Barry Wides, CPA Managing Director, Artisan Advisors The following are prepared remarks, delivered by Barry Wides, CPA, at the Wolters Kluwer Innovation Forum on May 28, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to speak with such an esteemed group of CRA professionals. I’m Barry Wides, Managing Director at Artisan […]
By: Barry Wides, CPA For the past several months, housing/banking reform legislation has been working its way through Congress and is now near bipartisan enactment. On May 20th, the House passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act text that reflects an agreement with the Administration. Senate action, hopefully, will soon follow. This legislation cuts
The Finish Line is in Sight for Housing/Banking Legislation Read More »
On February 9, the House of Representatives passed the “Housing for the 21st Century Act” by a vote of 390-9. The bill contains a number of provisions of interest to community banks, some of which are summarized below. The bill also contains several provisions affecting the resolution of failing banks and creation of new banks. Other provisions seek to incentivize greater levels of housing production and increase financing
House Passes Housing for the 21st Century Act Containing Community Bank Provisions Read More »
On December 17, 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued proposed guidance intended to simplify how banks with assets of up to $30 billion may obtain approval for a CRA strategic plan. The proposal would supplement the existing guidance contained in OCC Bulletin 2019-39, “Community Reinvestment Act: Guidelines for Requesting Approval of a Strategic Plan.” Despite being available since 1995, relatively few banks use CRA
On June 30, 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released its Semi-Annual Risk Perspective (SARP), a 20-page summary of key issues impacting the federal banking system. This report outlines several supervisory issues that may be useful for banks in anticipating areas of focus during upcoming exams. Commercial Credit Risk In commercial
New Provisions in the 2025 Tax and Spending Bill, Plus Pending Legislation, Poise Banks to Deepen CRA-Eligible Investments By Barry Wides, CPA Managing Director, Artisan-Advisors Several provisions in the recently enacted 2025 Tax and Spending Bill (Public Law 119-21) will significantly broaden community development investment options for banks under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). This
Congress Expands Community Development Investment Opportunities for Banks Read More »