On April 12, 2016, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released its Risk Appetite Statement, which documents the OCC's overall conservative risk appetite in carrying out its supervisory mission. The Risk Appetite Statement provides that the OCC will accept more risk in some areas in order to adapt to the changing needs of supervised national banks and federal savings associations. OCC management and employees will use the statement to evaluate their decisions in overseeing national banks and federal savings associations as well as the execution of agency management functions, such as human resources, procurement and information technology.
Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry noted that by clearly articulating acceptable levels of risks within the OCC's operations, agency personnel have "clearer signposts by which to guide their decisions and external stakeholders can better understand OCC actions in the context of the risks facing the agency." The OCC plans to update its Risk Appetite Statement periodically as the federal banking system and its supervision evolve.
The OCC's Risk Appetite Statement is available at: http://www.occ.gov/publications/publications-by-type/other-publications-reports/risk-appetite-statement.pdf.
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