OCC Elevates Chartering Function; Names Stephen Lybarger as Senior Deputy Comptroller for Chartering, Organization and Structure

WASHINGTON-The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced the elevation and renaming of its chartering and licensing function and the appointment of Stephen Lybarger as Senior Deputy Comptroller for Chartering, Organization and Structure.

"The business of banking is innovating at a rapid pace. Elevating the OCC's chartering and licensing activities to be managed by a Senior Deputy Comptroller reflects the strategic value of these functions to our agency and the federal banking system," said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. "It further affirms the OCC's support for the formation of de novo banks, signals its openness to considering business combinations that foster competition and better support consumers and communities, and recognizes our new remit to license payment stablecoin issuers. Stephen's extensive knowledge and experience, combined with his steadfast commitment to adhering to statutory and regulatory requirements, will ensure the OCC's evaluation and decisioning of licensing applications is appropriate and timely."

In this role, Mr. Lybarger will oversee the agency's licensing function as a separate line of business, with staff in Washington, D.C. and regional offices. He will be responsible for managing the OCC's licensing process for national banks, federal savings associations, payment stablecoin issuers, and proposals for growth and structure changes to support a safe and sound national banking system, and for coordinating with the Chief Counsel's Office and Bank Supervision and Examination in connection with such proposals. Mr. Lybarger will serve on the OCC's Executive Committee and report to the Comptroller of the Currency.

Mr. Lybarger most recently served as Deputy Comptroller for Licensing, assuming that role in 2010. He joined the OCC in 1984 as a community bank examiner and earned his commission as a National Bank Examiner in 1988. He joined the licensing department in 1989.

Mr. Lybarger earned a bachelor's degree in business economics from Colorado State University.