Bank / credit institution · Estonia

Credit institution authorisation (bank) (Estonia)

The Credit institution authorisation (bank) is issued by Finantsinspektsioon (FI) under Credit Institutions Act. It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The official register lists 8 current holders. The legal decision period is Within 6 months after receipt of complete documentation, and not later than 12 months after initial application receipt (decision taken by the ECB upon proposal by Finantsinspektsioon). The application fee is EUR 5,000.

Last verified 2026-09-24Regulator FIMarkdown · Data (CC BY 4.0)
Credit institution authorisation (bank): licenceBank

At a glance

Official nameCredit institution authorisation (bank)1
Also known asEstonian bank licence · Estonian banking licence · Estonian credit institution licence · Finantsinspektsioon bank licence
Issued byFinantsinspektsioon
JurisdictionEstonia
Licence familyBank / credit institution
Legal basisCredit Institutions Act2
Directive 2013/36/EU on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms (CRD IV)3
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (CRR)4
PassportingEU/EEA passport available
Application feeEUR 5,0005
Statutory decision timeWithin 6 months after receipt of complete documentation, and not later than 12 months after initial application receipt (decision taken by the ECB upon proposal by Finantsinspektsioon)1
Public registerofficial register6
Current holders86

What it lets you do

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

Where it is valid

Estonia licence, passportable across the EU/EEAATBEBGHRCYCZDKEEFIFRDEGRHUIEITLVLTLUNLPLPTROSKSIESSEISNOMTLI
Issued in Estonia (gold); can be passported to the other EU/EEA states (blue) by notification.

Cost

Cost components, upper bound total EUR 5,000Application fee: EUR 5,000
Regulatory costs from the official sources above. Professional fees, staff, office and audit come on top and depend on the business model.

How long it takes

Time to licence: statutory 6-6 months, observed 6-12 monthsStatutory6 monthsObserved6-12 months

Statutory: Within 6 months after receipt of complete documentation, and not later than 12 months after initial application receipt (decision taken by the ECB upon proposal by Finantsinspektsioon)1. Observed: 6 to 12 months in practice depending on document readiness and joint European Central Bank review1. The statutory clock usually starts only when the regulator treats the application as complete, and pauses while it waits for answers to its questions.

Buying a company that already holds it

Prior approval required. Acquiring or increasing a qualifying holding reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of share capital or voting rights in an Estonian bank, payment institution, EMI, investment firm, or CASP requires prior notification and approval from Finantsinspektsioon. Filings are submitted electronically through the FI Application Portal (or via the ECB SSM portal for credit institutions). The statutory assessment period is 60 working days from receipt of complete documentation, interruptible once by up to 20 or 30 working days to request additional information, evaluating acquirer reputation, financial solidity, and AML/CFT compliance.7

Bank in other countries

CountryLicenceRegulatorMin. capitalApplication feeStatutory time
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)Financial Services Permission for Accepting DepositsFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank)FSRAn/aUSD 70,000n/a
BermudaBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking LicenceBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999)BMAn/an/an/a
Cayman IslandsBank LicenceBank Licence (Category A and Category B) under the Banks and Trust Companies ActCIMAn/an/an/a
Czech RepublicCommercial Bank licenceCNBn/aCZK 200,000n/a
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Bank licenceFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank)DFSAn/aUSD 70,000n/a
EstoniaCredit institution authorisation (bank)FIn/aEUR 5,000~6 mo
GeorgiaCommercial bank licenceNBGn/an/a~6 mo
GermanyCRR)BaFinn/an/a~6 mo
IrelandBanking LicenceBanking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971)CBIn/an/a~6 mo
LatviaCredit institution licence (bank)LBn/an/a4-13 mo
LithuaniaSpecialised bank licenceLBn/aEUR 4,157~6 mo
LithuaniaBank licenceLBn/an/an/a
LuxembourgCredit institution authorisationCSSFn/aEUR 75,000~6 mo
MaltaCredit institution licenceMFSAn/aEUR 35,000~6 mo
NetherlandsBank licenceBank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling)DNBn/aEUR 44,300~6 mo
PolandCommercial Bank licenceKNFn/an/an/a
SingaporeBanking LicenceBanking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank)MASn/an/an/a
SlovakiaBanking licenceNBSn/an/an/a
SpainCommercial bank licenceBdEn/an/a~6 mo
SwitzerlandFinTech licence (PersonsFinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking ActFINMAn/aCHF 100n/a
SwitzerlandBanking licenceFINMAn/an/an/a
United Arab EmiratesCommercial Bank LicenceCBUAEn/an/an/a

Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.

Laws behind it

Last verified 2026-09-24Author Danil Marmysh, Founder & CEO, ProtegraReviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova, Head of Licensing, ProtegraReport an errorReference information, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. fi.ee: operating licence credit institution · retrieved 2026-09-24
  2. Estonian State Gazette (Riigi Teataja) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  3. EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013L0036 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  4. EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013R0575 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  5. Estonian State Gazette (Riigi Teataja) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  6. fi.ee: supervised entities · retrieved 2026-09-24
  7. taotlus.fi.ee · retrieved 2026-09-24

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