FDIC Board of Directors Approves Final Rule on Establishment and Relocation of Branches and Offices
WASHINGTON – The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Board of Directors today approved a final rule to streamline the processes for the establishment and relocation of domestic branches and main offices. The final rule is intended to improve the speed and certainty of, and reduce the regulatory burden associated with, branch and main office filings. The final rule is substantially similar to the proposal issued in July 2025, with small modifications.
Like the proposal, the final rule applies to insured state non-member banks applying to establish a branch or relocate a main office or branch, and to insured branches of a foreign bank applying to move from one location to another. Key elements of the final rule include:
- Providing that most filings qualifying for expedited processing will be deemed approved three business days after submission;
- Eliminating the FDIC’s discretion to remove filings from expedited processing;
- Eliminating the filing requirements for de minimis branch facility changes;
- Streamlining filing content requirements;
- Eliminating public notice and public comment requirements; and
- Extending the expiration period for an approved filing.
The final rule will take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
