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…
ICBA: Latest ThinkTECH Accelerator Cohort Announced
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) today announced the selected companies for its ninth ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator program (AP9). In market May 19 – July 25, the solutions represented in the second cohort of 2025 cover a broad range of key areas critical in helping community bankers meet a wide range of customer needs. …
OCC: Acting Comptroller of the Currency Discusses Agency Priorities
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney E. Hood today discussed strategic areas of focus for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in remarks at the Exchequer Club. In his remarks, Acting Comptroller Hood detailed the OCC’s efforts to reduce regulatory burden; promote financial inclusion; embrace bank-fintech partnerships; and expand responsible bank activities…
OCC: Fintech Business Model for a National Bank Conditionally Approved
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced conditional approval of the application for financial technology (fintech) company SmartBiz Loans to change the business model of CenTrust Bank, N.A., Northbrook, Illinois, upon its acquisition of CenTrust Bank, N.A. Upon acquisition, CenTrust Bank, N.A. was renamed SmartBiz Bank, N.A. CenTrust further applied to…