Stripe-Owned Bridge Wins Approval to Become National Trust Bank, Paving Way for Expanded Payments Services

Bridge Financial, the payment infrastructure unit acquired by Stripe, has received regulatory approval to operate as a national trust bank in the United States — a milestone that enables it to offer a broader suite of banking and payment services directly to businesses and fintech partners. The approval comes from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and authorizes Bridge to function as a full-service trust bank with enhanced capabilities around deposit taking, fiduciary services, payment processing and settlement, and custodial functions. This strategic development deepens Stripe’s ambitions to build a more integrated financial infrastructure stack, helping merchants, platforms and financial institutions access core banking services seamlessly alongside payment execution and settlement.

By establishing Bridge as a regulated trust bank, Stripe strengthens its competitive positioning against traditional banks and emerging fintech challengers by combining modern API-driven payment rails with regulated banking capabilities — lowering friction in how businesses move, hold and manage money. The decision also reflects broader trends in the financial ecosystem where fintech companies pursue bank charters to control more of the value chain, enhance product offerings and reduce reliance on third-party banking partners. The charter is expected to unlock new revenue streams and accelerate innovation in embedded finance and cross-border commerce.

Key Highlights

• National trust bank charter approved: Bridge, part of Stripe, has been authorized by the OCC to operate as a national trust bank.
• Expanded capabilities: Approval enables deposit taking, custodial services, payment settlement, and trust functions.
• Strategic integration with Stripe: Bridge will strengthen Stripe’s financial infrastructure stack across payments and banking.
• Regulatory milestone: Trust bank charter provides regulatory certainty and allows Stripe to reduce dependency on third-party banks.
• Embedded finance implications: The move accelerates Stripe’s push deeper into embedded banking services for platforms and marketplaces.
• Competitive landscape: Places Stripe alongside other fintechs pursuing bank charters to expand product offerings.

Why This Matters

1. New Banking Capabilities Combined with Payments

As a national trust bank, Bridge gains the ability to hold fiduciary assets, manage payments settlement accounts, and provide deposit services under US federal oversight — capabilities that go well beyond Stripe’s existing partnerships with third-party banks. Integrating these functions with Stripe’s global payments network reduces operational complexity for merchants and developers building financial products, while giving Bridge/Stripe more control over risk, compliance, and funds flows.

2. Reducing Reliance on Third-Party Banks

Historically, fintechs have depended on partner banks to offer regulated deposit accounts and custodial services. With Bridge’s charter, Stripe can bring those services in-house, potentially lowering costs, increasing product agility, and improving custody and settlement reliability — factors that are particularly valuable for high-volume platforms, marketplaces, and international commerce scenarios.

3. Accelerating Embedded Finance Innovation

Companies integrating financial services directly into their products — from marketplaces to software platforms — will benefit from a unified API-driven stack that combines payments, deposits, custodial services, and trust-driven functionalities. This enhances Stripe’s appeal as a one-stop infrastructure provider for fintechs and platforms seeking to embed financial features without building banking infrastructure themselves.

Market and Competitive Context

Stripe has long competed with both traditional banks and technology-enabled providers like PayPal, Adyen, and Block in the payments space. By adding a regulated trust bank to its ecosystem, Stripe bridges gaps between payment processing, funds management, and compliance — aligning with moves by other fintechs that have pursued banking charters (e.g., SoFi, Square) to support lending, deposit services, and integrated financial products.

The national trust bank charter is distinct from a full commercial bank charter — it emphasizes trust and custodial functions but still places Bridge under robust federal oversight, giving partners and customers greater confidence in deposit and settlement security.

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