SMART Act of 2025

This bill aims to make federal exams easier on small, well‑run banks and credit unions. For those with $6 billion or less in assets, a full on‑site exam would be followed by a limited‑scope exam next time. They can also ask to combine safety and soundness, consumer compliance, and IT/cybersecurity exams into one visit, instead of having them separately . Regulators must write rules within 12 months, and they still keep the power to do extra reviews or full exams if needed to protect safety and follow the law .

The bill also tells exam teams to cut down on disruption at small institutions: have experienced leaders, use fewer examiners, spend less time on site, schedule at a convenient time, and give advance notice of topics. Agencies must report each year on how they follow these rules, including average examiner experience, number of examiners, and time spent on site .

• Who is affected: Insured banks and credit unions with $6 billion or less in assets that are well managed and well capitalized .
• What changes: Alternating limited‑scope exams after a full exam; option to combine different exams into one visit; steps to make on‑site exams shorter and less disruptive, led by experienced examiners .
• Oversight and reporting: Annual public reports with stats on examiner experience, team size, and time spent at small institutions .
• Safeguards and exceptions: Regulators can still do extra reviews if needed; the relief does not apply if an institution is under a formal enforcement order, and for banks it also doesn’t apply if control changed since the last full exam .