SoFi Obtains Charter to Become a National Bank

The fintech company's applications were accepted by the Fed and OCC

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Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi
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Ben Luthi has been writing about credit cards and personal finance for six years and has written for U.S. News, NerdWallet, CreditCards.com and Experian, among others. Ben has developed many of Investopedia's in-depth credit card reviews and enjoys collecting and redeeming credit card miles and points in his everyday life and international travels.
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Published January 21, 2022

The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) have accepted SoFi's applications to become a bank holding company. The financial technology company will form SoFi Bank, National Association, pending its acquisition of Golden Pacific Bancorp next month.

  • SoFi has been granted approval by federal regulators to become a national bank.
  • The fintech company began as a student loan refinance company, but has expanded to other lending and banking products in recent years.
  • SoFi believes the charter will help the company expand its products and services.

SoFi Hits a Milestone as a Financial Services Firm

SoFi Technologies will soon be the parent company of a national bank, SoFi Bank, NA, pending its acquisition of Golden Pacific Bancorp, which is anticipated to close in March. The company announced its regulatory approval on Tuesday.

Social Finance started as a student loan refinance company in 2011, but has expanded its products and services to include an investment platform, banking accounts, personal and mortgage loans, a credit card and more.

As a national bank, SoFi will be able to continue to expand its list of products for consumers, says CEO Anthony Noto. "This incredible milestone elevates our ability to help even more people get their money right and realize their ambitions,” he added in a press release. “With a national bank charter, not only will we be able to lend at even more competitive interest rates and provide our members with high-yielding interest in checking and savings, it will also enhance our financial products and services to ensure they efficiently meet the needs of our members, business partners, and communities across the country.”

The process toward the milestone began in March 2021, when SoFi closed a deal to acquire Golden Pacific. The fintech company will continue to support the bank's community business, while spending $750 million to pursue its national plan as a digital bank.

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  1. "Business Wire. "SoFi Receives Regulatory Approval to Become a National Bank."

  2. SoFi. "Products."

  3. SoFi. "SoFi Announced Agreement to Acquire Golden Pacific Bancorp, Inc."