Agencies Finalize Changes to Community Bank Leverage Ratio

Posted: Apr 30 2026

Federal banking agencies have finalized interagency rulemaking to expand the eligibility criteria for the community bank leverage ratio, adopting changes first proposed last year without further revisions.

The finalized rule lowers the CBLR requirement from 9% to 8%, which will expand the number of community banks that can opt into the framework, according to the agencies. It also expands the time banks can remain in the CBLR framework without meeting the qualifying criteria, from two quarters to four quarters.

The FDIC, Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency proposed revising the CBLR framework last year to encourage more community banks to use it. The changes will take effect on July 1.

To view the rule, visit: https://www.fdic.gov/news/press-releases/2026/agencies-finalize-changes-community-bank-leverage-ratio