FDIC, Fed Release Updated CRA Asset-Size Thresholds

The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have jointly announced the release of the 2026 updated Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) ‘small bank’ and ‘intermediate small bank’ asset-size thresholds. This move, which aligns with annual adjustments based on inflation measures, is poised to impact financial institutions across the nation.

Under the CRA regulations, financial institutions are evaluated based on their ability to meet the credit needs of their entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, while maintaining safe and sound operations. The asset-size thresholds serve as a critical criterion for classifying financial institutions under different CRA examination procedures.

The 2026 asset-size thresholds have been adjusted upwards in line with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which saw a 2.51 percent increase through November 2025. The new thresholds are as follows:

A small bank is defined as an institution that, as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, had assets of less than $1.649 billion.

An intermediate small bank is a small institution with assets of at least $412 million as of December 31 of both of the prior two calendar years and less than $1.649 billion as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years.

These thresholds are set to take effect from January 1, 2026, or the date of publication in the Federal Register, whichever is later, and will remain in place until December 31, 2026. A comprehensive list of current and historical asset-size thresholds can be found here.

The announcement comes as a part of the agencies’ ongoing efforts to ensure fair financial access for all communities. Representatives from the FDIC and FRB are available for further information:

• FDIC: LaJuan Williams-Young, (202) 898-3876
• FRB: Chelsea Grate, (202) 452-2955

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