Licenses and charters

While increasing de novo activity is encouraging, the processes of chartering a bank and applying for deposit insurance are more onerous, lengthy and costly than they need to be.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika pushed back against concerns that his agency's proposed fintech charter will unduly benefit nonfinancial firms.

The Boulder, Col.-based credit union will serve the 4,300 members of the American Solar Energy Society.

Few lawmakers have stated positions on fintech applications for industrial loan company charters. It may not stay that way.

In the midst of a public feud between federal regulators on the right process for chartering new banks, Federal Financial Analytics argues that regulators should instead focus on loosening capital standards for new industry entrants.

After repeated attacks from acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. defended its role in greenlighting prospective bank applicants.

Readers react to the CFPB’s final arbitration rule, a new potential hurdle for initial coin offerings, a housing finance reform proposal and more.

It is only a matter of time before bankers and policymakers realize that the concept keeping banks and non-financial entities apart no longer has any underlying support.

Citigroup hopes to return $60 billion to shareholders by 2020 while earning $20 billion a year; SEC says companies that raise money by selling their own electronic tokens for cryptocurrencies may be subject to federal oversight.

Social Finance’s application for an industrial loan charter has not only drawn opposition from a coalition of incumbent banks and community activists, it also serves as a microcosm of several perennial debates in financial services policy.

While some policymakers are open to accommodating fintech companies with looser oversight compared with banks, the New York State superintendent is unapologetic about her tough approach.

Readers slam credit unions’ ever-inclusive membership criteria, weigh in on the OCC’s proposed fintech charter, encourage a rewrite of the CRA, and more.

Observers see recent comments by acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika as a sign that the agency may plow ahead on its policy for fintech firms.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith Noreika should take some time to assess whether the agency’s fintech charter is developing in a way that best serves the public.

Arizona, Nevada, Florida and North Carolina have lost more banks than other states, based on the percentage decline since 2010. Each has a unique set of reasons that goes beyond regulation and a dearth of de novo activity.

Readers sound off on airing political opinions at the office; putting banks and fintechs under the same regulatory umbrella; putting consumer needs first regardless of tech advancements; and more.

An improved state-level system could be a tremendous advantage. Working closely with a cooperative regulator, innovators large and small can rapidly test a concept within state lines.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is trying to do its part to address fintech regulation, but the OCC lacks the mandate to solve the broader fintech issues facing the entire financial ecosystem.

The industry needs to establish a clear set of rules and standards so safe and secure financial data access and sharing continues unrestricted.

We need to continue the dialogue between state regulators and fintech firms on a broad range of important issues impacting this growing industry.