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Wise Group (NASDAQ: WSE) faces OCC denial, to refile U.S. trust charter

(Neutral)
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Wise Group plc reports that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has denied its application for a national trust bank charter at this time. The application was submitted over a year ago, during which Wise says its business and compliance maturity have evolved and it has addressed historical issues identified by the OCC, including matters referenced in a July 2025 public Multi-State Consent Order.

Wise states that the OCC decision does not affect its normal operations, which continue under existing money transmitter licenses across 48 U.S. states and four territories and more than 80 licenses globally. In response to U.S. and other regulatory feedback, the company reports significant investment in strengthening its U.S. compliance program, enhancing investigations and reporting, improving customer data integrity, and bolstering controls to help prevent financial crime, working with regulators such as the FCA and NBB.

Wise notes that changes in U.S. payments regulation, including the GENIUS Act and evolving Federal Reserve policy on master account access, have made its original trust bank approach non-viable. It has informed the OCC that it plans to submit a new national trust bank charter application under a GENIUS Act framework. In fiscal 2026, Wise supported around 19 million customers, processing over $240 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers over $3 billion.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • OCC denial of U.S. trust bank charter delays Wise’s plans to operate under a national trust bank charter and requires a fresh application aligned with a new U.S. regulatory framework.
Cross-border transactions processed over $240 billion Cross-border transaction volume in fiscal year 2026
Customers served around 19 million People and businesses supported in fiscal year 2026
Customer savings over $3 billion Amount Wise reports saving customers on cross-border transactions in fiscal 2026
U.S. state coverage 48 states Money transmitter licenses across 48 U.S. states and four territories
Global licenses 80+ licenses Portfolio of licenses held globally
Currencies supported 40+ currencies Currencies available via Wise Account and Wise Business
national trust bank charter regulatory
"application for a national trust bank charter"
money transmitter licenses regulatory
"operations under our existing money transmitter licenses"
Money transmitter licenses are official permissions granted by government authorities that allow a business to legally transfer money between people or entities. They ensure that companies handling financial transactions follow rules designed to protect consumers and prevent fraud. For investors, these licenses are important because they demonstrate that a business operates within legal boundaries and adheres to financial safety standards.
GENIUS Act regulatory
"including the enactment of the GENIUS Act"
master accounts at the Federal Reserve regulatory
"direct access to master accounts at the Federal Reserve"
stablecoins financial
"With digital assets, such as stablecoins, becoming more visible"
Stablecoins are a type of digital currency designed to maintain a steady value, often linked to traditional currencies like the dollar or euro. They function like digital cash that offers the convenience of online transactions while avoiding the large price swings common with other cryptocurrencies. This stability makes them useful for investors and users who want a reliable way to store and transfer value without exposure to sudden market changes.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What did the OCC decide about Wise Group (WSE)'s U.S. bank charter?

The OCC denied Wise’s application for a U.S. national trust bank charter at this time. Wise had applied over a year earlier and states it has since enhanced its business and compliance maturity while addressing issues raised during the review and related regulatory actions.

Does the OCC decision affect Wise Group (WSE)'s current U.S. operations?

Wise says the OCC’s decision does not affect its normal operations. The company continues to operate in the U.S. under existing money transmitter licenses across 48 states and four territories, supported by a broader portfolio of more than 80 licenses globally.

How is Wise Group (WSE) responding to the OCC’s denial?

Wise has informed the OCC it plans to submit a new national trust bank charter application under a GENIUS Act framework. It highlights a positive ongoing relationship with the regulator and aims to reflect its growing business and the evolving U.S. payments regulatory landscape.

How large is Wise Group (WSE)'s payments business?

In fiscal 2026, Wise supported around 19 million people and businesses, processing over $240 billion in cross-border transactions. The company reports that these activities saved customers over $3 billion, and its products allow holding 40+ currencies for personal and business use.

