bunq has filed a de novo OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency) banking charter application on January 7, 2026, making it the first EU neobank to pursue a full US banking charter alongside its existing Dutch banking licence. Earlier in the same month, bunq also secured a FINRA broker-dealer licence.
The OCC review process typically takes 12–18 months, meaning a US banking licence decision is expected mid-2027 at the earliest. bunq’s stated target US market: digital nomads and expats in US metro areas with large EU expatriate communities — a niche consistent with bunq’s existing European positioning as the “bank for digital nomads.”
For bunq’s existing EU customers, the US expansion is a potential future benefit — US dollar accounts, cross-border features, and a unified banking experience across the Atlantic — but has no immediate product impact.
Context: The OCC charter application follows a broader pattern of European fintechs seeking US banking licences as a growth vector. Revolut has historically pursued a US bank charter without success; bunq’s Dutch banking licence gives it a stronger regulatory precedent to present to US regulators. Whether the OCC approves a de novo charter for a foreign-owned institution remains to be seen.
The June 2026 AFM fine note: In the same period, bunq was fined €170,000 by the Dutch AFM for failing to respond to seven client fraud complaints within the mandatory response deadline. This is a minor but notable compliance flag as bunq presents itself to US regulators.
Source: https://bankingdive.com/