# Lending / consumer credit

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/

A lending or consumer credit licence authorises a non-bank company to grant loans, typically to consumers, funded from its own capital rather than deposits. In the EU the Consumer Credit Directive sets conduct rules and national laws set the licensing; many countries also regulate buy-now-pay-later, pawn lending and peer-to-peer lending platforms separately.

## Where the Credit licence is available

_Jurisdictions in the Atlas that issue a Credit licence. Click a country for its page._

## Comparison by country

| Country | Regulator | Min. capital | Statutory time | Passport |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Australia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/australia/) | [ASIC](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/asic-australia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Cyprus](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/cyprus-crowdfunding/) | [CySEC](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cysec-cyprus/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Czech Republic](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-consumer-credit/) | [CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cnb-czechia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Czech Republic](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-crowdfunding/) | [CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cnb-czechia/) |: | 3 mo | EU/EEA |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-credit-servicer/) | [FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-creditor/) | [FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-crowdfunding/) | [FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-financial-institution/) | [FIU](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fiu-estonia/) |: | 2.8 mo | Domestic |
| [Estonia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-intermediary/) | [FI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/finantsinspektsioon-estonia/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [France](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/france-crowdfunding/) | [AMF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/amf-france/) |: | 3 mo | EU/EEA |
| [Ireland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/ireland-crowdfunding/) | [CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/central-bank-of-ireland/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Italy](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/italy-crowdfunding/) | [CONSOB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/consob-italy/) |: | 3 mo | EU/EEA |
| [Latvia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/latvia-crowdfunding/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/latvijas-banka/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Lithuania](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-crowdfunding/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bank-of-lithuania/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Lithuania](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/) | [LB](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bank-of-lithuania/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Luxembourg](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/luxembourg-crowdfunding/) | [CSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cssf-luxembourg/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Netherlands](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/netherlands-crowdfunding/) | [AFM](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/afm-netherlands/) |: | 1.2 mo | EU/EEA |
| [Poland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-crowdfunding/) | [KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/knf-poland/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Poland](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-institution/) | [KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/knf-poland/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [Slovakia](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/slovakia-crowdfunding/) | [NBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/nbs-slovakia/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Spain](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-crowdfunding/) | [CNMV](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/cnmv-spain/) |: |: | EU/EEA |
| [Spain](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-efc/) | [BdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/banco-de-espana/) |: |: | Domestic |
| [United Kingdom](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/united-kingdom-consumer/) | [FCA](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/fca-uk/) |: |: | Domestic |

Values come from each country's page, where every figure has its source.

## Activities this family typically covers

- [Lending](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/credit-granting/)
- [Consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/consumer-credit/)
- [Crowdfunding services](https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/crowdfunding/)

## All licences in this family

- [Credit · AustraliaAustralian credit licence (ACL)ASIC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/australia/)
- [Credit · CyprusEuropean Crowdfunding Service Provider authorisationCySEC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/cyprus-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · Czech RepublicNon-bank Consumer Credit Provider licence (oprávnění k činnosti nebankovního poskytovatele spotřebitelského úvěru)CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-consumer-credit/)
- [Credit · Czech RepublicCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (povolení k činnosti poskytovatele služeb skupinového financování)CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a credit servicerFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-credit-servicer/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a creditorFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-creditor/)
- [Credit · EstoniaAuthorisation as a crowdfunding service provider under ECSPRFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · EstoniaAuthorisation for operating as a financial institution (Tegevusluba finantseerimisasutusena tegutsemiseks)FIU](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-financial-institution/)
- [Credit · EstoniaOperating licence as a credit intermediaryFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-intermediary/)
- [Credit · FrancePrestataire de services de financement participatif (PSFP) / European crowdfunding service provider authorizationAMF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/france-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · IrelandCrowdfunding Service Provider Authorisation (ECSPR)CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/ireland-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · ItalyFornitore di servizi di crowdfunding / European crowdfunding service provider authorization (ECSPR)CONSOB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/italy-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LatviaCrowdfunding service provider authorizationLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/latvia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LithuaniaCrowdfunding service provider authorizationLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LithuaniaPeer-to-peer lending platform operatorLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/)
- [Credit · LuxembourgCrowdfunding service provider authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/luxembourg-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · NetherlandsEuropean Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSPR) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503AFM](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/netherlands-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · PolandCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (dostawca usług finansowania społecznościowego)KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · PolandLending Institution registration (instytucja pożyczkowa - RIP)KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-institution/)
- [Credit · SlovakiaCrowdfunding service provider authorisation under ECSPR (povolenie na činnosť poskytovateľa služieb kolektívneho financovania)NBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/slovakia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · SpainProveedor de servicios de financiación participativa / European crowdfunding service provider authorizationCNMV](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · SpainEstablecimiento financiero de crédito (EFC) / Specialized lending credit institution authorizationBdE](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-efc/)
- [Credit · United KingdomConsumer Credit Full Permission Authorisation (Part 4A FSMA)FCA](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/united-kingdom-consumer/)

## Sources

1. [Consumer Credit Directive (EU) 2023/2225](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2225/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.