April 8, 2026

NSSF Grateful to Trump Administration for Definitively Ending Banking Discrimination

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, thanks the Trump administration for bringing to a close the disgraceful chapter of corporate banks discriminating against firearm and ammunition businesses and denying them access to banking services based on loosely defined “reputational risk.” The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) published a Final Rule codifying the elimination of “reputational risk” from their supervisory programs.

“This Final Rule effectively puts a nail in the coffin of the ‘woke’ discrimination waged against firearm and ammunition businesses by banks attempting to choke off those businesses by denying them access to essential banking services,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “The Trump administration is delivering for the industry that makes exercising Second Amendment freedoms possible. This unscrupulous practice of weaponizing finance was blatantly illegal and had already been rejected by Congress. President Trump, through the OCC and FDIC, is ensuring unlawful banking discrimination cannot be waged against legitimate and lawful industries.”

The OCC explained that the Final Rule defines “reputational risk” and prohibits the OCC and FDIC from criticizing or taking adverse action against an institution on the basis of reputation risk. The rule also prohibits the agencies from requiring, instructing or encouraging an institution to close customer accounts or take other actions on the basis of a person or entity’s political, social, cultural or religious views or beliefs, constitutionally protected speech or solely on the basis of politically disfavored but lawful business activities perceived to present reputation risk.

NSSF supported the OCC ripping back the veil of banking discrimination in December 2025 when it published preliminary findings after reviewing large banks’ debanking activities. That OCC report revealed what the firearm industry has known, and experienced, for years. Large banks systematically “made inappropriate distinctions” of lawful businesses, including those against firearm-related businesses, to restrict access to banking services.

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Mark Oliva
202-220-1340

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