{"id":24382,"date":"2026-07-26T14:11:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/wise-to-reapply-for-u-s-national-trust-bank-charter-under-genius-act-framework-after-occ-rejection-nft-plazas\/"},"modified":"2026-07-26T14:11:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:11:38","slug":"wise-to-reapply-for-u-s-national-trust-bank-charter-under-genius-act-framework-after-occ-rejection-nft-plazas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/26\/wise-to-reapply-for-u-s-national-trust-bank-charter-under-genius-act-framework-after-occ-rejection-nft-plazas\/","title":{"rendered":"Wise to Reapply for U.S. National Trust Bank Charter Under GENIUS Act Framework After OCC Rejection &#8211; NFT Plazas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise plans to submit a new application for a U.S. national trust bank charter under the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/senate-bill\/1582\/text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GENIUS Act<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> framework after regulators rejected its original proposal, marking a strategic pivot as the fintech adapts to a rapidly changing U.S. payments landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The London-based money transfer company said the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) denied its application because it was no longer compatible with the Federal Reserve\u2019s updated policies governing access to payment system master accounts. Despite the setback, Wise said it remains committed to obtaining a federal trust charter and believes the new stablecoin regulatory framework offers a more viable path forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The announcement sent Wise shares down as much as 10% in London trading on Friday as investors digested the delay in the company\u2019s U.S. banking ambitions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><noscript><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-large wp-image-98450\" src=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-13-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Wise plans to resubmit national trust bank application under GENIUS Act framework\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"\/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise plans to resubmit national trust bank application under GENIUS Act framework<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Wises_Application_Was_Rejected\"\/><b>Why Wise\u2019s Application Was Rejected<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wise.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow external noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> originally applied for a national trust bank charter in June 2025 to gain direct access to Federal Reserve payment infrastructure. Such a charter would have allowed the company to settle U.S. dollar payments directly through the Fed, reducing reliance on intermediary banks and improving payment efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, while the application was under review, the Federal Reserve significantly changed its approach to payment system access.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise said its original proposal depended on obtaining a Federal Reserve master account, but that strategy became unworkable after the Fed effectively paused access for uninsured trust banks while developing a new framework for \u201cpayment accounts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAs a result, the approach in our application became non-viable,\u201d the company said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The OCC\u2019s July 21 decision also referenced historical compliance issues contained in Wise\u2019s original filing, although the company said those concerns have since been addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turning_to_the_GENIUS_Act\"\/><b>Turning to the GENIUS Act<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of abandoning its plans, Wise intends to submit a revised application under the framework established by the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The law created the first comprehensive federal regulatory regime for payment stablecoins, providing clearer rules for reserve-backed digital dollars and institutions seeking to operate within the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise said its payments infrastructure is already designed to work alongside both traditional banking rails and blockchain-based payment networks, making it well positioned to operate under the new regulatory environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company stressed that the move does not represent a major shift toward becoming a stablecoin business. Rather, it reflects a desire to remain flexible as digital asset payments become increasingly integrated into the financial system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">William Blair analysts said they do not expect Wise\u2019s core strategy to change, noting that the company remains focused on lowering the cost of international payments regardless of whether transactions ultimately travel over conventional banking infrastructure or blockchain-based networks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Compliance_Program_Has_Improved\"\/><b>Compliance Program Has Improved<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The OCC also highlighted compliance concerns dating back to a multi-state consent order issued in 2025 over deficiencies in Wise\u2019s anti-money laundering (AML) risk management program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise said its business and compliance operations have evolved significantly since the original application was submitted more than a year ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the company, it has strengthened its AML controls, enhanced internal monitoring systems, and improved customer safety processes in response to regulatory feedback received throughout the application review.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise emphasized that the OCC\u2019s decision was based largely on historical issues reflected in the original application rather than its current compliance framework.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importantly, the rejection has no impact on Wise\u2019s day-to-day operations. The company will continue serving U.S. customers through its existing money transmitter licenses while preparing its revised trust bank application.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Changing_US_Regulatory_Environment\"\/><b>A Changing U.S. Regulatory Environment<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise\u2019s decision comes as U.S. banking regulators increasingly embrace federally regulated digital asset businesses following the introduction of the GENIUS Act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past several months, the OCC has approved or conditionally approved national trust bank charters for several crypto-focused firms, including Circle, BitGo, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/coinbase-wins-uk-license-equities-derivatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coinbase<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Crypto.com, Laser Digital National Trust Bank, and Connectia. Traditional financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab have also begun exploring stablecoin-related banking opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Circle recently received official national trust charter approval, joining <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/cme-sues-cftc-over-perpetual-futures\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BitGo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Anchorage Digital among federally chartered digital asset institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regulatory environment has shifted considerably since Wise first submitted its application, making a revised filing more practical than attempting to revive its original proposal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-98449\" src=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-10-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The OCC approved Ripple's application to charter a national trust bank\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-large wp-image-98449\" src=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-10-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"The OCC approved Ripple's application to charter a national trust bank\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"\/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The OCC approved Ripple\u2019s application to charter a national trust bank<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_It_Means_for_Wise\"\/><b>What It Means for Wise<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"\/><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the rejection represents a short-term setback, analysts view it primarily as a consequence of changing regulation rather than a rejection of Wise\u2019s long-term business model.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">William Blair noted that direct access to Federal Reserve payment rails would have strengthened Wise\u2019s U.S. payments infrastructure, but acknowledged that recent Fed policy changes have effectively delayed similar ambitions for many uninsured trust banks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wise believes a new application built around the GENIUS Act will better reflect today\u2019s regulatory framework while positioning the company for future growth as digital assets and traditional financial infrastructure continue to converge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For now, the fintech remains focused on expanding its low-cost international payments platform while pursuing a charter that could eventually provide more efficient access to the U.S. banking system.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/wise-national-trust-bank-genius-act-us-charter-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wise plans to submit a new application for a U.S. national trust bank charter under the GENIUS Act framework after regulators rejected its original proposal, marking a strategic pivot as the fintech adapts to a rapidly changing U.S. payments landscape. The London-based money transfer company said the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/nftplazas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-38.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nft.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}