On March 15, 2017, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC“) issued a “Draft Licensing Manual Supplement for Evaluating Charter Applications from Financial Technology Companies,” which provides additional details on the evaluation of national bank charter applications from financial technology (“fintech“) companies that engage in the business of banking. The supplement explains how the OCC will apply the licensing standards and requirements in existing regulations and policies to fintech companies applying for special purpose national bank charters. The supplement also describes unique factors that the agency will consider in evaluating applications from fintech companies; expectations for promoting fair access, fair treatment and financial inclusion; and the agency’s approach to supervising those fintech companies that become national banks. Release. Manual Supplement.