business banking
What is required to open a bank in USA?
<p>What requirements should I meet to start a bank in USA?</p>

<p>What are the requirements in other countries?</p>

<p>For this answer in general terms, a "bank" in the US is either a commercial, for-profit bank, or a non-profit credit union. (There are many types of financial institutions that are under federal regulation: investment banks, commercial banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, etc.)</p>

<p>There are full outlines at The Federal Reserve on the process to open a bank, who may open a bank, and what approvals are needed. All banks in the US fall under Federal Law, though there will be state laws that apply, too. </p>

<p>Start with <a href="http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/banking_12779.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/banking_12779.htm</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Starting a bank involves a long organization process that could take a
  year or more, and permission from at least two regulatory authorities.
  Extensive information about the organizer(s), the business plan,
  senior management team, finances, capital adequacy, risk management
  infrastructure, and other relevant factors must be provided to the
  appropriate authorities.</p>
  
  <p>The proposed bank must first receive approval for a federal or state
  charter. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has
  exclusive authority to issue a federal or "national bank" charter,
  while any state (and the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and
  the Virgin Islands) may issue a state charter. Before granting a
  charter, the OCC or state must be able to determine that the applicant
  bank has a reasonable chance for success and will operate in a safe
  and sound manner. Next, the proposed bank must obtain approval for
  deposit insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
  (FDIC). Additional approvals are required from the Federal Reserve if,
  at formation, a company would control the new bank and/or a
  state-chartered bank would become a member of the Federal Reserve.</p>
  
  <p>All insured banks must comply with the capital adequacy guidelines of
  their primary federal regulator (Federal Reserve, FDIC, or OCC). The
  guidelines require a bank to demonstrate that it will have enough
  capital to support its risk profile, operations, and future growth
  even in the event of unexpected losses. Newly established banks are
  generally subject to additional criteria that remain in place until
  the bank's operations become well-established and profitable.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>For Credit Unions</strong>, the National Credit Union Association responsible for the chartering of federal credit unions, which are nonprofit and cooperative in nature. <a href="https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/field-of-membership-chartering.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/field-of-membership-chartering.aspx</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Federal Credit Union Act ​(of  June 26, 1934) enabled credit
  unions to be organized throughout the United States under charters
  approved by the federal government. The purpose was to make credit
  available to more Americans and promote thrift through a national
  system of nonprofit, cooperative credit unions. The Federal Credit
  Union Act also is the source of authority for all federally chartered
  credit unions and governs the coverage and terms of insured accounts
  at all federally insured credit unions. It also determines the
  structure and duties of NCUA.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The Federal Credit Union Act: <a href="https://www.ncua.gov/Legal/Documents/fcu_act.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.ncua.gov/Legal/Documents/fcu_act.pdf</a></p>

<p><strong>For the rest of the world</strong>, Google is your best bet. All countries <em>(hopefully)</em>  have extensive regulations governing their banking industry, who may open a bank, and how those banks work - whether public, private or government owned - with the banking industry in the rest of the world.</p>
