The Senate voted 50-45 along party lines to confirm Jonathan Gould as the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Gould will become the agency’s first permanent comptroller since Joseph Otting left the office on May 29, 2020.
Gould served as senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel at the OCC from December 2018 to June 2021, managing all legal functions, licensing activities, enforcement, litigation and regulatory initiatives at the agency during that time. He was involved in significant reform activities related to fintech and digital asset chartering initiatives.
Since his first stint with the OCC, Gould has served as chief legal officer at Bitfury, a blockchain infrastructure firm, and as a partner at Jones Day, advising on bank regulation and matters related to fintechs and crypto policy.
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) President and CEO Bob Broeksmit released a statement welcoming Gould’s confirmation.
“We look forward to Comptroller Gould’s measured approach to banking supervision, with a focus on ensuring safety and soundness in the banking system without imposing overly complex or burdensome regulatory oversight,” Broeksmit said. “MBA will also continue to advocate for reforms that support improved housing affordability and banks’ increased participation in the mortgage market, such as recalibrating risk-based capital requirements for mortgage servicing rights and warehouse lending.”
“Mr. Gould’s experience across both the public and private sectors gives him a well-rounded perspective and deep credibility at a time when a pragmatic approach to bank regulation is essential,” Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Lindsey Johnson said in a statement. “We look forward to working with Comptroller Gould and other policymakers to advocate for sound policies that enable America’s leading Main Street banks to continue to drive economic growth and innovation in communities across the country.”
There have been four acting comptrollers since Otting’s tenure ended. Brian Brooks took over for Otting in an interim capacity and was succeeded by Blake Paulson in January 2021.
Michael Hsu became acting comptroller on May 10, 2021, and served until Feb. 10, 2025, when he was replaced by Rodney Hood.