S. 4839 – Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act

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Updated June 26, 2026 at 4:51 AM UTC

The Bank‑Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act directs the Federal Reserve, the OCC, the FDIC, and the NCUA to study how collaborations between financial‑technology companies and banks or credit unions affect the banking sector, especially the creation of new banks and the health of community banks. The agencies must examine impacts on competition, innovation, consumer protection, and access to funding, and recommend any needed changes to laws or regulations. Each agency must report its findings to Congress within a year.

Key Provisions

The Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the FDIC must conduct a study on how partnerships between banks (including bank holding companies) and fintech firms affect competition, innovation, consumer protection, product availability, new bank formation, speed to market, compliance costs, customer acquisition, technology, and funding sources.
The study must also identify any changes to federal banking laws or to the agencies’ rules that could better support effective bank‑fintech partnerships.
Within one year of the law’s enactment, the three agencies must submit a report to Congress with all findings and recommendations.
The National Credit Union Administration must conduct a similar study focused on credit unions and fintech partnerships, covering the same topics and potential regulatory changes.
The NCUA must also deliver its findings and recommendations to Congress within one year.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

June 18, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 18, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

June 18, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued June 18, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4839

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 18, 2026

Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to study how partnerships between financial technology companies and banking organizations can support new banking organization formation and community bank health, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bank-Fintech Partnership Enhancement Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Banking organization

The term banking organization means a depository institution holding company or an insured depository institution.

(2)

Depository institution holding company; insured depository institution

The terms depository institution holding company and insured depository institution have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

3.

Study on bank-fintech partnerships

(a)

Study

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall carry out a study of—

(1)

the impact of partnerships between banking organizations and financial technology companies on the banking sector, competition, innovation, consumer protection, and the availability of financial products and services, including the extent to which the partnerships support the formation of new banking organizations, reduce time to market for products and services, lower compliance burdens, boost customer acquisition, improve technological capabilities, and provide access to more diverse funding sources; and

(2)

what changes to Federal laws governing banking organizations, or to rules or guidance adopted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, may help promote effective partnerships between banking organizations and financial technology companies.

(b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall submit to Congress a report containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a).

4.

Study on credit union-fintech partnerships

(a)

Study

The National Credit Union Administration shall carry out a study of—

(1)

the impact of partnerships between credit unions and financial technology companies on the credit union sector, competition, innovation, consumer protection, and the availability of financial products and services, including the extent to which the partnerships support the formation of new credit unions, reduce time to market for products and services, lower compliance burdens, boost customer acquisition, improve technological capabilities, and provide access to more diverse funding sources; and

(2)

what changes to Federal laws governing credit unions, or to rules or guidance adopted by the National Credit Union Administration, may help promote effective partnerships between credit unions and financial technology companies.

(b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Credit Union Administration shall submit to Congress a report to Congress containing all findings and determinations made in carrying out the study required under subsection (a).