Licenses and charters

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors says parts of the plan are an overreach, while the agency should think twice about developing the proposal during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cobalt Credit Union is currently a state-chartered institution but is looking to once again become a federal one because of Iowa state taxes.

The company's plan had drawn strong criticism from bankers about Rakuten's potentially controlling an industrial loan company while engaging in its nonfinancial businesses.

In signing off on deposit insurance for the payments giant and student loan servicer, the FDIC sanctioned the first new industrial loan companies in over a decade.

On the same day the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it will soon rule on two applications, the agency also proposed benchmarks for all firms that want to own industrial loan companies.

A decision by regulators on how to move forward with the controversial charter could have broad implications for fintech firms that want to enter the banking system.

As part of a review, the agency said it had identified requirements dealing with operating subsidiaries, noncontrolling investments by banks and other corporate activities that were no longer necessary.

LendingClub and Varo Money are making inroads into the traditional financial system, but other fintechs still face long odds.

LendingClub and Varo Money are making inroads into the traditional financial system, but other fintechs still face long odds.

Wells Fargo appears to be outpacing its rivals in the API race; CFPB's unexpected showdown with Citizens; Varo gets vital FDIC OK for bank charter; and more from this week's most-read stories.