Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to host fintech-focused innovation office hours

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has announced it will host fintech-focused Innovation Office Hours in New York in September.

To be held from September 25 to 27, the Innovative Office Hours aims to foster responsible innovation in the federal banking system.

The one-hour one-on-one meetings with OCC officials will focus on financial technology, new products or services, partnering with a bank or fintech company, or other related matters. OCC staff will provide feedback and respond to questions.

Those interested can send their request for an Office Hours session by August 17, 2018.

The announcement comes on the heels of OCC accepting applications for national bank charters from nondepository fintech companies engaged in the business of banking.

“Providing a path for fintech companies to become national banks can make the federal banking system stronger by promoting economic growth and opportunity, modernization and innovation, and competition,” Comptroller of the Currency Joseph M. Otting said. “It also provides consumers greater choice, can promote financial inclusion, and creates a more level playing field for financial services competition.”