U.S. Regulator Rejects Bunq's National Bank Charter Application

A U.S. banking regulator turned down a national bank charter application from Dutch fintech Bunq BV. The company had submitted its request at the beginning of the year to operate as a nationally chartered bank. The rejection prevents Bunq from entering the U.S. market as a licensed bank.

Bunq is one of Europe's larger digital banks and had pursued the charter as a path to direct U.S. operations. The specific regulator and grounds for denial were not disclosed in available reporting. The decision leaves Bunq without a clear route to offering banking services in the United States under its own charter.