Nayax and Zaria Systems File US Bank Charter Applications via Separate Regulatory Routes
Nayax and Zaria Systems File US Bank Charter Applications via Separate Regulatory Routes #
Two fintechs filed US banking charter applications this week, joining a growing number of non-bank technology companies pursuing regulated status in the American financial system.
Nayax Ltd., the Israeli-headquartered commerce enablement and payments platform listed on both the Nasdaq and Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, announced on August 6 that it had applied to the Connecticut Department of Banking to establish Nayax America Bank Inc. The proposed entity would operate under Connecticut’s Innovation Bank framework as a non-depository institution, meaning it would not take retail deposits and would not require FDIC deposit insurance. The bank would be headquartered in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and wholly owned by Nayax’s US holding company. Nayax said the charter would allow it to add embedded banking services to the payments infrastructure it already provides to American merchants.
The same day, Jackson, Wyoming-based Zaria Systems Inc. disclosed that it had filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter Zaria National Trust Bank. Zaria builds real-time infrastructure for mark-to-market credit and structured finance, and currently services traditional and digital asset-backed loans for banks, fintechs, and other lenders. A national trust bank charter from the OCC would give Zaria formal banking-grade standing in the institutional finance markets it serves.
The filings come during an active period for fintech charter applications. Demand for regulated banking status grew through the Trump administration’s first term as federal regulators, including Comptroller Gould, signaled greater openness to fintech applicants. Passage of the GENIUS Act for stablecoin regulation in July 2025 brought a further wave of applications, particularly from digital asset firms seeking trust charters for custody and stablecoin issuance. Industry trackers reported at least 18 applications to the OCC in 2025 alone.
The two filings reflect different regulatory approaches suited to each company’s business model. Nayax’s innovation bank route through Connecticut fits a payments-first operator that needs banking powers without entering the retail deposit market. Zaria’s national trust charter application addresses the institutional requirements of structured finance servicing. Neither application is guaranteed approval, and both companies acknowledged that regulators may attach conditions or request additional information before making a decision.
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