American Access to Banking Act (H.R. 4544)
May 20, 2026
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The Frame
This bill changes the regulatory requirements for starting new banks and credit unions, which may alter the number and availability of financial institutions in local communities.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
New financial institutions
These entities will be subject to new application and capital-raising review processes established by federal agencies.
Federal banking and credit union agencies
These agencies are directed to create new outreach programs and review their existing application and capital-raising processes.
Last recorded activity May 20, 2026.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The House passed H.R. 4544 with a vote of 405 yeas to 4 nays.
- The bill directs federal banking and credit union agencies to promote the formation of 'de novo' (newly formed) regulated institutions.
- The bill mandates a review of application processes for new financial institutions.
- The bill mandates a review of capital-raising requirements for new financial institutions.
- The bill requires the establishment of outreach programs to support the formation of new financial institutions.
- The bill was passed under a suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority.
- 21 members of the House did not vote.
Why It Matters
This bill changes the regulatory requirements for starting new banks and credit unions, which may alter the number and availability of financial institutions in local communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'de novo' mean in this context?
Did this bill pass?
News Coverage
Lobbying Activity
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2026
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. Issues related to earned wage access. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions. H.R. 4437, Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act of 2025 (SMART Act of 2025), all provisions. H.R. 4478, Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act of 2025 (TRUST Act of 2025), all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2026
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. Issues related to earned wage access. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions. H.R. 4437, Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act of 2025 (SMART Act of 2025), all provisions. H.R. 4478, Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act of 2025 (TRUST Act of 2025), all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2025
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. Issues related to earned wage access. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions. H.R. 4437, Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act of 2025 (SMART Act of 2025), all provisions. H.R. 4478, Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act of 2025 (TRUST Act of 2025), all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2025
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions. H.R. 4437, Supervisory Modifications for Appropriate Risk-based Testing Act of 2025 (SMART Act of 2025), all provisions. H.R. 4478, Tailored Regulatory Updates for Supervisory Testing Act of 2025 (TRUST Act of 2025), all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2025
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions.”
1607 STRATEGIES, LLC
on behalf of American Fintech Council
2025
“Issues related to fintech and banks-as-a-service, earned wage access, fintech legislation, and online lending. H.R.940, FAIR Exams Act, all provisions.”
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Regulatory Streamlining
The bill represents a coordinated federal effort to lower barriers to entry for new financial institutions through agency-level process reviews.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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