Sponsors (2)
The bill increases federal oversight by mandating a GAO review of merger conditions—potentially improving policy and benefits for consumers and small banks—at the cost of added data-collection and compliance burdens that could raise costs and slow some bank transactions.
Congress, policymakers, and taxpayers will receive an independent, comprehensive GAO report within one year evaluating agency use of merger conditions, improving oversight and informing future policy and enforcement decisions.
Consumers and smaller banks could benefit from clearer, evidence-based findings about how merger reviews and conditions affect competition and product availability, which may lead to better-targeted remedies and improved market outcomes.
Banks, federal agencies, and taxpayers may incur higher preparatory and compliance costs as GAO gathers data and agencies respond to information requests tied to the report.
If the report prompts tighter or more prescriptive merger conditions, banks and merging parties could face higher ongoing compliance costs and slower or more uncertain transaction timelines.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires GAO to study how federal regulators use commitments and other procedures in insured depository institution merger reviews and report findings to Congress within one year.
Introduced December 10, 2025 by Scott Fitzgerald · Last progress December 10, 2025
Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how federal bank and credit union regulators use commitments, conditions, and other procedures when reviewing merger applications from insured depository institutions, and to deliver a report to Congress within one year. The study must assess measurable metrics, legal alignment, any extrastatutory influences, comparative benefits and risks of review approaches, and effects on safety and soundness, financial stability, competition, and access to financial products and services. The law identifies the covered agencies (Federal Reserve Board, OCC, FDIC, and NCUA Board), defines which merger applications are in scope by citing the relevant statutes, and sets a one-year deadline for the GAO report after enactment.