Sponsors (3)
The bill aims to improve transparency, accountability, and speed in bank merger reviews to protect consumer access and oversight, but it raises costs and the risk that quicker or more public reviews could compromise safety and confidentiality.
Consumers and local communities could maintain or gain better access to banking products because Inspector General (IG) reviews must assess how merger review processes affect availability of financial products and services.
The public and Congress will get clearer information and regulators will face accountability because IG reports on merger reviews must be published and agencies must produce implementation plans responding to findings.
Insured depository institutions could see faster merger decisions because IG reviews are required to measure processing times and recommend process improvements.
Depositors, taxpayers, small businesses, and the broader public could face greater financial-system risk if agencies feel pressured to prioritize speed over thorough safety, soundness, or competition analysis in merger reviews.
Federal agencies, IG offices, and ultimately taxpayers will incur additional administrative costs and staff time to perform mandated reviews every three years.
Financial institutions could be exposed to disclosure of sensitive supervisory information because IG publication requirements create tension between transparency and confidentiality.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires IGs at the Fed, OCC, FDIC, and NCUA to periodically review and report on insured depository institution merger-review procedures and recommend efficiency improvements.
Introduced December 9, 2025 by Roger Williams · Last progress December 9, 2025
Requires the Inspectors General (IGs) of the four federal depository institution regulators (Federal Reserve Board, OCC, FDIC, and NCUA) to review how their agencies handle insured depository institution merger applications. Each IG must complete a review within 1 year of enactment and then every 3 years, publish a report to Congress and online, and the agency must publish a written response including a plan to implement appropriate recommendations. Reviews must measure processing times (mean and median), identify delays, consider lawful alternative approaches, assess effects on safety and soundness, financial stability, competition, and availability of financial products and services, and include specific recommendations to improve timeliness and efficiency.