ICBA Challenges OCC Over Crypto Charters

The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has filed a complaint in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) rule allowing national trust bank charters to be issued to cryptocurrency and other non-traditional companies.

The ICBA argues that this move by the OCC violates federal law and gives these companies access to banking activities beyond their typical fiduciary services, such as custody. This could potentially disrupt the traditional banking sector.

The complaint was filed on Friday, October 2, 2026. The ICBA claims that Congress did not intend for the national trust charter to be a 'side door' into full-fledged banking activities.