Mercury Applies for OCC National Bank Charter to Become the Bank for Builders
Application underscores Mercury’s profitability and long-term vision to create a regulated, software-led financial institution for ambitious companies and individuals.
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mercury, the fintech that provides radically different banking* for over 200,000 ambitious companies and individuals, today announced it has submitted its application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national bank charter and applied for federal deposit insurance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
The applications mark a milestone in Mercury’s evolution and a long-term investment in building a highly trusted financial foundation for ambitious companies and individuals. A charter is the next step in Mercury’s pursuit of radically different banking — combining powerful software built for precision and speed with the strength and stability of a regulated institution.
Mercury at a glance (as of November 2025):
- 200,000+ customers
- $650M in annualized revenue
- 3 years of GAAP profitability
- 1 in 3 U.S. startups use Mercury.**
A charter will extend what makes Mercury distinct: a single platform that helps customers accomplish everything they want with their money. Operating under direct regulatory oversight and innovating with the discipline required of a national bank will strengthen the trust we’ve already built with customers.
“Becoming an FDIC-insured national bank aligns with our long-term vision and will allow Mercury to deliver a better customer experience at scale,” said Immad Akhund, co-founder and CEO of Mercury. “We’ve built Mercury for ambitious companies and individuals. Once we receive regulatory approval, a charter will let us deliver greater stability, long-term confidence, and trust, while continuing to redefine what radically different banking means.”
These filings are the start of Mercury’s official engagement with regulators to open and operate a national bank. For customers, nothing changes today. Mercury will continue working closely with its partner banks while building new products, improving the experience, and laying the groundwork for the future.
Mercury also announced the appointment of Jon Auxier as Chief Banking Officer of Mercury and the proposed CEO and President of Mercury Bank, subject to approval of Mercury’s applications. His appointment reflects Mercury’s strategy to pair its software-first DNA with deep banking and regulatory expertise. Auxier is a proven financial services leader with a record of driving significant transformation in high-growth and highly regulated environments. He served as CFO of SoFi Bank and Corporate Treasurer of SoFi Technologies, where he helped lead the successful application and implementation of its national bank charter. He has held senior roles at Green Dot, Goldman Sachs, and a global accounting firm.
“Few fintechs have reached the level of financial strength and operational discipline to pursue a charter at this scale,” said Auxier. “Mercury is profitable and has built a strong balance sheet with a scaled and successful business. Becoming a bank will build upon our strong foundation and let us innovate with more precision and accountability.”
Our Story and What’s Next
Mercury was founded in 2017 to deliver a fundamentally different way of banking. Frustrated by the complexity founders faced in accessing traditional banking, co-founders Immad Akhund, Jason Zhang, and Max Tagher built Mercury on the belief that banking should do more than just safely hold money — it should actively help entrepreneurs accomplish what they want with it.
Since launching in 2019 with access to checking and savings accounts through FDIC-insured partner banks, Mercury has expanded its product lineup to include investment accounts***, a business charge card*, international wires, and lending, through its bank partners, other regulated third parties, and its own licenses. From the beginning, Mercury has applied software and design innovation to every part of that experience — from how customers move and manage money to how they gain visibility and insight into their finances. In 2024, Mercury extended that same design-led approach beyond core banking, introducing financial software that helps businesses pay bills, send invoices, automate accounting, and manage employee expenses. That same year, the company expanded its bank-sponsored offerings into consumer banking with the launch of Mercury Personal.*
Today, Mercury serves more than 200,000 ambitious companies across industries — from startups to venture capital firms, ecommerce companies, and a range of small businesses — who rely on Mercury so they can do everything they need to do with their money. With three years of GAAP profitability and one of the most successful models in fintech, a bank charter is the next step toward Mercury’s journey to build a financial institution designed to last for generations.
“Fintechs have become vital to how small businesses and entrepreneurs access the financial system,” said Tim Mayopoulos, Mercury board member and former CEO of Fannie Mae. “Mercury’s decision to seek a national bank charter shows how innovation and oversight can reinforce one another — strengthening confidence in the system and expanding access to modern, technology-driven banking.”
As part of the process, Mercury Technologies, Inc. (MTI) will apply to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to become a financial holding company. Upon approval, proposed Mercury Bank, N.A. would be formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of MTI and headquartered in Utah, a hub for digital-forward banking and financial talent.
About Mercury
Mercury offers radically different banking*. Unlike traditional banking that simply holds money, Mercury merges banking with software built for precision and speed to help entrepreneurs accomplish everything they want with their money. With banking, credit cards*, and financial software, Mercury helps more than 200K ambitious companies build great things. To learn more, visit Mercury.com.
*Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. The IO Card is issued by Patriot Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard®.
**Calculation based on an analysis of US-based companies that received an angel, pre-seed, seed, or Series A investment reported on Crunchbase in the most recent year.
***Mercury investment accounts are offered by Mercury Advisory, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Mercury Advisory is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercury Technologies. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any security. Investments are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View important information at mercury.com/legal.
Investments are not insured by the FDIC, are not deposits or other obligations of Choice Financial Group or Column N.A., and are not guaranteed by Choice Financial Group or Column N.A.
Contacts
Media Contact
Nic Corpora
Communications Lead
[email protected]
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