How Fintechs, Banks and PE-Backed Platforms Are Securing Trust Charters

Our Financial Leader Meredith Rousseau shares a great article which explores what's driving the surge in OCC and state charter applications - and what regulators are really looking for in governance, risk and compliance.

What happens when regulators go soft on the world’s biggest banks? In The Banker, experts warn that a wave of U.S. enforcement rollbacks could be signalling a tolerance for “bad behaviour” among global systemically important banks. This shift raises serious questions about accountability, competition, and trust across global finance. At a time when confidence in the financial system depends on transparency and fair conduct, easing pressure on the largest institutions could have far-reaching consequences – not just for banks, but for fintechs, innovators, and consumers who depend on a level playing field. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYRuA2BX #Risk #Regulation #OpenBanking #Fintech #Compliance John Crowley Dan Murphy Invela Network Jim Wadsworth

The American Fintech Council (AFC) led by Phil Goldfeder along with policy experts including Ian P. Moloney, is turning up the volume and formally urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to preserve consumers’ rights to access and share their financial data, and to prohibit banks from imposing access fees. This isn’t just regulatory noise, it's a pivotal moment for fintech innovation and financial inclusion. If consumers retain free access to their data, fintech innovators will be able to build better, safer and more competitive products, underserved populations will have more options, and the U.S. can stay a global leader in open banking standards. Check out this article: https://lnkd.in/eFpXR6VP #OpenBanking #ConsumerDataRights #FintechInnovation #FinancialInclusion #RegTech #Fintech #AIinFinance #DigitalTransformation

Transparent oversight is essential to ensuring that financial innovation and regulatory compliance advance together. 🤝 In a new Capitol Account interview, Kayce Seifert, Associate General Counsel at Mercury and a former FDIC attorney, shares a thoughtful perspective on why fintechs should have greater visibility into the confidential bank supervision process. As Kayce notes, the current framework leaves fintechs “playing a weird game of charades” with partner banks, making it harder for both regulators and innovators to work effectively together. Her reflections underscore an important truth: as fintech and bank partnerships continue to power small business growth and financial access, regulators must modernize oversight frameworks to reflect today’s collaborative, technology-driven financial ecosystem. 📖 Read more: A Fintech Lawyer Makes the Case for Cracking the Secrecy of Bank Supervision ⤵️🔗  https://lnkd.in/e6sSJxbd #Fintech #SmallBusiness #Regulation

“Financial institutions should view stablecoins not as threats but as tools.” — Stephen Aschettino, Steptoe & Johnson LLP This shift captures how regulation is reshaping digital finance. With audited reserves, regulatory alignment, and institutional transparency, stablecoins like USDKG are becoming usable components of modern banking infrastructure. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/edGeiU8r #Stablecoins #RegTech #InstitutionalFinance

We are pleased to participate and share our perspectives at the Insights Forum, a strategic closed-door dialogue for Finance and Technology leaders. Zilong Li, Head of Digital Currencies Unit, Global Transaction Services, DBS, will speak on "Digital Money Adoption and Regulation: Strategies for Commercial Banks and FinTechs." This Public-Private Roundtable will explore with regulators, banks, and FinTechs on how stablecoins, tokenised bank liabilities, CBDCs, and shared ledger technology will revolutionise money. At DBS, our focus is to leverage the transformative potential of tokenisation to deliver real-world value. Through DBS Token Services, we offer a next-gen suite of banking services to power 24x7, programmable, secure, and instantaneous value transfer, transforming how money and assets work with tokenisation and smart contracts. From optimising liquidity management and fortifying institutional payment controls to enhancing consumer rewards and unlocking new investment opportunities in financial markets, we enable our clients to capture opportunities, and thrive with confidence in an always-on digital economy. Find out more: https://go.dbs.com/4hIyDH6 #AddOurStrengthtoYours #InsightsForum #FinTech #DBSTokenServices Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

We are pleased to participate and share our perspectives at the Insights Forum, a strategic closed-door dialogue for Finance and Technology leaders. Zilong Li, Head of Digital Currencies Unit, Global Transaction Services, DBS, will speak on "Digital Money Adoption and Regulation: Strategies for Commercial Banks and FinTechs." This Public-Private Roundtable will explore with regulators, banks, and FinTechs on how stablecoins, tokenised bank liabilities, CBDCs, and shared ledger technology will revolutionise money. At DBS, our focus is to leverage the transformative potential of tokenisation to deliver real-world value. Through DBS Token Services, we offer a next-gen suite of banking services to power 24x7, programmable, secure, and instantaneous value transfer, transforming how money and assets work with tokenisation and smart contracts. From optimising liquidity management and fortifying institutional payment controls to enhancing consumer rewards and unlocking new investment opportunities in financial markets, we enable our clients to capture opportunities, and thrive with confidence in an always-on digital economy. Find out more: https://go.dbs.com/4hXoZk7 #AddOurStrengthtoYours #InsightsForum #FinTech #DBSTokenServices Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

𝗕𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 💰 The best time to take capital is when you don't need money. The industry is facing unprecedented challenges, with traditional banks under intense pressure to innovate amidst regulatory changes and fierce competition from fintechs. 💼 🎥 Watch the video to know more. #bankingindustry #financialservices #fintech #riskmanagement #smallbusiness #digitaltransformation

Sunday Musings - Why do Fintechs want to be banks ? From an interesting article in Bloomberg - "While the practice of fintechs pursuing those licenses isn’t new, applications are rolling in at an increasing pace during President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. According to a report from the Klaros Group, there have been 13 federal bank charter applications in 2025 as of Oct. 17, the highest total since 2020. Companies are capitalizing on what many business leaders see as a permissive regulatory climate under the new administration." The boundaries are fading Once seen as disruptors, fintechs are now pursuing banking licenses. Meanwhile, traditional banks are rebranding, rebuilding, or reinventing themselves to operate like fintechs. What started as a contrast is quickly becoming convergence. This shift isn’t just cosmetic. It’s driven by hard economics, regulation, and a changing tech landscape. And it’s reshaping how financial products are built, distributed, and consumed. ( Karan Setiya - https://lnkd.in/gXY9b-4z The lines are blurring - and I suspect Fintechs will understand that becoming a bank has challenges that perhaps stifle innovation. https://lnkd.in/g4xCFAtT

Institutional Digital Asset Settlement: What Banks & Brokers Need to Know   As digital assets become an integral part of financial markets, institutions are facing new challenges in trade settlement. Unlike traditional markets, digital assets operate 24/7, requiring continuous infrastructure, real-time reconciliation, and seamless connectivity across exchanges, custodians, and internal systems.   Navigating these changes isn’t just about technology, it’s also about compliance, risk management, and building workflows that can scale with the fast-evolving market. Institutions that get this right can unlock operational efficiency, reduce settlement risk, and gain a strategic edge in the digital asset ecosystem.   💡 Dive deeper into how banks and brokers can approach this transformation, link to the full article in the comments. #DigitalAssets #InstitutionalAdoption #BlockchainTechnology #DigitalFinance #Fintech #CryptoInfrastructure #Settlement #BankingInnovation #FinancialMarkets #RiskManagement #Compliance #Wyden