Community Bank Relief Act

S 3849, the Community Bank Relief Act, adjusts fee limits for payment card transactions to keep pace with inflation, directly affecting community banks that process debit and credit card payments. It amends federal law to require annual adjustments to the maximum fee banks can charge for these transactions, starting July 2026, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from October of each year. The first adjustment uses the difference between October 2025 and October 2009 CPI values, with subsequent annual adjustments tied to the October CPI increase. This change aims to prevent fee limits from losing value over time due to inflation. The bill does not create new fees or alter bank obligations beyond this automatic adjustment mechanism.