Banking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971) (Ireland)
The Banking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971) is issued by Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) under Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The legal decision period is 6 months from receipt of a complete application, maximum 12 months from receipt of application under CRD IV / SSM. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Banking Licence (Section 9 Central Bank Act 1971)1 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Irish banking licence · Irish bank licence · Central Bank of Ireland banking licence · Section 9 banking licence · CBI bank authorisation |
| Issued by | Central Bank of Ireland |
| Jurisdiction | Ireland |
| Licence family | Bank / credit institution |
| Legal basis | Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended)2 Central Bank Act 1942 (Section 32D) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 348/2026)3 Directive 2013/36/EU on access to the activity of credit institutions and prudential supervision (CRD IV)4 |
| Passporting | EU/EEA passport available |
| Annual fee | Minimum EUR 292,226 plus a variable amount (Category A1, S.I. No. 348/2026)3 |
| Statutory decision time | 6 months from receipt of a complete application, maximum 12 months from receipt of application under CRD IV / SSM4 |
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 a complete application, maximum 12 months from receipt of application under CRD IV / SSM4. 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. Direct or indirect acquisition or disposal of qualifying holdings reaching or crossing 10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of capital or voting rights, or resulting in the firm becoming a subsidiary, requires prior written notification to the Central Bank of Ireland; failure to notify renders the acquisition null and void. The Central Bank conducts a statutory assessment within 60 working days of complete acknowledgment (pausable once for 20 working days for EU acquirers or 30 working days for non-EU acquirers) evaluating acquirer reputation, financial soundness, and AML/CFT risks under the European Union (Payment Services) Regulations 2018, E-Money Regulations 2011, and MiFID Regulations 2017.5
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 Directive: Directive 2013/36/EU
Sources
- centralbank.ie: authorisation · retrieved 2026-09-24
- revisedacts.lawreform.ie · retrieved 2026-09-24
- irishstatutebook.ie: print · retrieved 2026-09-24
- EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013L0036 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- centralbank.ie: notification process for proposed acquisitions of qualifying · retrieved 2026-09-24
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