# CRD: Capital Requirements Directive Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/eu-crd-2013-36/ The CRD, Directive 2013/36/EU, sets the EU rules for authorising banks: a credit institution needs a licence before taking deposits, at least EUR 5 million of initial capital, suitable managers and shareholders, and prior approval for anyone acquiring a qualifying holding. A bank authorised in one member state can passport its services across the EU/EEA. ## At a glance | Official title | Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC [1] | | --- | --- | | English title | Capital Requirements Directive | | Citation | Directive 2013/36/EU | | Jurisdiction | European Union (applies in every EU/EEA state) | | Type | directive | | Adopted | 2013-06-26 | | In force from | 2013-07-17 | | Status | In force, as amended (CRD V, CRD VI) | ## Full text **Official full text:** [Capital Requirements Directive (PDF, en)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013L0036) [1] · 1,978 KB · file checked 2026-09-24 Official page: [eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/36/oj) [1] ## Summary The CRD governs who may take deposits and grant credit as a bank in the EU. It requires authorisation as a credit institution before starting business, sets the minimum initial capital, the fit-and-proper assessment of management and shareholders, the prior assessment of anyone acquiring a qualifying holding, and the passport that lets an authorised bank open branches or provide services in other member states. Directive (EU) 2024/1619 (CRD VI) adds a harmonised regime for branches of third-country banks. Summary written by the Atlas from the official text; the law itself prevails. ## Main articles - **Art. 8**: Credit institutions must be authorised before carrying on their activities. - **Art. 12**: Initial capital of at least EUR 5 million. - **Art. 22-23**: Notification and assessment of proposed acquisitions of qualifying holdings. - **Art. 33-39**: Freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services (passport). ## Licences it governs - [Bank · GermanyCredit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG / CRR)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/) - [Bank · EstoniaCredit institution authorisation (bank)FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/estonia/) - [Bank · SpainEntidad de crédito (Banco) / Commercial bank licenceBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/spain/) - [Bank · IrelandBanking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971)CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/ireland/) - [Bank · LithuaniaSpecialised bank licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania-specialised/) - [Bank · LithuaniaBank licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania/) - [Bank · LuxembourgCredit institution authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/luxembourg/) - [Bank · LatviaCredit institution licence (bank)LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/latvia/) - [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/) - [IF · EstoniaAuthorisation as an investment firmFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/estonia/) - [IF · LithuaniaFinancial brokerage firm licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/lithuania/) - [IF · LuxembourgInvestment firm authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/luxembourg/) - [IF · LatviaInvestment firm licenceLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/latvia/) - [IF · MaltaInvestment services licence (Category 1, 2, or 3)MFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/malta/) - [Credit · SpainEstablecimiento financiero de crédito (EFC) / Specialized lending credit institution authorizationBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-efc/) ## Regulators that apply it - [GermanyFederal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)BaFin operates as Germany's unified federal financial supervisor under the Federal Ministry of Finance, supervising credit institutions, fin](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bafin-germany/) - [SpainBank of Spain (BdE)Banco de España is Spain's national central bank and banking supervisor, operating as an integral part of the European System of Central Ban](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/banco-de-espana/) - [LithuaniaBank of Lithuania (LB)The Bank of Lithuania operates as the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania and member of the Eurosystem, conducting integrated prudenti](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bank-of-lithuania/) - [IrelandCentral Bank of Ireland (CBI)The Central Bank of Ireland serves the public interest by maintaining monetary and financial stability while ensuring that the financial sys](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/central-bank-of-ireland/) - [LuxembourgCommission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF)The CSSF operates as the unified public supervisory authority for the Luxembourg financial centre, conducting prudential supervision and mar](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cssf-luxembourg/) - [NetherlandsDe Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)De Nederlandsche Bank acts as the central bank of the Netherlands and integral member of the Eurosystem and ESCB, exercising prudential supe](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dnb-netherlands/) - [European UnionEuropean Banking Authority (EBA)The European Banking Authority is an independent EU agency that creates the European Single Rulebook for banking and payments, fosters super](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/eba/) - [EstoniaFinantsinspektsioon (FI)Finantsinspektsioon is Estonia's independent financial supervision and crisis resolution authority operating with autonomous responsibilitie](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) - [LatviaLatvijas Banka (LB)Latvijas Banka is the central bank of the Republic of Latvia and member of the Eurosystem, operating as the single integrated financial supe](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/latvijas-banka/) - [MaltaMalta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)The Malta Financial Services Authority is the single autonomous financial regulator in Malta, entrusted with prudential and conduct supervis](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/mfsa-malta/) ## Sources 1. [eur-lex.europa.eu: TXT (32013L0036)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32013L0036): 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.