The Comptroller of the Currency, Thomas Curry, announced that the OCC would commence considering applications from financial technology companies that offer bank products and services for a grant of a special purpose bank charter. The ability to obtain a bank charter would eliminate the need for Fintech companies to register in multiple states, each with different laws and restrictions. Although the details of the charter are not final, the OCC released a paper discussing the issues and conditions that will be considered in granting special purpose bank charters. That paper indicates that such institutions would not be required to take FDIC-insured deposits. In a related Fintech development, Federal Reserve Board Governor Brainard gave a speech at a Federal Reserve Board conference on emerging financial technologies. She addressed various developments and the need to address related risks, and she noted the Federal Reserve Board’s earlier establishment of a working group on fintech innovation.

View the OCC press release.

View the OCC paper.

View Governor Brainard’s speech.