De Novo Bank
A newly chartered bank. Organizers apply for a charter and, for most banks, federal deposit insurance, and the new bank operates under closer supervision during its first years.
Starting a bank takes a charter, from the OCC for a national bank or from a state for a state bank, and for most banks FDIC deposit insurance. Organizers present a business plan, capital, management and directors for review before the bank can open.
De novo activity picked up sharply in 2025 and 2026. The OCC reported 40 de novo applications for national charters in the 18 months to August 2026, compared with 48 from 2011 through 2024, and some were national trust bank charters, which are generally limited to fiduciary activities. The FDIC also adopted a two-phase review for deposit insurance applications, aiming for a contingent authorization within 120 days for organizers that meet its requirements.
For existing community banks, full-service de novos mean new competition for loans and deposits in their markets. This Week in Credit Risk, August 26, 2026 covers the numbers.
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