The national bank regulator gave banks leave to close their offices in areas of Florida and Georgia affected by Hurricane Debby, according to an announcement Monday.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said it expects that only those bank offices directly affected by potentially unsafe conditions will close. “Those offices should make every effort to reopen as quickly as possible to address the banking needs of their customers,” the agency said.
It also pointed banks to OCC Bulletin 2012-28, “Supervisory Guidance on Natural Disasters and Other Emergency Conditions” (Sept. 21, 2012), for guidance on actions bankers could consider implementing when their bank or savings association operates or has customers in areas affected by a natural disaster or other emergency.
The announcement was directed at national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks that have offices in affected areas.