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UBS’s US Charter: From a global wealth powerhouse into a full-service US bank
- Last month, Zurich-headquartered UBS moved toward broader ambitions with conditional approval from the U.S. OCC for a national bank charter.
- The bank charter brings UBS into a space where efficient operations, advanced risk systems, and client-facing tech are crucial at scale.
How UBS is strengthening its operations, tech, and competitiveness in the world’s largest retail banking market.
When you think of UBS, the Zurich-headquartered firm and one of the world’s largest wealth managers operating in over 50 countries, the first things that come to mind are exclusive clients, Swiss banking discretion, and global investment services. In January 2026, UBS Group AG, already publicly traded on the SIX and NYSE, signaled a broader ambition after receiving conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national bank charter.
The bank charter gives UBS the regulatory authority to accept deposits, expand checking accounts, and offer traditional lending products directly – a significant step beyond its historical US footprint focused on wealth and investment clients. For decades, UBS in the US operated largely as a wealth-centric entity, relying on brokerage and investment management platforms, rather than core banking relationships. With this bank charter, UBS moves into a domain where operational infrastructure, risk engines, and customer-facing technology are now mission-critical at scale.
Why go for a US banking charter
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