Group 1 - Checkout.com has received conditional approval for a merchant acquirer limited purpose bank charter (MALPB) in Georgia, allowing it to bypass banks for underwriting merchants and authorizing transactions [3][7]. - The company is the third payments firm to receive such approval, following Fiserv and Stripe, indicating a trend in the industry towards direct banking capabilities [3][6]. - The charter will enable Checkout.com to integrate directly into Visa and Mastercard networks, enhancing control, innovation, and acceptance rates [4][5]. Group 2 - The approval is part of Checkout.com's strategy to expand its North American operations, with a new strategic hub established in Atlanta, Georgia, in addition to existing offices in New York and San Francisco [7]. - The company aims to achieve full charter banking operations within the year, although specific plans for the charter have not been disclosed [5][7]. - Industry consultants suggest that the charter will reduce costs by eliminating the need for third-party banks in the payment process [5].