Written July 24, 2020, updated September 20, 2020         

On July 20, 2020, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rule that would address when a national bank or federal savings association (each a “bank”) should be deemed a “true lender” of a loan. Under the proposed rule, a bank makes a loan if, as of the date of origination, it is named as the lender in the loan agreement or funds the loan. Regardless of its final form, if passed the rule will have material effects on banks and those third parties that partner with banks.