# Lending

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/

Granting commercial loans, mortgage credit or factoring facilities requires a banking licence or a dedicated lending licence under CRD Annex I (2) and national credit laws. Credit institutions can passport lending across the EEA, whereas non-bank commercial lenders must rely on national licensing or registration frameworks in each target jurisdiction.

## Definition

Granting loans, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions.

- CRD, Annex I (2): [official text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/36/oj)

## Which licence you need

Licence families that typically permit this activity:

- [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/)
- [Lending / consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/)

- [Bank · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank)FSRA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/adgm/)
- [Credit · AustraliaAustralian credit licence (ACL)ASIC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/australia/)
- [Bank · BermudaBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999)BMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/bermuda/)
- [Bank · Cayman IslandsBank Licence (Category A and Category B) under the Banks and Trust Companies ActCIMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/cayman-islands/)
- [Bank · Czech RepublicCommercial Bank licence (bankovní licence)CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/czech-republic/)
- [Credit · Czech RepublicNon-bank Consumer Credit Provider licence (oprávnění k činnosti nebankovního poskytovatele spotřebitelského úvěru)CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-consumer-credit/)
- [VASP · Dubai (VARA)Virtual Asset Lending and Borrowing Services LicenceVARA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/dubai-lending-borrowing/)
- [Bank · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank)DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/difc/)
- [Bank · EstoniaCredit institution authorisation (bank)FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/estonia/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a credit servicerFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-credit-servicer/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a creditorFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-creditor/)
- [Credit · EstoniaAuthorisation for operating as a financial institution (Tegevusluba finantseerimisasutusena tegutsemiseks)FIU](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-financial-institution/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a credit intermediaryFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-intermediary/)
- [Bank · GeorgiaCommercial bank licenceNBG](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/georgia/)
- [Bank · GermanyCredit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG / CRR)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/)
- [Bank · IrelandBanking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971)CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/ireland/)
- [Bank · LatviaCredit institution licence (bank)LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/latvia/)
- [Bank · LithuaniaSpecialised bank licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania-specialised/)
- [Bank · LithuaniaBank licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania/)
- [Credit · LithuaniaPeer-to-peer lending platform operatorLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/)
- [Bank · LuxembourgCredit institution authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/luxembourg/)
- [Bank · MaltaCredit institution licenceMFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/malta/)
- [Bank · NetherlandsBank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling)DNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/netherlands/)
- [Bank · PolandCommercial Bank licence (bank krajowy w formie spółki akcyjnej)KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/poland/)
- [Credit · PolandLending Institution registration (instytucja pożyczkowa - RIP)KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-institution/)
- [Bank · SingaporeBanking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank)MAS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/singapore/)
- [Bank · SlovakiaBanking licence (bankové povolenie)NBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/slovakia/)
- [Bank · SpainEntidad de crédito (Banco) / Commercial bank licenceBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/spain/)
- [Credit · SpainEstablecimiento financiero de crédito (EFC) / Specialized lending credit institution authorizationBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-efc/)
- [Bank · SwitzerlandFinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking Act / FinTech-Bewilligung nach Art. 1b BankG)FINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland-fintech/)
- [Bank · SwitzerlandBanking licence (Bankbewilligung nach Art. 3 BankG)FINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland/)
- [Bank · United Arab EmiratesCommercial Bank LicenceCBUAE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/uae-commercial/)
- [Credit · United KingdomConsumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA)FCA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/united-kingdom-consumer/)

## Where it can be licensed

| | EU/EEA passport | Domestic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM): Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/adgm/) | | ✓ |
| [Australia: Australian credit licence (ACL)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/australia/) | | ✓ |
| [Bermuda: Banking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/bermuda/) | | ✓ |
| [Cayman Islands: Bank Licence (Category A and Category B) under the Banks and Trust Companies Act](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/cayman-islands/) | | ✓ |
| [Czech Republic: Commercial Bank licence (bankovní licence)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/czech-republic/) | ✓ | |
| [Czech Republic: Non-bank Consumer Credit Provider licence (oprávnění k činnosti nebankovního poskytovatele spotřebitelského úvěru)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-consumer-credit/) | | ✓ |
| [Dubai (VARA): Virtual Asset Lending and Borrowing Services Licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/dubai-lending-borrowing/) | | ✓ |
| [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC): Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/difc/) | | ✓ |
| [Estonia: Credit institution authorisation (bank)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/estonia/) | ✓ | |
| [Estonia: Operating licence as a credit servicer](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-credit-servicer/) | | ✓ |
| [Estonia: Operating licence as a creditor](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-creditor/) | | ✓ |
| [Estonia: Authorisation for operating as a financial institution (Tegevusluba finantseerimisasutusena tegutsemiseks)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-financial-institution/) | | ✓ |
| [Estonia: Operating licence as a credit intermediary](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-intermediary/) | | ✓ |
| [Georgia: Commercial bank licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/georgia/) | | ✓ |
| [Germany: Credit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG / CRR)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/) | ✓ | |
| [Ireland: Banking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/ireland/) | ✓ | |
| [Latvia: Credit institution licence (bank)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/latvia/) | ✓ | |
| [Lithuania: Specialised bank licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania-specialised/) | ✓ | |
| [Lithuania: Bank licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania/) | ✓ | |
| [Lithuania: Peer-to-peer lending platform operator](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/) | | ✓ |
| [Luxembourg: Credit institution authorisation](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/luxembourg/) | ✓ | |
| [Malta: Credit institution licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/malta/) | ✓ | |
| [Netherlands: Bank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/netherlands/) | ✓ | |
| [Poland: Commercial Bank licence (bank krajowy w formie spółki akcyjnej)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/poland/) | ✓ | |
| [Poland: Lending Institution registration (instytucja pożyczkowa - RIP)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-institution/) | | ✓ |
| [Singapore: Banking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/singapore/) | | ✓ |
| [Slovakia: Banking licence (bankové povolenie)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/slovakia/) | ✓ | |
| [Spain: Entidad de crédito (Banco) / Commercial bank licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/spain/) | ✓ | |
| [Spain: Establecimiento financiero de crédito (EFC) / Specialized lending credit institution authorization](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-efc/) | | ✓ |
| [Switzerland: FinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking Act / FinTech-Bewilligung nach Art. 1b BankG)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland-fintech/) | | ✓ |
| [Switzerland: Banking licence (Bankbewilligung nach Art. 3 BankG)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland/) | | ✓ |
| [United Arab Emirates: Commercial Bank Licence](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/uae-commercial/) | | ✓ |
| [United Kingdom: Consumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/united-kingdom-consumer/) | | ✓ |

## Frequently asked questions

### Can a non-bank lending company fund loans from customer deposits?

No, non-bank lenders cannot accept public deposits. They must fund their loan portfolios entirely from proprietary equity capital, wholesale credit facilities, institutional debt issues or securitisation structures, subject to national non-bank financial institution regulations.

### Does corporate commercial lending require a European passport?

CRD provides passporting rights for lending only to authorised credit institutions. Non-bank lending companies cannot passport their lending activities across the EU and must comply with national licensing, notification or exemption rules in each member state.

## Sources

1. [CRD Annex I (2)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/36/oj): retrieved 2026-09-24

Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.