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of July 2026

Commission File Number: 001-43229

 

 

 

Wise Group plc

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

 

1st Floor, Worship Square

65 Clifton Street

London EC2A 4JE

United Kingdom

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

 

Form 20-F    Form 40-F 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM 6-K

On July 23, 2026, Wise Group plc released, via the Regulatory News Service in London, an announcement regarding the company’s U.S. national trust bank charter application, which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 6-K.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
   
99.1   RNS Announcement dated July 23, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  WISE GROUP PLC  
     
Date: July 23, 2026 By:

/s/ Kristo Käärmann

 
  Name: Kristo Käärmann  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

This announcement contains inside information

 

Our U.S. national trust bank charter application

 

Today, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) communicated its decision to deny Wise’s application for a national trust bank charter at this time. Since submitting this original application over a year ago, our business and compliance maturity have evolved significantly. This includes changes we have made in response to OCC feedback throughout the application process, and the OCC’s letter published today refers to these historical issues with our original application that we have been addressing. We look forward to submitting a viable application to the OCC in due course which reflects both our growing business and the changing regulatory landscape.

 

The OCC’s decision does not affect Wise’s normal operations, in the U.S. and elsewhere, under our existing money transmitter licenses (across 48 states and four territories) and portfolio of 80+ licenses globally.

 

Timing of application

 

In its letter to Wise, the OCC refers to a public Multi-State Consent Order in the U.S. from July 2025, one month after we submitted our application for a national trust bank charter. In response to the Consent Order, we have strengthened our local U.S. program, enhanced our investigation and reporting processes, improved the integrity of the data we collect from our customers and increased resourcing for our local compliance program.

 

We have invested significantly in enhancing our processes and controls globally and in the U.S. since the original application for the trust charter was prepared, including those to prevent financial crime alongside other forms of risk. Preventing bad actors from using financial institutions like Wise is of the utmost importance to us. To achieve this, we work closely with regulators around the world including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the National Bank of Belgium (NBB). This is typical for a financial institution of our size, as are routine examinations by these regulators with findings and recommendations that we work to implement to provide a safe and secure service to our customers.

 

Evolving regulatory landscape and a new license application

 

Since the submission of our original application, the Federal Reserve announced in May 2026 a proposed change in the policy for payment system access. Our original application was conditioned on obtaining direct access to master accounts at the Federal Reserve. With the Federal Reserve generally pausing account access for an uninsured trust bank, the approach in our application became non-viable. Regulation for payments in the U.S. has also changed significantly in the last year, including the enactment of the GENIUS Act, along with rapidly evolving Federal Reserve policy on how financial institutions can directly access the federal payments network.

 

With digital assets, such as stablecoins, becoming more visible alongside existing payment rails, Wise’s infrastructure is well positioned to play an important interoperability role in this changing ecosystem. Our ability to efficiently connect payment systems, operate treasury management, and control risk in a regulated environment are more relevant than ever before to deliver even greater outcomes for customers.

 

   

 

Based on the above, we have informed the OCC that we plan to submit a new application for a national trust bank charter under a GENIUS Act framework, as we continue to maintain a positive relationship with the agency.

 

Enquiries

 

Martin Adams - Investor Relations

owners@wise.com

 

Sana Rahman - Communications

press@wise.com

 

Brunswick Group

Charles Pretzlik / Emily Murphy

Wise@brunswickgroup.com

+44 (0) 20 7404 5959

 

About Wise

 

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money.

 

With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40+ currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too, an entirely new network for the world's money.

 

In fiscal year 2026, Wise supported around 19 million people and businesses, processing over $240 billion in cross-border transactions and saving customers over $3 billion.

 

 

FORWARD LOOKING DISCLOSURE DISCLAIMER

This report may include forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and projections about future events. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as “forward looking”, “guidance”, “target”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast,” , “project”, “will”, “can have”, “likely”, “should”, “would”, “could” and any other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Wise and its subsidiaries. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events in the forward-looking statements may not occur.

 

Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance and should not be taken as a representation that trends or activities underlying past performance will continue in the future, and the statements in this report speak only as at the date of this report. No representation or warranty is made or will be made that any forward-looking statement will come to pass and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

 

Wise expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this report and disclaims any obligation to update its view of any risks or uncertainties described herein or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made in this report, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

   

 

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

1 document