Community Bank Relief Act

Key Points

• This bill changes the rules for which banks are considered 'small' and exempt from certain fee limits. It updates a $10 billion asset limit that has stayed the same since 2009, adjusting it to match the current value of money.
• Community banks and credit unions are the most affected. Currently, if a bank grows past $10 billion in assets, it must lower the 'swipe fees' it charges stores when customers use debit cards. This bill raises that limit so growing banks can keep their current fee income.
• The goal is to help local banks stay competitive against giant national banks. Supporters argue the old limit is outdated because $10 billion doesn't buy as much today as it did 15 years ago.
• If the bill becomes law, the first major adjustment would happen by July 1, 2026. This initial change would account for all the inflation that happened between 2009 and 2025. After that, the limit would be updated every year on January 15.
• For everyday people, this might help keep local banks in business. However, it could also mean that some stores continue paying higher fees on debit card transactions instead of seeing the savings that usually happen when a bank grows past the current limit.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

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