European FinTech giants turn to direct application for US banking licenses, with Trump's relaxed regulatory policies serving as an accelerator

SerumDegen · 2026-01-23T05:40:10+00:00

Fintech company Revolut recently decided to apply directly for a US banking license, abandoning its plan to acquire a US bank. This move is due to the high costs and complex approval process associated with acquisitions, and the current regulatory environment favors direct application. Revolut is actively communicating with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in the United States, hoping to accelerate the approval process.

SerumDegen

2026-01-23 05:40:10

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【Crypto World】The latest developments of Revolut, a well-known European fintech company, are worth paying attention to. The company originally planned to obtain a full-state operating license in the US through acquiring an American bank, but has now changed its mind—directly applying for a US banking license.

Why the shift? Revolut believes that acquisition is too fraught with pitfalls. Maintaining physical branches costs money, and ownership changes require multiple layers of approval—these costs and processes are obstacles.

Another key factor is the current environment. Under the relaxed regulatory policies of the Trump administration, applying directly might actually be faster. Revolut is in close communication with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), aiming to leverage this policy window to accelerate the approval process. This also reflects fintech companies’ keen sensitivity to subtle changes in the US regulatory landscape—sometimes, taking a detour is the shortcut.

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liquidation_watcher

· 14h ago

Taking a detour as a shortcut, this move is impressive.

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CascadingDipBuyer

· 14h ago

This move by Revolut is really brilliant; applying for a license directly is much more cost-effective than an acquisition.

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AlphaBrain

· 14h ago

Haha, Trump really gave FinTech the green light this time Revolut's move was brilliant; the acquisition route is indeed a trap The window of relaxed regulation won't last long, so it's best to seize the opportunity early

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TokenRationEater

· 14h ago

Smart move, this wave indeed took advantage of the regulatory window period for bottom fishing.

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