All developments
OCCLicensingJune 17, 2026

OCC Clarifies How It Evaluates Bank Charter and License Applications

The OCC issued guidance clarifying the standards it uses when making decisions on filings such as charter applications, mergers, and licensing requests. This is directly relevant to crypto firms and fintechs pursuing national bank charters or trust company charters, as it signals what the OCC will and will not weigh in its approval decisions.

What to do

  • Read the OCC's clarified filing standards and assess how your institution's pending or planned charter or licensing applications may be affected by the updated criteria.

Who this affects

Bank / Credit UnionTrust CompanyCrypto ExchangeCrypto CustodianFintech / Neobank

Does this affect your program?

Pick your institution type for an instant read on whether you're in scope — then see exactly which sections of your own policies this changes.

Source

Read the official publication

This radar entry is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and grounded in the linked official source; always verify against the primary source and consult qualified legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

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OCC Proposes Two-Tier Framework for Violations: Substantive vs. Technical

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OCC Revises Enforcement Action and MRA Policies and Procedures

The OCC has released updated internal policy manuals governing how bank enforcement actions and Matters Requiring Attention (MRAs) are issued and managed. These revisions signal a shift toward greater consistency and transparency in how the OCC responds to supervisory findings, which is directly relevant to banks and trust companies navigating crypto, BSA/AML, and fintech-related examination findings. Compliance officers should review the updated PPMs to anticipate examiner expectations.

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OCC Announces Clearer, More Consistent Enforcement and Supervisory Standards

The OCC announced coordinated actions to improve transparency in how it issues MRAs and enforcement actions, including two revised policy manuals and a proposed rule change to the violations framework. For banks and trust companies—including those offering crypto custody or digital asset services—this means greater predictability in how examination findings will be escalated. Compliance teams should treat this as an opportunity to reassess their internal remediation and examiner-relations processes.

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