The grimy streets of D.C. are buzzing with news from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve Board. Today, both agencies jointly announced the 2026 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) “small bank” and “intermediate small bank” asset-size thresholds.
Under the CRA regulations, financial institutions are evaluated on their ability to meet the credit needs of all community members, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. These evaluations are based on the institution’s asset size and its classification under different CRA examination procedures. The asset-size thresholds are adjusted annually, typically aligning with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure of inflation.
For 2026, the CPI-W has increased by 2.51 percent from the period ending in November 2025. This translates to new CRA asset-size thresholds as follows:
- A small bank is defined as an institution with assets under $1.649 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years.
- An intermediate small bank is characterized by having at least $412 million but less than $1.649 billion in assets as of December 31 of both of the prior two calendar years.
These thresholds, effective from January 1, 2026, or the date of publication in the Federal Register, through December 31, 2026, will impact how financial institutions are assessed under the CRA. To access a list of current and historical asset-size thresholds, visit here.
The announcement comes with a contact list for both agencies, ensuring that any institution or individual needing further information can reach out directly. The last updated date of December 30, 2025, signifies the latest revision to these important financial regulations.
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