This guide, prepared by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), is intended to provide an introduction to tribal ownership of national banks. The OCC encourages tribes and national banks to consult with counsel familiar with banking law, federal Indian law, and tribal law, as appropriate, to obtain specific advice on chartering, acquiring, or operating a national bank.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks), as well as federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. In regulating banks, the OCC has the power to:* examine the banks.* approve or deny applications for new charters, branches, capital, or otherchanges in corporate or banking structure.* take supervisory actions against banks that do not comply with lawsand regulations or that otherwise engage in unsafe or unsound practices.The OCC also can remove officers and directors, negotiate agreementsto change banking practices, and issue cease-and-desist (C&D) orders aswell as civil money penalties (CMP).* issue rules and regulations, legal interpretations, and corporate decisionsgoverning investments, lending, and other activities.Boards of directors play critical roles in the successful operation of banks. The OCC recognizes the challenges facing bank directors. The Director's Book: Role of Directors for National Banks and Federal Savings Associations helps directors fulfill their responsibilities in a prudent manner. This book provides an overview of the OCC, outlines directors' responsibilities as well as management's role, explains basic concepts and standards for safe and sound operation of banks, and delineates laws and regulations that apply to banks. To better understand a particular bank activity and its associated risks, directors should refer to the Comptroller's Handbook booklets, including the "Corporate and Risk Governance" booklet. For information generally found in board reports, including "red flags"--ratios or trends that may signal existing or potential problems--directors should refer to Detecting Red Flags in Board Reports: A Guide for Directors..