Sony Bank Receives Conditional Approval To Establish US Trust Bank For Stablecoin Operations

Japanese retail bank Sony Bank announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank in the United States. The move signals the Sony Financial Group’s formal entry into the U.S. digital asset market, with commercial stablecoin operations targeted for launch in 2027.

The decision was ratified at a Board of Directors meeting of Sony Financial Group Inc. (SFGI) on July 6, 2026. The new entity, named Connectia Trust, National Association, will be incorporated as a fully owned subsidiary of Sony Bank, which itself operates as a consolidated subsidiary of SFGI. With an initial capitalization of USD 40 million (approximately JPY 6.4 billion), Connectia Trust is designated as a trust company, authorized to conduct trust business and related operations. Sony Bank has indicated that phased capital increases may follow depending on business progress.

No business activities — including stablecoin issuance — will commence until all regulatory authorizations, including the OCC’s final approval, have been secured.

Building a Digital Asset Foundation

The establishment of Connectia Trust is framed by SFGI as a strategic investment in a medium- to long-term digital asset business foundation. The primary mandate of the subsidiary will be to support the issuance and management of U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins within the United States, a market segment that has attracted growing institutional interest in the wake of advancing federal stablecoin legislation.

Sony Bank’s decision to pursue a national trust bank charter — rather than a state-level license — reflects a deliberate regulatory strategy. National trust banks are chartered and supervised directly by the OCC, offering a unified federal framework that simplifies multi-state operations. This structure is increasingly favored by non-bank financial institutions and fintech companies seeking to issue payment stablecoins under emerging U.S. regulatory standards.

SFGI noted that the financial impact of establishing Connectia Trust on its consolidated results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, is expected to be immaterial. The group has committed to disclosing any material developments as the OCC’s review process advances toward final approval. The announcement positions Sony Financial Group among a growing cohort of global financial institutions moving to establish regulated stablecoin infrastructure directly within the United States market.

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