We regularly assist clients in assessing which is the optimal charter to operate under to best meet their business goals. We have extensive experience in advising clients on the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of charters—state bank charter, national bank charter, federal savings bank charter, or a specialized or limited purpose charter—and the implications of a charter choice on the parent holding company. As one of the few national firms with a separate, sophisticated thrift practice, we have been at the forefront in developing novel uses for thrift charters, especially by securities and insurance companies, in addition to advising our bank holding company clients on such matters. In the last several years, we have represented several of the nation's largest insurance and securities companies in forming federal savings banks in order to offer banking services to their customers.