# Bank licence (Vergunning bank / kredietinstelling) (Netherlands)

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/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](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/dnb-netherlands/) |
| Jurisdiction | [Netherlands](https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/netherlands/) |
| Licence family | [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/) |
| 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 44,300 [5] |
| Annual fee | Annual supervisory levy under Wbft 2019 and ECB SSM regulation based on total risk exposure and asset size [6] |
| Statutory decision time | 6 months from receipt of a complete application, up to a maximum of 12 months overall [4] |

## What it lets you do

- [Taking deposits from the public](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/deposit-taking/)
- [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/)
- [Execution of payment transactions](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/payment-execution/)

- **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

_Issued in Netherlands (gold); can be passported to the other EU/EEA states (blue) by notification._

## Cost

_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

Statutory: 6 months from receipt of a complete application, up to a maximum of 12 months overall [4]. 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](https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/eu-crr-575-2013/): Regulation (EU) No 575/2013
- [Capital Requirements Directive](https://protegra.io/licensing/laws/eu-crd-2013-36/): Directive 2013/36/EU

## Sources

1. [dnb.nl: register of banks](https://www.dnb.nl/en/public-register/register-of-banks/): retrieved 2026-09-24
2. [wetten.overheid.nl: BWBR0009508](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0009508): retrieved 2026-09-24
3. [eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32013R0575)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013R0575): retrieved 2026-09-24
4. [eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32013L0036)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32013L0036): retrieved 2026-09-24
5. [wetten.overheid.nl: 2024 12 30](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0041647/2024-12-30): retrieved 2026-09-24
6. [wetten.overheid.nl: BWBR0041548](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0041548/): retrieved 2026-09-24
7. [dnb.nl: dno application time frame](https://www.dnb.nl/en/sector-information/open-book-supervision/open-book-supervision-themes/declaration-of-no-objection/dno-application-time-frame/): 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.