You will begin your career in Bank Supervision and Examination (BSE) as an Assistant National Bank Examiner (ANBE). This role provides the foundation for understanding both the technical and practical aspects of bank supervision. While the focus of your work will primarily be in the community bank space, ANBEs regularly work with our midsize and large bank teams as well—building a wide spectrum of experience and perspective right from the start.

ANBEs work closely with experienced examiners and engage with bank management at all levels. They conduct in-depth financial and operational analysis and participate in examinations at national banks and federal savings associations (collectively, banks), as well as OCC offices. Using a risk-based examination approach, ANBEs help assess a bank's financial condition and identify potential issues across a wide range of areas, including lending practices, interest rate risk, capital, consumer protection, and compliance with banking laws and regulations.

Training and Development

The OCC is committed to supporting each examiner's professional development though structured training, ongoing education, and real-world experience. As examiners gain expertise, they apply both technical knowledge and interpersonal skills in a dynamic and evolving financial industry marked by increasingly complex products and services.

Travel Expectations

Bank examiners travel frequently—anywhere from 15% to 95% of the year—depending on office assignment and portfolio. Examiners may work from one of the OCC's offices, at a bank, or at its branches throughout the United States. View estimated overnight travel percentages by location.

To become an ANBE, applicants must meet at least one of the following:

• A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study in accounting, banking, business administration, commercial or banking law, economics, finance, marketing, or other field closely related to the position; OR
• Three years of work experience
  • demonstrating knowledge of accounting or auditing principles, such as reviewing, analyzing, recommending or approving loan applications, investments, or other actions involving the properties or monies of others held in trust by or for a financial institution, and/or
  • performing internal accounting or auditing work for a financial institution that has required understanding of debits and credits, balance sheets, and operating statements; OR
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience; OR
• A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate obtained through written examination in a state, territory, or the District of Columbia.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants must successfully complete the entry-level pre-employment assessments. Candidates will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule their testing appointment.

For questions about the application or hiring process for the ANBE position, please contact the OCC Recruitment Team at ANBERecruitment@occ.treas.gov.

Pre-Employment Assessment

Once you submit your application, you will receive an email with instructions to schedule your testing session. You will have the option to take the job-related assessments in one of two ways:

• Virtually, from a secure location of your choice
• In person, at a certified proctored testing center

During the session, you will complete up to three automated, multiple-choice tests on a computer. If your performance meets the required standard on each test, you will proceed to the next stage of the selection process. If your performance on any test does not meet the threshold, your test session will end, and you will be notified that you are no longer under consideration for the ANBE position.

Download Applicant Prep Guide

To help prepare, download our Applicant Preparation Guide for more information and sample questions.

Structured Interview Process

Candidates who perform satisfactorily on the tests may be invited to participate in an initial 30-minute screening interview. This structured interview uses a standardized set of questions designed to evaluate key job-related competencies that are not easily measured through computerized testing.

Candidates who successfully pass the screening interview and meet the OCC’s qualification standards are then invited to participate in Career Exploration Week. During this event, candidates complete a final structured interview and have the opportunity to learn more about the ANBE position and the OCC.

A career at the OCC offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement. New examiners typically spend six to eight months on a training team, where they participate in bank examinations, meet with bank leadership, and contribute to supervisory recommendations and findings.

After several years of formal training and on-the-job experience, ANBEs are eligible to take the Uniform Commission Examination (UCE). Those who successfully complete the UCE receive a commission from the Comptroller of the Currency, certifying them to lead examinations of national banks, federal savings associations, their affiliates, and bank holding companies.

Over time, examiners have the opportunity to specialize in specific areas of supervision, including:

• Asset Management
• Bank Information Technology
• Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering
• Capital Markets
• Compliance
• Mortgage Banking
• Retail Credit

This structured career path allows examiners to deepen their expertise, take on leadership roles, and help shape the future of bank supervision.

Entry-level bank examiners have a base starting salary of $58,000*, plus a locality differential based on the employee’s designated location. Use the drop-down menu below to view total starting salary, along with examples of average salary structures and career progression adjustments over time.