US regulator rejects Dutch fintech Bunq's bank charter bid

Bunq US OCC national bank charter supervisory concerns fintech

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) denied Dutch fintech Bunq's request for a national bank charter, citing significant supervisory and compliance concerns. The regulator said the application failed to explain how Bunq would be capitalized in the United States and raised doubts about the company's experience with unsecured credit cards and its ability to operate safely and profitably in the competitive U.S. market.

Bunq said it will address the OCC's concerns and continue pursuing a U.S. banking presence. The firm had reapplied for a U.S. bank charter in January after withdrawing an earlier application at the start of 2024 and holds a FINRA‑approved broker‑dealer licence that allows it to offer investment products in the United States. The OCC also recently rejected Wise's application to become a national trust bank.

Entities

Bunq · Office of the Comptroller of the Currency · Wise

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] The OCC raised doubts about Bunq's management experience with unsecured credit cards. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The OCC said the application did not clearly explain how Bunq would be capitalized in the United States. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Bunq reapplied for a U.S. bank charter in January after withdrawing an earlier application at the start of 2024. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Bunq plans to address the OCC's concerns and continue pursuing a U.S. banking presence. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The OCC cited significant supervisory and compliance concerns in its denial of Bunq's charter application. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The OCC also rejected Wise's application to become a national trust bank. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Bunq secured a FINRA‑approved broker‑dealer licence in 2025 that allows it to offer investment products in the United States. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency rejected Bunq's application for a national bank charter. jack1065.com · wixx.com · wkzo.com · kfgo.com