Bank charters split into two distinct fintech strategies, each with different economics and points of failure
The 2025–26 surge in OCC de novo applications masks two economically separate charter routes—uninsured trust banks for custody and digital-asset firms, and insured deposit-taking banks for payments and lending platforms. Each trades different benefits against different constraints, and regulators have demonstrated that operational capability, not just a compelling business case, determines approval.
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The Payments Corner
30+ years across payments, fintech, banking, and financial infrastructure. Operator-level perspectives on the systems that move money.
Disclosure: The Payments Corner's founder is employed at Euronet Worldwide, a global infrastructure and transaction processing company. The publication may discuss securities or assets touching that domain. Content is provided for informational and editorial purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
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