North Carolina payments and fintech laws

What it would do: Authorizes North Carolina state-chartered banks and credit unions to provide digital asset custody, staking, and transaction services, and establishes a licensing framework for payment stablecoin issuers, with regulatory oversight by the Commissioner of Banks.

What it would do: Prohibits merchants in North Carolina from charging customers more for credit or debit card payments than the merchant pays to process those payments, and requires conspicuous disclosure of any such charges in advertisements. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to impose civil penalties up to $2,500 for first violations or $5,000 for subsequent violations.

What it would do: Prohibits payment card networks from using firearms merchant codes, maintaining records of firearm owners in North Carolina, or discriminating against firearms merchants. Allows the Attorney General to assess civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and authorizes private lawsuits for statutory damages of $10,000 per violation.

What it would do: Requires financial institutions and payment card processors to report disabled adults and older adults exhibiting materially harmful financial behavior or six months of no communication to social services and designated contacts. Prohibits charging late fees, penalties, or interest to such adults during the reporting period.

What it would do: Lowers the maximum monthly interest rate on open-end credit and revolving credit card plans from 1.5% to 1.17% per month. The changes apply to interest, finance charges, and fees charged on or after October 1, 2025.

What it would do: Prohibits issuers, payment card networks, acquirer banks, and processors from charging interchange fees on the tax or gratuity portion of electronic payment transactions when merchants report those amounts during authorization or settlement, with civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and refund requirements.