# Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) (Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM))

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/adgm/

The Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) is issued by Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) under FSRA Prudential: Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Rulebook (PRU). The official register lists 8 current holders. The legal decision period is Within a reasonable time from submission of a complete application. The application fee is USD 70,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

## At a glance

| Official name | Financial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) [1] |
| --- | --- |
| Issued by | [Financial Services Regulatory Authority](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fsra-adgm/) |
| Jurisdiction | [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/adgm/) |
| Licence family | [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/) |
| Legal basis | FSRA Prudential: Investment, Insurance Intermediation and Banking Rulebook (PRU) [2] |
| Passporting | Domestic only |
| Application fee | USD 70,000 [1] |
| Annual fee | USD 100,000 [1] |
| Statutory decision time | Within a reasonable time from submission of a complete application [3] |
| Public register | [official register](https://www.adgm.com/public-registers/fsra/firms) [4] |
| Current holders | 8 [4] |

## What it lets you do

- [Taking deposits from the public](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/deposit-taking/)
- [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/)
- [Execution of payment transactions](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-execution/)

- **Taking deposits from the public.** Accepting deposits or other repayable funds from the public, the activity reserved to credit institutions.
- **Lending.** Granting loans, including consumer credit, mortgage credit, factoring and financing of commercial transactions.
- **Execution of payment transactions.** Executing direct debits, card payments and credit transfers, including standing orders, from a payment account.

## Where it is valid

_Valid in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)._

## Cost

_Regulatory costs from the official sources above. Professional fees, staff, office and audit come on top and depend on the business model._

## Buying a company that already holds it

**Prior approval required.** Under FSMR section 105 and GEN 8.8, prior written approval from the FSRA is required before a person becomes a controller or increases control across 20%, 30%, or 50% thresholds. A controller is defined as holding 10% or more of voting rights or capital, or exercising significant influence. The statutory determination period is 90 days from receipt of a complete notice, accompanied by a USD 1,000 application fee. [5]

## Sources

1. [en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 7538](https://en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com/entiresection/7538): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: prudential investment insurance intermediation and banking r](https://en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com/rulebook/prudential-investment-insurance-intermediation-and-banking-rulebook-pru-ver21160926): retrieved 2026-09-24
3. [en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 12521](https://en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com/entiresection/12521): retrieved 2026-09-24
4. [adgm.com: firms](https://www.adgm.com/public-registers/fsra/firms): retrieved 2026-09-24
5. [en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com: 7993](https://en.adgm.thomsonreuters.com/entiresection/7993): 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.