FinTech

ICBA: ICBA Opposes PayPal Application to Form Industrial Loan Company 

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed strong opposition to PayPal’s application opens in a new tab to form an industrial loan company—a type of financial institution that receives federal deposit insurance while avoiding full regulatory oversight.   “The FDIC should deny ILC applications from PayPal and other Big Tech companies and not allow these nonbank firms to benefit from the federal safety net while avoiding prudential regulation…

ABA: Statement Issued on OCC’s Announcement Regarding National Trust Charters

“Today’s decision by the OCC to approve conditionally a group of novel national trust charters raises important questions about the scope and oversight of these institutions. While innovation in financial services can benefit consumers, it is critical that any chartered entity operates under a regulatory framework that appropriately addresses its activities and risks. We are…

ICBA: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Approval of Five National Trust Charter Applications

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today expressed opposition to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s conditional approval opens in a new tab of five national trust bank charter applications from nonbank fintechs.  ICBA has repeatedly said in letters to the OCC that the agency lacks statutory authority to expand trust powers under Interpretive…

OCC: Conditional Approvals Announced for Five National Bank Charter Applications

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced its conditional approval of five national trust bank charter applications. Subject to meeting the OCC’s conditions, these institutions will join approximately 60 other national trust banks currently supervised by the OCC. In granting these conditional approvals, the OCC applied the same rigorous review and…

ICBA: ThinkTECH Accelerator Debuts 10th Cohort to Continue Driving Community Bank Innovation

The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for the 10th iteration of its award-winning ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP10). The solutions span a broad array of offerings – from responsible AI for compliance to tools that accelerate small business growth, modernize lending, expand investing options, and strengthen fraud defenses –…

ICBA: ICBA Urges OCC to Deny Coinbase’s Application for a National Bank Charter

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) urged the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to reject Coinbase’s application for a national trust bank charter for its subsidiary, Coinbase National Trust Co. (CNTC).  In a letter to the OCC, ICBA outlined serious concerns with the application, stating it failed to meet requirements of the National…

Treasury: Request for Comment Related to the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act Issued

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a Request for Comment required by the GENIUS Act, which furthers the Administration’s policy of supporting the responsible growth and use of digital assets, as outlined in Executive Order (E.O.) 14178 on “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.”  Today’s request for comment fulfills Treasury’s obligation pursuant to section 9(a) of…

ABA: Bank Trade Associations Respond to Financial Technology Association Letter that Seeks to Mislead Trump Administration about Open Banking

The Financial Technology Association teamed up with an interesting mix of data aggregators and fintech companies to issue a letter to the President today urging the Administration to undermine free markets and engage in government price fixing. The American Bankers Association, the Bank Policy Institute and Consumer Bankers Association issued this response: Banks don’t charge consumers…

ICBA: ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase Returns to the GSBC Connecting Fintechs with Future Community Leaders

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) announced its upcoming ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program showcase will once again take place at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC). The event, set for July 17, marks the culmination of the latest Accelerator program (AP9), a 10-week collaborative experience designed to foster fintech-community bank partnerships that advance community…

OCC: Acting Comptroller of the Currency Discusses Regulatory Agenda

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood today discussed his regulatory agenda in remarks at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Capital Markets Summit. In his remarks, Acting Comptroller Hood detailed the Office of the Comptroller’s work to embrace bank-fintech partnerships, expand bank activities involving digital assets, promote financial inclusion and reduce regulatory burden to…