meta_id 3475881

On September 8, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), jointly with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration, issued frequently asked questions (FAQ) addressing the use of state-issued mobile driver's licenses and other government-issued verifiable digital credentials (VDCs) in compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requirements. The guidance clarifies how national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies may use VDCs to satisfy the Customer Identification Program (CIP) Rule under 31 CFR 1020.220. The FAQs define what constitutes a VDC and explain the application of the CIP Rule to banks' use of such credentials. The guidance also amends previously issued FAQs to update terminology describing VDCs, reflecting evolving standards in digital identity verification. The interagency approach reflects coordinated efforts across five federal banking and financial crime authorities to establish consistent standards for digital credential acceptance. This development is significant for financial institutions seeking to modernise customer onboarding processes while maintaining compliance with anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements. The guidance applies to all community banks, defined as institutions with up to $30 billion in assets, as well as larger banking organisations. Banks requiring further information should contact the Compliance and Operational Risk Division, Office of the Chief National Bank Examiner, at (202) 649-6550. The complete FAQ document is available on the OCC website.