S. 1284Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Community Bank Relief Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:50 PM UTC

The Community Bank Relief Act directs the Federal Reserve to raise the asset size limit that defines a “small” bank holding company from $1 billion to $5 billion, allowing larger community banks to qualify for the less‑stringent small‑bank supervisory regime. It applies to bank holding companies and savings‑and‑loan holding companies that do not engage in significant non‑bank activities, off‑balance‑sheet work, or hold material publicly traded debt or equity securities. The Fed must make the rule change within six months and may still exclude any firm for supervisory reasons.

Key Provisions

The Federal Reserve must revise appendix C of part 225 of the regulations within six months to raise the consolidated asset threshold from $1 billion to $5 billion for eligible bank and savings‑and‑loan holding companies.
The new threshold applies only to companies that are not engaged in significant non‑banking activities, do not conduct significant off‑balance‑sheet activities, and do not have a material amount of debt or equity securities registered with the SEC.
The Board may exclude any bank or savings‑and‑loan holding company, regardless of size, from the revised policy if deemed necessary for supervisory purposes.
Section 171(b)(5) of the Dodd‑Frank Act is amended to replace subparagraph (C) with language that includes any bank or savings‑and‑loan holding company subject to the revised small‑bank holding company policy statement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

May 25, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 25, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

May 25, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 25, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1284

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 25, 2017

Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. King, and Mr. Nelson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To raise the consolidated assets threshold under the small bank holding company policy statement, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Community Bank Relief Act.

Definitions

In this Act—

(1)

the term bank holding company has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841);

(2)

the term Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and

(3)

the term savings and loan holding company has the meaning given the term in section 10(a) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(a)).

Changes required to small bank holding company policy statement on assessment of financial and managerial factors

(a)

In general

Before the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall revise appendix C of part 225 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the Small Bank Holding Company and Savings and Loan Holding Company Policy Statement), to raise the consolidated asset threshold under that appendix from $1,000,000,000 (as adjusted by Public Law 113–250 (12 U.S.C. 5371 note)) to $5,000,000,000 for bank holding companies and savings and loan holding companies that—

(1)

are not engaged in significant nonbanking activities either directly or through a nonbank subsidiary;

(2)

do not conduct significant off-balance sheet activities (including securitization and asset management or administration) either directly or through a nonbank subsidiary; and

(3)

do not have a material amount of debt or equity securities outstanding (other than trust preferred securities) that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(b)

Exclusions

The Board may exclude any bank holding company or savings and loan holding company, regardless of asset size, from the revision under subsection (a) if the Board determines that such action is warranted for supervisory purposes.

(c)

Conforming amendment

Section 171(b)(5) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (12 U.S.C. 5371(b)(5)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:

(C)

any bank holding company or savings and loan holding company that is subject to the application of appendix C of part 225 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the Small Bank Holding Company and Savings and Loan Holding Company Policy Statement).