Bank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling) (Netherlands)
The Bank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling) is issued by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) under Bank Act 1998 (Bankwet 1998). 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, up to a maximum of 12 months overall. The application fee is EUR 44,300. Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.
At a glance
| Official name | Bank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling)1 |
|---|---|
| Issued by | De Nederlandsche Bank |
| Jurisdiction | Netherlands |
| Licence family | Bank / credit institution |
| Legal basis | Bank Act 1998 (Bankwet 1998)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 | EUR 44,3005 |
| Annual fee | Annual supervisory levy under Wbft 2019 and ECB SSM regulation based on total risk exposure and asset size6 |
| Statutory decision time | 6 months from receipt of a complete application, up to a maximum of 12 months overall4 |
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, up to a maximum of 12 months overall4. 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. Under Section 3:95 Wft and MiCA Articles 41 and 83, acquiring, increasing, or disposing of a qualifying holding (direct or indirect holding of 10% or more of voting rights or shares, or exercising significant influence) in a payment institution, EMI, or ART issuer requires a prior Declaration of No-Objection (DNO / VVGB) from DNB (the ECB assesses banks). Threshold bandwidth upper limits are set at 20%, 30/33%, 50%, or 100%. The statutory decision period is 60 working days from receipt of a complete application, extendable once by up to 30 working days for RFIs, governed by lex silencio positivo.7
Laws behind it
- Capital Requirements Regulation: Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
- Capital Requirements Directive: Directive 2013/36/EU
Sources
- dnb.nl: register of banks · retrieved 2026-09-24
- wetten.overheid.nl: BWBR0009508 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32013R0575) · retrieved 2026-09-24
- eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32013L0036) · retrieved 2026-09-24
- wetten.overheid.nl: 2024 12 30 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- wetten.overheid.nl: BWBR0041548 · retrieved 2026-09-24
- dnb.nl: dno application time frame · retrieved 2026-09-24
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