Stripe faces bank charter pushback

Core Viewpoint - A national trust banking charter for Stripe could allow the company to offer banking services while avoiding certain regulations, raising concerns from advocacy groups about the legitimacy and compliance of the fintech [1][2][3]. Group 1: Charter Application and Concerns - The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) opposes Stripe's charter application, arguing it would grant the company undeserved legitimacy due to its history of legal issues [2][3]. - The NCRC's letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) highlights serious concerns regarding Stripe's governance, compliance, and consumer protection practices [3]. - If approved, the charter would enable Stripe's acquisition, Bridge, to operate as Bridge National Trust Bank, providing custody and management of stablecoin reserves under a federal framework [5][6]. Group 2: Industry Context and Other Applications - Stripe's acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure company, was valued at $1.1 billion and is part of its strategy to enter the banking sector [5]. - Other crypto firms, including Circle Internet Group, Paxos Trust, Ripple, and Coinbase Global, have also applied for charters through the OCC, but none have been approved yet [7].