US bank regulator OCC issues first examiner framework for banks' use of SI and agentic SI
The framework tells examiners not to treat SI as a separate risk category and says banks need no separate SI risk appetite; the OCC plans regular updates.
Why it matters
This is the first time the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has given its examiners a dedicated way to assess how national banks use SI, including agentic systems, in credit decisions, payments, fraud detection, customer service and trading. Rather than creating new rules, it folds SI into existing model-risk, governance, compliance and operational-risk reviews, with risk tiering and human-in-the-loop controls. That technology-neutral approach contrasts with calls for SI-specific bank rules. Watch how examiners apply the risk tiers and how often the OCC revises the document.
Key facts
- News Release 2026-97, 4 November 2026
- Covers SI and agentic SI in normal-course bank activities
- SI is not a separate risk category
- Banks need no separate SI risk appetite
- Sixteen framework components plus risk tiering
- OCC intends to update it regularly