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A national bank charter is federal authorization from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national bank. Organizers apply to the OCC and, if they receive preliminary approval, must complete the organization process and meet the regulator’s conditions before the OCC issues the charter. Preliminary approval alone does not let the bank conduct banking business.
What a national bank charter authorizes
The OCC is the federal agency that grants national bank charters. An organizing group must apply to and obtain OCC approval before establishing a national bank. The OCC also charters certain special-purpose banks, including trust banks, credit-card banks, bankers’ banks, and community-development banks. The applicable details can vary by the proposed bank’s activities. See the OCC’s Comptroller’s Licensing Manual: Charters.
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A national bank charter is not the same as a federal savings association charter. The OCC manual discusses both, but they rely on different legal authorities and do not have identical requirements. This process describes national bank charters.
How a bank gets a national charter
- Discuss the proposal with the OCC. Before filing, organizers contact the agency to discuss the proposal and process. The OCC normally requires the organizers and proposed chief executive officer to attend a prefiling meeting.
- File a complete application. The organizing group submits information about the proposed bank, including its business plan, management, resources, and other required details. The application needs to be complete enough for the OCC to evaluate the proposal. The OCC provides application and process information on its Charters and Licensing page.
- Undergo OCC review. The agency analyzes the application, conducts background checks, and generally carries out a field investigation. OCC staff may interview organizers, officers, and principal shareholders, and assess whether the business plan and projections are credible.
- Allow for public notice and comments. Organizers publish notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed bank’s community. The general period for written comments to the OCC is 30 days from the notice’s initial publication date.
- Receive preliminary approval or denial. If its review is favorable, the OCC may grant preliminary approval so organizers can move forward with organizing the bank. That approval is not the charter and does not guarantee final approval.
- Complete the organization phase. Organizers carry out the remaining work, which can include raising capital, hiring management and staff, preparing premises, and developing policies and procedures. They must satisfy the OCC’s written conditions and obtain other necessary approvals, including FDIC deposit insurance where applicable.
- Obtain final approval before opening. When the OCC grants final approval, it issues the charter. The bank may begin banking business only after that approval and issuance, with other applicable approvals in place.
What the OCC evaluates
The OCC’s stated goal is a safe and sound banking system. It evaluates whether the proposal has a reasonable chance of success, whether the bank can be operated safely and soundly, and whether it meets applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
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The review includes the proposed business plan and the capabilities and backgrounds of insiders. The OCC considers competence, experience, integrity, and financial ability. Its field investigation generally helps assess the bank’s prospects and verify important facts and projections.
An application is not a formality: the OCC may deny one that does not provide enough information to assess the proposal. If preliminary approval is granted, its written conditions must still be met before final approval.
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How long the process takes—and key deadlines
The OCC’s December 2021 Charters manual gives general deadlines that apply after preliminary approval. They are not a standard estimate for the total time from initial planning through approval.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Milestone | General period | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Raise capital | 12 months after preliminary approval | The preliminary approval generally expires if capital is not raised in time, unless the OCC grants an extension. |
| Open the bank | 18 months after preliminary approval | The preliminary approval generally expires if the bank has not opened, unless the OCC grants an extension. |
| Submit public comments | 30 days from initial publication of the application notice | This is the general period for written comments to the OCC. |
The official sources do not establish one typical end-to-end processing time for every application or a universal minimum capital amount. Those depend on the proposal and other relevant details.
What preliminary approval means
Preliminary approval lets organizers proceed with the organization phase; it is not the charter and does not authorize the bank to operate. Organizers still need to satisfy the OCC’s conditions, complete required preparations, obtain applicable additional approvals, and receive final OCC approval. The OCC’s final approval is when it issues the charter and the bank may begin banking business, subject to those other approvals.
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The OCC’s Charters manual is dated December 2021 and remains listed among the agency’s licensing publications. A rule effective April 1, 2026, clarified the OCC’s authority and terminology for national banks limited to trust-company operations and related activities; the OCC said the rule neither expands nor contracts its authority to charter national banks. It is not a broad new charter authority. Applicants should consult the current OCC manual and applicable rules for the details relevant to their proposed activities.
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