H.R. 6546 Text - Reported in House - 119th Congress (2025-2026)

SEC. 2. Inspector general review of the handling of insured depository institution merger applications.

(a) Review.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the Inspector General of each Federal depository institution regulatory agency shall review the Federal depository institution regulatory agency’s merger review procedures, including record of timeliness and efficiency in reviewing and acting upon insured depository institution merger applications. The review shall—

(1) include an evaluation of relevant quantifiable metrics, including mean and median application processing times;

(2) identify sources of delay that may hinder the timely consummation of proposals that meet the relevant statutory factors;

(3) consider the benefits and risks of utilizing different merger review approaches and procedures in compliance with the law;

(4) include an evaluation of the impact of such merger review procedures and resulting approved mergers on safety and soundness, financial stability, competition, and the availability of financial products and services offered by insured depository institutions; and

(5) include specific recommendations to improve the merger review process, including timeliness and efficiency of application processing, consistent with the Federal depository institution regulatory agency’s statutory responsibilities.

(b) Report.—Each Inspector General described under subsection (a) shall, at the conclusion of each review required under subsection (a), issue a report to Congress containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the review, and publish such report online.

(c) Agency response.—In response to each report issued to Congress under subsection (a), the appropriate Federal depository institution regulatory agency shall submit to Congress and publish online a written response, including a plan to implement the recommendations in the report, to the extent such implementation is appropriate.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) APPLICATION.—The term “application” means an application, notice, or other similar request for permission submitted to a Federal depository institution regulatory agency.

(2) FEDERAL DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION REGULATORY AGENCY.—The term “Federal depository institution regulatory agency” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration Board.

(3) INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION.—The term “insured depository institution”—

(A) has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and

(B) means an insured credit union, as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752).

(4) INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION MERGER APPLICATION.—The term “insured depository institution merger application” means an application with respect to the acquisition of an insured depository institution, its equity interests, its assets, or its deposits under—

(A) section 10(e) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(e));

(B) section 205(b) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1785(b));

(C) section 7(j) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j));

(D) section 18(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)(2));

(E) section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842); and

(F) section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843).