Skip to main content
OCC Flag

An official website of the United States government

History

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) was created as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury by the National Currency Act of February 25, 1863.

Historical Exhibits

Discover the OCC’s history, including its evolving supervisory approach amid changing laws, financial challenges, and technological advances, and its role in managing the nation’s currency from 1863 to 1929.

Previous Comptrollers of the Currency

  • OCC Historic Seal
    Since Hugh McCulloch, the first Comptroller of the Currency, took office in 1863, distinguished Americans—including bankers, attorneys, and a Nobel Prize winner—have led the OCC and made significant contributions to U.S. history.

OCC’s 160th Anniversary

Moments in History

  • Moments in History

    Economic Insights from the History of the Federal Banking System

    Learn about pivotal moments in the history of the federal banking system and their impact on the nation from an economic point of view.