what is a national bank charter 
a national bank charter as granted by the federal government allows an institution to do business as a bank when starting a new financial institution the owner applies for a state or national bank charter this charter allows the bank to offer customers financial services accepting deposits and providing loans for example since 2009 there have been far fewer new commercial bank charters compared to previous decades 10who is responsible for supervising national banks the office of the comptroller of the currency occ supervises all national banks the occ is an independent bureau of the u s department of the treasury the national credit union administration supervises federal credit unions 