Bank / credit institution · Malta

Credit institution licence (Malta)

The Credit institution licence is issued by Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) under Banking Act (Cap. 371). 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, and in any event within 12 months of its receipt. The application fee is EUR 35,000. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

Last verified 2026-09-24Regulator MFSAMarkdown · Data (CC BY 4.0)
Credit institution licence: licenceBank

At a glance

Official nameCredit institution licence1
Also known asMaltese banking licence · Malta bank licence · MFSA banking licence · Malta credit institution licence · Banking Act licence
Issued byMalta Financial Services Authority
JurisdictionMalta
Licence familyBank / credit institution
Legal basisBanking Act (Cap. 371)1
Directive 2013/36/EU on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms (CRD IV)2
Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms (CRR)3
PassportingEU/EEA passport available
Application feeEUR 35,0004
Annual fee0.024% of institution-level deposits (minimum EUR 60,000, maximum EUR 1,700,000)4
Statutory decision time6 months from receipt of a complete application, and in any event within 12 months of its receipt1

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

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

Cost

Cost components, upper bound total EUR 95,000Application fee: EUR 35,000Annual supervisory fee (minimum): EUR 60,000
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 monthsStatutory6 months

Statutory: 6 months from receipt of a complete application, and in any event within 12 months of its receipt1. 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 approval required. Acquiring or increasing a qualifying holding needs the MFSA's prior approval. For payment and e-money institutions the Financial Institutions Act sets the thresholds at 20%, 30% and 50%; for banks the Banking Act adds a 60-working-day assessment period that can be extended.5

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. Laws of Malta (PDF) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  2. EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013L0036 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  3. EUR-Lex: CELEX 32013R0575 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  4. Laws of Malta (PDF) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  5. Laws of Malta (PDF) · retrieved 2026-09-24

Want the Bank licence in Malta?

Tell us your business model and target markets. We check the fit before you spend on an application, then handle the licence end to end.

A free preliminary assessment: we check your business model against the licence before you spend on an application. We handle this licence and any other fintech licence, including jurisdictions the Atlas does not cover yet.