The new rule more closely matches the fees paid by banks to the actual costs of supervision and ensures that the assessment schedule does not favor one form of corporate organization over another. In addition, the OCC has eliminated the formula used to calculate fees for trust department and other exams. The old rule had reflected an outmoded view that trust activities were separate and distinct from activities conducted by the rest of the bank. That change was also implemented on an interim basis for 1997 and now becomes permanent. The OCC also decided to drop the annual franchise fee that had been imposed on national banks that are registered as municipal or government securities dealers.
National banks engage in a wide variety of activities.
Rather than impose special fees on specific activities, the OCC has concluded that it is more efficient and simpler for the industry for the OCC to recover its costs by imposing only one fee, the semiannual assessment. For the fourth consecutive year, the OCC is waiving a provision in its assessment regulation that permits fee increases to account for inflation. Its mission is to ensure a safe, sound and competitive national banking system that supports the citizens, communities and economy of the United States.