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FOIA Guidance and Fees

If you are seeking access to your consumer complaint file, please see "Privacy Act Guidance".

How to Submit a FOIA Request

To submit your request online click the "Sign In" link on the top right to sign in or register. Once logged in, click the "Submit a FOIA Request" link and complete the online form.

You can also submit a request by mail. The mailing address for submitting a FOIA request, if needed, is:

Pauline Byrd
OCC, Disclosure Services
400 7th Street, SW, Suite 10W-410
Washington, DC 20219

Before You File a Request

Check the FOIA library and OCC's website. Many commonly requested records are already publicly available.

To submit a FOIA request, your request must:

  • Clearly state that you are making the request under the FOIA
  • Reasonably describe the records you are seeking
  • Include your name, mailing address and preferred contact information
  • Include a willingness to pay applicable fees, or a fee waiver request with justification

Effective FOIA Requests

  1. Fully describe the records you seek for faster document retrieval.
    FOIA provides access to records. It is not a way to answer open-ended questions. Provide enough detail so that the records can be located. Detail such as document types, key words, topics, descriptive information, timeframe, relevant names and locations will assist with accurate records identification. Records must exist at the time the request is submitted to be considered.
  2. Provide a full name, a full mailing address, email address and telephone number so that you may be contacted if we need additional information.
  3. Contain an agreement to pay fees associated with the processing of your request. If your request has potential to produce a voluminous amount of responsive documents, you will be notified. Some requests may require prepayment.

After You File a Request

  1. Upon receipt of the request, the OCC will generate an acknowledgment letter that summarizes the request, provides a case number, assigns an estimated due date, identifies the staff member assigned to the case, and the fee schedule associated with processing FOIA request.

    If you have requested a document download as your method of delivery, you will receive an email telling you when those documents are available. In order to retrieve those documents, you will need to "Sign In" to the system and check the status of your request. Upon reaching that screen, you will see a small download icon next to your request status. Click there in order to download the documents relating to your case onto your computer. When making a request to the OCC for records under the Freedom of Information Act, keep the following tips in mind.

FOIA Fee Schedule

FOIA identifies three categories of FOIA requesters

Requester Type Description / Fees
Commercial User Requester seek information for a use or purpose that furthers commercial, trade, or profit interests. These requesters are assessed charges which recover the full direct costs of searching, reviewing, and duplicating the records sought.
Educational, Non-commercial Scientific Institution Requesters and Representatives of the News Media are not seeking records for commercial use, or represent the news media actively gathering information for an entity that is organized and operated to publish or broadcast news to the public. These requesters are billed for duplication costs. The first 100 pages are free.
Others are those who do not fit into one of the above categories. These requesters are charged fees to recover the full direct cost of searching for and duplicating records. The first 100 pages and the first two hours of search time are free.
The OCC publishes its FOIA fees as part of its normal Notice of Fees Issuance published and distributed annually. The current charges are $60 per hour and $.20 per page.

Fee waivers can be requested in certain cases. Please review 12 CFR 4.17 or call the OCC's Public Liaison, Pauline Byrd, at (202) 649-7665 for additional information.