American Fintech Council (AFC)

Introduction

American Fintech Council (AFC) is a United States fintech trade association representing technology-led financial services companies and innovative banks. It advocates for responsible innovation, regulatory clarity, competition, consumer access and sound public policy in financial services. AFC is relevant to payment operators where fintech policy intersects with embedded finance, bank-fintech partnerships, lending, payments, data access, compliance and consumer protection.

What is American Fintech Council and who does it represent

American Fintech Council is a trade association for fintech companies, innovative banks and financial technology firms active in the U.S. financial services market. It represents organisations that use technology to deliver or support financial products for consumers, small businesses and other market participants.

AFC is not a payments-only body. Its work covers a wider fintech policy agenda, including responsible innovation, consumer finance, bank-fintech partnerships, lending, payments, data access, digital assets, compliance, financial inclusion and regulatory clarity.

Mission and advocacy focus

AFC advocates for public policy that supports responsible innovation in financial services. Its work focuses on regulatory clarity, consumer protection, financial inclusion, competition, transparency and the safe development of technology-enabled financial products.

The association works with policymakers, regulators, member companies and the wider fintech ecosystem to promote rules that allow responsible fintech and innovative banking models to develop while maintaining consumer trust and appropriate oversight.

Policy domains

• Responsible fintech regulation — Advocacy for clear, proportionate rules that reflect technology-enabled financial services.
• Bank-fintech partnerships — Policy work relevant to fintech companies, sponsor banks, embedded finance providers and banking infrastructure firms.
• Consumer protection and transparency — Focus on fair, transparent and responsible financial products for consumers and small businesses.
• Lending and credit access — Relevance for digital lenders, credit platforms, underwriting technology and firms expanding access to financial products.
• Payments and digital financial services — Policy relevance for payment firms, embedded finance platforms, money movement providers and fintech infrastructure companies.
• Data access and privacy — Work connected to consumer-permissioned data, open banking, privacy and the responsible use of financial data.
• Financial inclusion and competition — Advocacy for financial services models that expand access, lower barriers and support competition with incumbent providers.

Geographic scope and cross-border reach

AFC primarily focuses on the United States and U.S. financial services policy. It is most relevant to companies operating in the U.S. market, partnering with U.S. financial institutions, serving U.S. consumers or businesses, or following U.S. fintech regulatory developments.

AFC may be useful to international fintech and payment companies that monitor U.S. policy or operate in the American market. It does not provide licensing, regulatory approval, market-entry authorisation, bank sponsorship or payment scheme access.

Why American Fintech Council matters for payments operators

American Fintech Council matters for PSPs, embedded payment providers, payfacs, payment processors, wallets, banking-as-a-service providers, fintech infrastructure firms and payment-adjacent platforms operating in the United States.

For payment operators, AFC is relevant where payments overlap with fintech regulation, bank-fintech partnerships, embedded finance, consumer protection, data access, privacy, fraud, compliance, digital assets, lending, small-business finance and competition policy.

AFC can be useful for policy, legal, compliance, government affairs, product, partnerships, risk, strategy and executive teams. It does not regulate payment firms or issue licences, but it can help operators follow U.S. fintech policy debates and participate in industry advocacy around responsible innovation.

Who runs American Fintech Council and who are the members

AFC operates as a member-based trade association with leadership, policy staff, member companies, public advocacy activity, events and policy initiatives. It is a private-sector organisation, not a public authority, regulator, payment scheme operator or financial supervisor.

Its membership is centred on responsible fintech companies, innovative banks and financial services technology firms. The strongest fit is for organisations that want a voice in U.S. fintech policy rather than access to a payment network, technical standard or regulatory licence.

Members and participant categories

Working groups and member activity

AFC member activity may include policy discussions, regulatory engagement, comment letters, public statements, events, briefings and participation in issue-focused initiatives. Members may use the association to contribute expertise, align on policy priorities, engage with policymakers and follow regulatory developments affecting fintech business models.

Participation is most useful for companies with U.S. policy exposure or a need to understand how regulation may affect fintech, embedded finance, payments, lending, bank partnerships and consumer financial products.

What does American Fintech Council publish and who does it influence

Policy and regulatory engagement

AFC engages with U.S. policymakers, regulators and public-sector stakeholders on financial technology policy. Its work can involve federal and state policy audiences depending on the issue.

