N.Y. sues U.S. over fintech charter plan

The state calls the decision to expand bank privileges to online lenders ‘reckless folly.’

New York has sued the United States over a decision to allow financial technology companies to apply for special national banking charters, saying the move is “lawless” and “ill-conceived” and will destabilize financial markets that are more effectively regulated by the state.

Maria Vullo, superintendent of the state’s Department of Financial Services, filed the lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in federal court in Manhattan on Friday, asking a judge to declare that the move exceeds the authority of the office and to block it from proceeding.

The office in late July invited fintech companies to apply for special national charters, which could potentially allow online lenders, payment firms and some cryptocurrency ventures to operate without relying on a bank, a move that has long been opposed by the financial industry and state regulators.

The move “puts New York financial consumers — and often the most vulnerable ones — at great risk of exploitation by federally chartered entities,” Vullo said in the lawsuit. “The OCC’s reckless folly should be stopped.”

The government has sought to encourage more competition in banking and to streamline the process that forces companies to navigate a 50-state hodgepodge of watchdogs.

“The agency is confident in its authority to grant national bank charters including special purpose national bank charters to companies that are engaged in the business of banking, meet the qualifications for becoming a national bank, and apply to conduct business as part of the federal banking system,” Bryan Hubbard, a spokesman for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, said in an email. “The agency will vigorously defend that authority, but will not comment on pending or potential litigation.”

The idea to bring financial technology companies into banking began in 2016 under Thomas Curry, the former head of the comptroller’s office.

The proposal was met with lawsuits, including one from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.

That case was dismissed in federal court because the OCC hadn’t yet set up its chartering policy.

New York’s chief financial regulator said she would challenge special charters if the OCC moved forward. This week, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors gave the green light to renew litigation against the move.