Ripple National Trust Bank wins final OCC approval, Crypto Briefing reports
In brief
- Ripple National Trust Bank, based in New York, received final OCC approval, Crypto Briefing reported.
- The bank will manage RLUSD stablecoin reserves and offer custody to enterprise clients.
- Its fiduciary-only charter bars the bank from taking deposits or making loans.
- Conditional approval came December 12, 2025, alongside Circle, Paxos and BitGo.
What the charter covers
Crypto Briefing reported that the bank (known as RNTB) is a national trust bank based in New York with a proposed charter number of 25364. The final sign-off completes a process that started with a conditional approval on December 12, 2025. As of late 2025, full authorization had been expected by March 2026, per the outlet.
The charter does two things, according to the report. It lets RNTB manage the reserves backing RLUSD, Ripple's US dollar stablecoin, and it lets the bank provide custody and fiduciary services to enterprise customers holding digital assets.
There's a hard limit, though.
Under the approval terms as Crypto Briefing described them, RNTB's operations are restricted to fiduciary activities. It won't take deposits. It won't make loans.
Dual oversight for RLUSD
RLUSD is currently issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, LLC, which is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). With RNTB in place, the stablecoin's reserve arrangements sit under oversight from both the OCC and the NYDFS, the outlet reported. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has said the goal is for RLUSD to be the most transparent and responsibly managed stablecoin on the market, according to Crypto Briefing's account of his remarks.
A crowded field of trust charters
Ripple wasn't the only applicant. On the same day as Ripple's conditional approval, the OCC also granted conditional approvals to other digital asset firms, including Circle, Paxos and BitGo (Circle's proposed entity is called First National Digital Currency Bank). Those approvals followed the enactment of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, which set up a federal framework for US stablecoins.
In Crypto Briefing's own view, the charter puts Ripple in more direct competition with BitGo and Paxos, and it sharpens the rivalry with Circle, whose USDC the outlet called the long-standing compliance-friendly choice for institutions. The publisher also argued that because RNTB can't use its charter to lend or gather deposits, the bank's growth depends on demand for custody and reserve management.
So it's custody and reserves, and nothing beyond that under this charter.
Frequently asked questions
What can Ripple National Trust Bank do under its OCC charter?
According to Crypto Briefing, the charter lets the bank manage the reserves backing RLUSD, Ripple's US dollar stablecoin. It also lets the bank provide custody and fiduciary services to enterprise customers holding digital assets.
Can Ripple National Trust Bank take deposits or make loans?
No. Crypto Briefing reported that under the terms of its approval, the bank's operations are limited to fiduciary activities. It won't take deposits or make loans.
Who regulates RLUSD's reserves now?
RLUSD is issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, LLC, which is regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. Crypto Briefing reported that with the Ripple trust bank in place, RLUSD's reserve arrangements sit under oversight from both the OCC and the NYDFS.
