Joseph Otting

Otting grew up in Maquoketa, Iowa, the son of Grace and James Otting.[3][4]

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from the University of Northern Iowa, which he received in 1981.[4] He is also a graduate of the School of Credit and Financial Management, a multi-year program that includes four-weeks of classroom instruction[5] offered by the National Association of Credit Management, which was held at Dartmouth College at the time he attended in 1992.[6][7]

Flag of the United States Comptroller of the Currency

On June 5, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Otting to become the Comptroller of the Currency, responsible for overseeing federally-chartered banks, savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banks operating in the United States.[28] The U.S. Senate confirmed him on November 16, 2017,[29] and he was sworn in on November 27, 2017.[1]

The Comptroller of the Currency is the administrator of the federal banking system and chief officer of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC supervises nearly 1,400 national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks operating in the United States. The mission of the OCC is to ensure that national banks and federal savings associations operate in a safe and sound manner, provide fair access to financial services, treat customers fairly, and comply with applicable laws and regulations.[30]

The Comptroller also serves as a director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.[6]

During his July 27, 2017, confirmation hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Otting voiced support for simplifying regulatory capital requirements and for bank's ability to provide short-term, small-dollar loans, which in his view had been pushed out of the federal banking system by previous regulatory action.[31]

During his swearing-in ceremony, Otting stressed that his priorities include job creation and economic discrimination, reducing regulations, enhancing the value of the federal charter, and ensuring the OCC operates as effectively and efficiently as possible.[32]

In his first testimony as Comptroller, Otting discussed his main priorities, which included modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act; encouraging banks to meet the short-term, small-dollar needs of their customers; making Bank Secrecy Act compliance work more efficiently; simplifying regulatory capital and Volcker Rule; and helping the OCC operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.[33]

On May 23, 2018, the OCC published a bulletin promoting short-term, small-dollar installment loans to encourage national banks and federal savings association to help meet the credit needs of their customers.[34]

On July 31, 2018, Otting his decision to begin accepting applications for national bank charters from non-depository financial technology (fintech) companies engaged in the business of banking. "The decision to consider applications for special purpose national bank charters from innovative companies helps provide more choices to consumers and businesses, and creates greater opportunity for companies that want to provide banking services in America," said Comptroller Otting. "Companies that provide banking services in innovative ways deserve the opportunity to pursue that business on a national scale as a federally chartered, regulated bank."[35] Federal preemption applies to state law regarding federally chartered banks.[36]

On August 28, 2018, Otting announced that the OCC released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to solicit input on the best ways to modernize the regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).[37] On December 12, 2019, the FDIC and the OCC announced a proposed rule to strengthen and modernize CRA regulations,[38] which may require large banks "to lend more in poor areas under the new rules."[39]

On May 20, 2020, the OCC finalized the updates to the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act. On that same day, the OCC and other federal financial regulators published principles for offering small-dollar loans in a responsible manner to meet financial institutions customers’ short-term credit needs.[40] Although community and industry groups agree that the CRA, which has gone without major updates since 1995, is in need of updates, groups from both camps were critical of Otting's proposed changes. Community groups such as the National Community Reinvestment Coalition expressed concerns that the changes would lead to reduced lending in low- and middle-income communities. Industry groups like the American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America worried about the complexity of the updates and the lack of agreement between the OCC and the FDIC and Federal Reserve, all of which share responsibility for enforcing the CRA, on the rule changes.[41] Otting's proposed changes would go into effect on January 1, 2023, and would expand the criteria under which banking activities qualify as serving low-income communities. For example, a $500,000 mortgage in an area where the average mortgage size is $1 million could qualify as low- or moderate-income lending.[42] Otting was the CEO of OneWest when the bank sought approval to merge with CIT, a process that was complicated by the bank's history of noncompliance with the CRA. Regulators approved the merger only after both banks pledged to increase their lending in low-income communities.[43] Congresswoman Maxine Waters commented that Otting's efforts to weaken the CRA were likely informed by the challenges the law presented to the merger he presided over at OneWest.[44]

In May 2020, it was reported that Otting would resign as Comptroller of the Currency,[45][46] upon the finalization of the updates to the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act.[47][48][49] He formally announced his resignation on May 21, 2020.[50][51]

On December 21, 2018, President Donald J. Trump designated Otting to be the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) upon completion of current Director Mel Watt's term.[52]

Otting has played significant roles in charitable and community development organizations. He has served as a board member for the California Chamber of Commerce, the Killebrew-Thompson Memorial foundation, the Associated Oregon Industries, the Oregon Business Council, the Portland Business Alliance, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon. He was also a member of the Financial Services Roundtable, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and the Board and executive committee of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation.[30]

Otting and his wife, Bonnie, currently reside in Southern Highlands, Las Vegas, Nevada.[53] His interests include golf, tennis, cross-training and reading.[11] In addition, the Ottings are co-owners of Southern Highlands Golf Club, Tennis Facility, and Spa.[54]

• Appearances on C-SPAN