CRR) (Germany)
The Credit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG / CRR) is issued by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) under German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz - KWG). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The official register lists 1217 current holders. The legal decision period is 6 months from receipt of complete application, maximum 12 months overall. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | CRR)1 |
|---|---|
| Local name | Credit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG |
| Also known as | German banking licence · BaFin banking licence · KWG banking licence · Full banking licence in Germany · German fintech bank |
| Issued by | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority |
| Jurisdiction | Germany |
| Licence family | Bank / credit institution |
| Legal basis | German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz - KWG)2 Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (CRR)3 Directive 2013/36/EU on access to the activity of credit institutions and prudential supervision (CRD IV)4 |
| Passporting | EU/EEA passport available |
| Application fee | nach Zeitaufwand (billed based on staff time spent)5 |
| Annual fee | EUR 6,3365 |
| Statutory decision time | 6 months from receipt of complete application, maximum 12 months overall6 |
| Public register | official register7 |
| Current holders | 12177 |
What it lets you do
| 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
Cost
How long it takes
Statutory: 6 months from receipt of complete application, maximum 12 months overall6. Observed: not published. 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 notification with an objection period. Acquiring or increasing a qualifying holding reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of capital or voting rights, or gaining control of a credit institution, payment institution, or investment firm, requires prior written notification to BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. BaFin conducts an assessment of acquirer reliability, professional competence, financial soundness, and money laundering risks within 60 working days from receipt of a complete filing, interruptible once by up to 20 working days (or 30 working days if non-EEA) to request additional information, under Section 2c KWG, applied mutatis mutandis to payment and e-money institutions via Section 14 ZAG and to investment firms via Section 24 WpIG.8
Bank in other countries
| Country | Licence | Regulator | Min. capital | Application fee | Statutory time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) | Financial Services Permission for Accepting DepositsFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank) | FSRA | n/a | USD 70,000 | n/a |
| Bermuda | Banking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking LicenceBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999) | BMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cayman Islands | Bank LicenceBank Licence (Category A and Category B) under the Banks and Trust Companies Act | CIMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Czech Republic | Commercial Bank licence | CNB | n/a | CZK 200,000 | n/a |
| Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Bank licenceFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits or Providing Credit (Category 1 Commercial Bank) | DFSA | n/a | USD 70,000 | n/a |
| Estonia | Credit institution authorisation (bank) | FI | n/a | EUR 5,000 | ~6 mo |
| Georgia | Commercial bank licence | NBG | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Germany | CRR) | BaFin | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Ireland | Banking LicenceBanking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971) | CBI | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Latvia | Credit institution licence (bank) | LB | n/a | n/a | 4-13 mo |
| Lithuania | Specialised bank licence | LB | n/a | EUR 4,157 | ~6 mo |
| Lithuania | Bank licence | LB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Luxembourg | Credit institution authorisation | CSSF | n/a | EUR 75,000 | ~6 mo |
| Malta | Credit institution licence | MFSA | n/a | EUR 35,000 | ~6 mo |
| Netherlands | Bank licenceBank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling) | DNB | n/a | EUR 44,300 | ~6 mo |
| Poland | Commercial Bank licence | KNF | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Singapore | Banking LicenceBanking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank) | MAS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Slovakia | Banking licence | NBS | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spain | Commercial bank licence | BdE | n/a | n/a | ~6 mo |
| Switzerland | FinTech licence (PersonsFinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking Act | FINMA | n/a | CHF 100 | n/a |
| Switzerland | Banking licence | FINMA | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| United Arab Emirates | Commercial Bank Licence | CBUAE | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Values come from each licence's page, where every figure has its source.
Laws behind it
- Capital Requirements Regulation: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
- Capital Requirements Directive: Directive 2013/36/EU
Sources
- gesetze-im-internet.de: 32 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- gesetze-im-internet.de · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013R0575 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013L0036 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- gesetze-im-internet.de: anlage · retrieved 2026-09-24
- gesetze-im-internet.de: 33 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- portal.mvp.bafin.de: sucheForm.do · retrieved 2026-09-24
- gesetze-im-internet.de: 2c · retrieved 2026-09-24
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