RECOUP Act of 2023

Recovering Executive Compensation Obtained from Unaccountable Practices Act of 2023 or the RECOUP Act of 2023

This bill establishes additional authorities for federal banking agencies and sets forth requirements for insured depository institutions with assets over a specified amount to address their safety and soundness.

In the event of institutional failure, the bill establishes the authority to recover from a senior executive bonus compensation and profits from the sale of securities received during the 24-month period preceding the failure. Federal banking authorities also have the authority at an institution of any size to remove from office a senior executive in cases of gross negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or failure to carry out specified responsibilities.

The bill also requires depository institutions and depository institution holding companies to adopt governance and accountability standards that promote safety and soundness, responsiveness to supervisory matters, and responsible management.

In addition, the bill increases the cap on civil penalties for associated violations. It also expands certain violations to cover senior executives who recklessly (instead of knowingly) violate the law.

Finally, the bill requires various reports. Federal banking agencies must publish a report after the failure of an institution. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System must report semiannually on the supervisory and regulatory policies and actions of the Board. After an insured depository institution enters receivership, the inspector general of the appropriate federal regulator must report on the regulator's supervisory performance with respect to that institution.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov