# Bank / credit institution Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/ A banking licence lets a company take deposits from the public and grant credit on its own account. In the EU that is a credit institution authorisation under the Capital Requirements Directive. Significant banks are supervised jointly with the European Central Bank, and initial capital must reach at least EUR 5 million. Few financial licences demand more to obtain or hold. ## Where the Bank licence is available _Jurisdictions in the Atlas that issue a Bank licence. Click a country for its page._ ## Comparison by country | Country | Regulator | Min. capital | Statutory time | Passport | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/adgm/) | [FSRA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fsra-adgm/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Bermuda](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/bermuda/) | [BMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bma-bermuda/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Cayman Islands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/cayman-islands/) | [CIMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cima-cayman/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Czech Republic](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/czech-republic/) | [CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cnb-czechia/) |: |: | EU/EEA | | [Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/difc/) | [DFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dfsa-difc/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/estonia/) | [FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Georgia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/georgia/) | [NBG](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/nbg-georgia/) |: | 6 mo | Domestic | | [Germany](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/) | [BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bafin-germany/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Ireland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/ireland/) | [CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/central-bank-of-ireland/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Latvia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/latvia/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/latvijas-banka/) |: | 4-13 mo | EU/EEA | | [Lithuania](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania-specialised/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bank-of-lithuania/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Lithuania](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/lithuania/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bank-of-lithuania/) |: |: | EU/EEA | | [Luxembourg](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/luxembourg/) | [CSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cssf-luxembourg/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Malta](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/malta/) | [MFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/mfsa-malta/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Netherlands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/netherlands/) | [DNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dnb-netherlands/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Poland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/poland/) | [KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/knf-poland/) |: |: | EU/EEA | | [Singapore](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/singapore/) | [MAS](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/mas-singapore/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Slovakia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/slovakia/) | [NBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/nbs-slovakia/) |: |: | EU/EEA | | [Spain](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/spain/) | [BdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/banco-de-espana/) |: | 6 mo | EU/EEA | | [Switzerland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland-fintech/) | [FINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finma-switzerland/) |: |: | Domestic | | [Switzerland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland/) | [FINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finma-switzerland/) |: |: | Domestic | | [United Arab Emirates](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/uae-commercial/) | [CBUAE](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cbuae/) |: |: | Domestic | Values come from each country's page, where every figure has its source. ## Activities this family typically covers - [Issuing e-money tokens](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/emt-issuance/) - [Cash placement on a payment account](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/cash-placement/) - [Cash withdrawal from a payment account](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/cash-withdrawal/) - [Execution of payment transactions](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-execution/) - [Execution of payment transactions covered by a credit line](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-execution-credit-line/) - [Issuing payment instruments and acquiring payment transactions](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/card-issuing-acquiring/) - [Money remittance](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/money-remittance/) - [Payment initiation services](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-initiation/) - [Account information services](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/account-information/) - [Issuing electronic money](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/e-money-issuance/) - [Reception and transmission of orders](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/order-reception-transmission/) - [Execution of orders on behalf of clients](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/order-execution/) - [Dealing on own account](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/dealing-own-account/) - [Portfolio management](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/portfolio-management/) - [Investment advice](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/investment-advice/) - [Underwriting or placing on a firm commitment basis](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/underwriting-firm-commitment/) - [Placing without a firm commitment](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/placing-without-commitment/) - [Safekeeping and administration of financial instruments](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/safekeeping-financial-instruments/) - [Taking deposits from the public](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/deposit-taking/) - [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/) - [Consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/consumer-credit/) - [Currency exchange](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/currency-exchange/) ## All licences in this family - [Bank · Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)Financial Services Permission for Accepting DepositsFinancial Services Permission for Accepting Deposits (Category 1 Commercial Bank)FSRA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/adgm/) - [Bank · BermudaBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking LicenceBanking Licence / Deposit Company Licence / Restricted Banking Licence (Banks and Deposit Companies Act 1999)BMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/bermuda/) - [Bank · Cayman IslandsBank LicenceBank 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 licenceCNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/czech-republic/) - [Bank · Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)Bank licenceFinancial 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/) - [Bank · GeorgiaCommercial bank licenceNBG](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/georgia/) - [Bank · GermanyCRR)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/) - [Bank · IrelandBanking LicenceBanking 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/) - [Bank · LuxembourgCredit institution authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/luxembourg/) - [Bank · MaltaCredit institution licenceMFSA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/malta/) - [Bank · NetherlandsBank licenceBank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling)DNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/netherlands/) - [Bank · PolandCommercial Bank licenceKNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/poland/) - [Bank · SingaporeBanking LicenceBanking Licence (Full Bank, Wholesale Bank, Digital Bank)MAS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/singapore/) - [Bank · SlovakiaBanking licenceNBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/slovakia/) - [Bank · SpainCommercial bank licenceBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/spain/) - [Bank · SwitzerlandFinTech licence (PersonsFinTech licence (Persons pursuant to Article 1b Banking ActFINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland-fintech/) - [Bank · SwitzerlandBanking licenceFINMA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/switzerland/) - [Bank · United Arab EmiratesCommercial Bank LicenceCBUAE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/uae-commercial/) ## Sources 1. [CRD Directive 2013/36/EU, Art. 12 (initial capital)](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.