OCC Conditionally Approves Agora, Catena Trust Banks
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted preliminary conditional approval to two proposed national trust banks, which cannot open until final authorization.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Services
On September 18, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted preliminary conditional approval to proposed national trust banks from Agora and Catena. Neither bank is authorized to open until it receives final OCC approval.
Why it matters
The decisions extend national trust bank charters to firms offering digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance, and fiduciary services. The approvals set conditions including a minimum of $10 million in Tier 1 capital for each bank.
Each bank must hold at least $10 million in Tier 1 capital and maintain liquid assets sufficient to cover 180 days of operating expenses during its first three years. The conditions do not yet indicate whether either proposal will receive final OCC authorization.
The players
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The OCC is the U.S. federal bureau within the Treasury Department that charters, regulates, and supervises national banks and federal savings associations.
Agora
Agora is a firm seeking a national trust bank charter to provide institutional digital asset custody and stablecoin issuance services.
Catena
Catena is a firm seeking a national trust bank charter to offer custody, trust, and fiduciary investment management services.
Anchorage Digital Bank
Anchorage Digital Bank is a crypto-focused institution that has operated under a national trust bank charter since 2021 and issues payment stablecoins.
The details
Agora's proposed bank would provide institutional digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance, reserve maintenance, transaction services, and fiduciary investment advice. Catena's proposed bank would offer custody and trust services, fiduciary investment management, and clearing and execution of transactions involving fiat currency, securities, and digital assets.
Timeline
September 18: OCC grants preliminary conditional approval to Agora and Catena.
December 12, 2025: BitGo Bank & Trust's conversion to a national trust bank takes effect.
2021: Anchorage Digital Bank begins operating under its national trust charter.
Market Landscape
The approvals extend the national trust charter pathway that Anchorage Digital Bank used in 2021 to additional digital asset firms. BitGo Bank & Trust's conversion to a national trust bank, effective December 12, 2025, reflects the same trend of crypto-focused firms seeking federal charters.
Customers of Agora or Catena will only be able to use these bank services after each firm receives final OCC authorization. Until then, the proposed custody and fiduciary offerings remain unavailable to the public.
The takeaway
Federal trust charters are becoming a route for digital asset firms to offer regulated custody and fiduciary services. Readers should watch for final OCC decisions, since preliminary approval does not authorize either bank to open.
Further reading
For broader coverage of how federal charters are shaping the sector, see Financial Services news on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
