Main Street Capital Access Act

Key Points

• Would give newly created banks up to 3 years to fully meet federal capital rules, aiming to make it easier to start new local banks.
• Sets faster timelines for regulators to act on certain bank applications (often 30 or 90 days), and in some cases approvals would be automatic if the agency misses the deadline.
• Loosens and updates several rules for smaller banks, including expanding who can use a simpler capital framework and raising the size limit for certain small bank holding company rules to $25 billion.
• Changes how bank exams work by pushing for clearer, more objective ratings, faster exam reports, and a new independent office where banks can appeal major exam decisions.
• Adjusts rules affecting bank funding and mergers, including wider deposit exceptions for some community banks and less competition review for mergers that end under $10 billion in assets.