The association publishes public statements, policy letters, regulatory comments, issue materials, reports and advocacy resources. Its influence is strongest where fintech companies and innovative banks seek to shape policy discussions around responsible innovation, bank-fintech partnerships, consumer protection, lending, payments, data access and competition.

Research, policy resources and public education

AFC publishes materials that explain fintech policy issues and the role of technology-enabled financial services in the U.S. market. These resources may cover responsible innovation, regulatory clarity, financial inclusion, consumer access, banking partnerships, lending, payments, data, digital assets and compliance.

For PSPs and payment firms, the most relevant materials are those connected to bank partnerships, embedded finance, payment access, financial data, consumer protection, compliance expectations and the policy treatment of fintech business models.

Events and convenings

AFC organises and participates in policy events, summits, briefings, webinars and member discussions. These convenings bring together fintech companies, banks, policymakers, regulators and other financial services stakeholders.

For payment operators, AFC events are useful for policy visibility, regulatory context, senior-level networking and understanding how fintech policy debates may affect payment-adjacent business models.

How to join American Fintech Council

AFC membership is relevant for fintech companies, innovative banks and financial technology firms operating in or connected to the U.S. financial services market. The strongest fit is for organisations that want to engage in policy advocacy, regulatory dialogue, public education and industry representation.

Who can join

AFC membership is most relevant for fintech companies, banks, embedded finance providers, payment firms, lending platforms, banking infrastructure providers, data companies and technology providers connected to financial services.

Companies interested in membership should have a clear connection to responsible financial innovation and U.S. financial services policy.

AFC membership tiers and fees

AFC membership is organised for companies and financial services organisations rather than individual professionals. Public membership information focuses on participation and engagement rather than a single standard price list.

Companies interested in joining can contact AFC to discuss membership options, participation benefits and current pricing.

What members commit to

Members typically participate in policy advocacy, issue discussions, public education, comment processes, events and sector engagement. Participation may involve contributing expertise, joining briefings, supporting policy positions and engaging with policymakers or ecosystem stakeholders.

Membership does not provide regulatory authorisation, bank sponsorship, payment licensing, payment scheme access, federal approval, state approval or market-entry approval.

FAQ

Is American Fintech Council a regulator?

No. American Fintech Council is not a regulator, supervisor or public authority. It does not issue licences, supervise financial firms or create binding rules. AFC is a private-sector trade association that advocates for responsible fintech innovation and sound public policy.

Is American Fintech Council only for fintech startups?

No. AFC is broader than early-stage fintech startups. Its community is relevant to technology-led financial services companies, innovative banks and infrastructure providers involved in regulated financial products. The common thread is interest in responsible fintech policy, bank partnerships, consumer access and modern financial services regulation.

Why does American Fintech Council matter for PSPs?

AFC matters for PSPs because U.S. fintech policy can affect bank-fintech partnerships, embedded finance, payment access, consumer protection, data privacy, compliance expectations and competition. PSPs can follow AFC to understand policy debates that may influence payment-adjacent fintech models and partnerships.

Is American Fintech Council a payments association?

AFC is not a payments-only association. It represents a broader fintech and innovative banking ecosystem. Payment companies may still find it relevant where their business depends on bank partnerships, embedded finance, regulatory clarity, payment access, consumer protection, data access or U.S. fintech policy.

How much does American Fintech Council membership cost?

AFC does not publish a single standard public price list for all membership types. Companies interested in joining can contact AFC to discuss current membership options, participation benefits and pricing.

What does American Fintech Council publish?

AFC publishes public statements, policy letters, regulatory comments, reports, issue materials and educational resources on fintech and financial services policy. Topics can include responsible innovation, bank-fintech partnerships, consumer protection, lending, payments, data access, digital assets, inclusion and competition.

Does American Fintech Council provide licensing or market-entry support?

No. AFC does not provide payment licences, bank sponsorship, regulatory approval, scheme access or market-entry authorisation. Its value is policy advocacy, public education, member engagement and representation in U.S. fintech policy discussions.

Does American Fintech Council operate outside the United States?

AFC primarily focuses on the United States and U.S. financial services policy. It may be relevant to international fintech and payment companies that operate in the U.S. market or follow U.S. policy developments, but it should not be treated as an international market-entry organisation.