than 50 percent of the outstanding shares of which are held by 1 or more women; (B) the majority of the directors on the board of directors of which are women; and (C) a significant percentage of senior management positions of which are held by women. . (2) Conforming Amendments The following provisions are amended by striking 1204(c)(3) 1204(c) (A) Section 808(b)(3) of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ( 12 U.S.C. 2907(b)(3) (B) Section 40(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1831q(g)(1)(B) (C) Section 704B(h)(4) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1691c–2(h)(4) (b) Amendments to the Community Reinvestment Act Section 804(b) of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ( 12 U.S.C. 2903(b) (b) Cooperation with Minority Banks, Women’s Banks, and Low-Income Credit Unions Considered (1) In general In assessing and taking into account, under subsection (a), the record of a financial institution, the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency shall consider as a factor capital investment, loan participation, and other ventures undertaken by the institution in cooperation with minority banks, women’s banks, community development financial institutions, and low-income credit unions provided that these activities help meet the credit needs of local communities in which such institutions and credit unions are chartered. (2) Definitions (A) FIRREA definitions The terms low-income credit union minority bank women’s bank 12 U.S.C. 1811 (B) Community development financial institution The term community development financial institution 12 U.S.C. 4702(5) . (c) Considerations when assessing financial inclusion for federally chartered financial institutions (1) In General In assessing and taking into account the record of a federally chartered financial institution under any financial inclusion assessment process created by the Comptroller of the Currency in any rule relating to the chartering of a financial institution, the Comptroller shall consider as a factor capital investment, loan participation, and other ventures undertaken by the bank in cooperation with Black banks, women’s banks, community development financial institutions, and low-income credit unions, provided that these activities help meet the financial needs of local communities in which the federally chartered financial institution provides financial products or services. (2) Definitions For purposes of this section: (A) Community development financial institution The term community development financial institution 12 U.S.C. 4702(5) (B) Financial inclusion assessment process The term financial inclusion assessment process (C) Financial product or service The term financial product or service 12 U.S.C. 5481 (D) FIRREA definitions The terms low-income credit union women’s bank 12 U.S.C. 1811 4. GAO Studies (a) New Markets Tax Credit Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on the award of the new markets tax credit by— (1) surveying communities and specifically talking to Black banks, community banks, and CDFIs that wish to receive the tax credit about why they are not receiving the tax credit; (2) determining where the tax credit money actually went and what it was used for; and (3) to the extent possible, using a case study approach. (b) Lower-Value home mortgage loan study The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on mortgage loans with a principal amount of $100,000 or less, including— (1) who is making such loans currently; (2) how communities are encouraging such loans; (3) what changes could encourage banks and other persons to provide more such loans; and (4) any statutory or regulatory changes that the Comptroller believes may be needed to encourage more such loans. (c) Blockchain study The Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study on blockchain technology and whether such technology could be used to increase investment by lower-income individuals in start-ups and other crowd-funded companies. 5. Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) Black bank The term Black bank (A) more than 50 percent of the ownership or control of which is held by 1 or more Black individuals; and (B) more than 50 percent of the net profit or loss of which accrues to 1 or more Black individuals. (2) CDFI The term CDFI community development financial institution (3) Community bank The term community bank (4) Comptroller The term Comptroller (5) Insured credit union The term insured credit union (6) Insured depository institution The term insured depository institution (A) has the meaning given such term under section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; and (B) includes an insured credit union. (7) Securities laws The term securities laws 15 U.S.C. 78c

Summary: Reenergized Economic Sustainability for Community and Urban Entities Act for Black and Community Banks or the RESCUE Act for Black and Community Banks This bill establishes programs and requirements related to minority banks, Black banks, community banks, women's banks, and low-income credit unions. The bill establishes the Office of Black and Community Banks in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to oversee Black and community banks. The OCC and the Securities and Exchange Commission must exempt these banks from specified securities and federal banking regulations in certain circumstances. The bill also establishes the Minority Bank Deposit Program. The Department of the Treasury must certify a depository institution or credit union upon successful application as a minority bank, a women's bank, or a low-income credit union. Every federal department and agency is directed to implement standards and procedures to ensure the use of such institutions to serve the financial needs of the department or agency. The Government Accountability Office must study the use of the new markets tax credit, lower-value home mortgages, and blockchain investments.