Congressman Williams Introduces the Merger Process Review Act to Improve Transparency and Efficiency in Bank Merger Reviews
December 9, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced the Merger Process Review Act. This legislation will ensure federal regulators conduct timely, efficient reviews of merger applications submitted by insured depository institutions. The bill directs the Inspectors General of the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, and NCUA to examine the agencies’ merger review processes every three years, focusing on delay reduction, efficiency, and transparency.
“For years, we have heard from community banks across Texas and across the country that merger approvals are taking far too long – in some cases, years. Those delays add unnecessary costs, create uncertainty, and limit growth,” said Congressman Williams. “This bill gives Congress clear insight into where delays are occurring and how to fix them. Streamlining the merger review process will strengthen local financial institutions, help them reach new customers, and provide certainty to consumers.”
Under the Merger Process Review Act, the Inspectors General of each federal prudential regulator will evaluate processing times using objective data, identify bottlenecks or causes of costly regulatory delays, and recommend reforms to streamline the process without weakening safety or statutory oversight.
The federal agencies will be required to formally respond to Congress with a plan to implement the recommendations, ensuring meaningful accountability and improving transparency across the merger approval process.
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Background:
Community banks often rely on mergers to enter new markets, grow customer bases, and remain competitive against larger institutions. However, regulatory reviews today can drag on unpredictably, driving up costs that community banks cannot absorb while creating uncertainty for consumers and local economies.
This legislation does not change approval standards; it simply ensures that regulators review applications efficiently and transparently and that Congress has the data necessary to hold agencies accountable and reduce unnecessary delay.
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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.
Issues:Financial Services