On May 24, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a final rule permitting federal savings associations with total consolidated assets of $20 billion or less to elect to operate as “covered savings associations” with the rights and privileges of national banks. A covered savings association will retain its federal savings association charter and existing governance framework, but will be subject to the same duties, restrictions, penalties, liabilities, conditions and limitations as a national bank. The final rule implements section 206 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. Release.