Regulation on Accounts and Services for Clients of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo

1 of 9 Based on Article 35, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph 1.1, as well as in implementation of Article 9 and in accordance with Article 65, paragraphs 1 and 2, of Law No. 03/L-209 on the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, (Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, Law No. 03/L-209, OG no. 77/2010, August 16, 2010), supplemented and amended by Law No. 05/L-150 on the Amendment and Supplement of Law No. 03/L-209 on the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo, no. 10/2017 April 3), the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo, in its meeting held on November 25, 2025, approved the following:

REGULATION ON ACCOUNTS AND SERVICES FOR CLIENTS OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 Purpose

1. This regulation aims to determine the conditions and standards for accounts, as well as the provision of financial services for clients of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (hereinafter “CBK”), in implementation of Article 9 of Law No. 03/L-209 on the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (hereinafter the CBK Law).
2. Within the purpose defined in paragraph 1 of this article, this regulation defines the categories of clients, the clients themselves, and the financial services provided by the CBK according to the respective client categories.

Article 2 Scope of Application This regulation applies to all categories of clients and CBK clients defined in accordance with Article 9 of the CBK Law, as defined in Articles 5 and 6 of this regulation.

Article 3 Definitions

1. All terms used in this regulation have the same meaning as in the CBK Law, and/or are defined below for the purpose of this regulation: 1.1. Client – Financial Institutions, Public Entities and International Institutions defined in Article 9 of the CBK Law; 1.2. Opening and administration of accounts services – Activities related to the opening, administration, maintenance and closure of client accounts; 1.3. Cash deposit and withdrawal services – Transactions involving cash to ensure adequate supply of banknotes and coins for the settlement of euro cash transactions in the economy of the Republic of Kosovo; 1.4. Domestic and international fund transfer services – Transfer of funds from a client’s account held at the CBK to an account of the same client held at another domestic or international institution, and receipt of funds from a client’s account held at another domestic or international institution to an account of the same client held at the CBK; 1.5. Domestic and international payment services – Provision and receipt of payments exclusively for clients who cannot perform these services through banking institutions and non-bank payment service providers; 1.6. Access and settlement services in the payment system – Access and settlement services in the payment system in accordance with relevant payment system regulations; 1.7. Regulatory reserve management services – Management and administration of mandatory reserves that financial institutions, under the prevailing legal and regulatory framework, must hold at the CBK; 1.8. Securities operations services (purchase and sale of securities) – Administration and management of auctions and primary and secondary market processes for securities in accordance with the MF-CBK regulation on the primary and secondary market of securities of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo; 1.9. Time deposit services – Options for fixing deposits for a specified period in accordance with the time deposit agreement; 1.10. Emergency liquidity support services – Provision of short-term instruments to banks in cases of liquidity shortage as determined by the CBK Law and relevant CBK regulation; 1.11. Safekeeping services for movable assets – Services for storing valuable assets held by the CBK but not presented as balance sheet items in the CBK’s financial reports; 1.12. Custody/trustee services arising from CBK duties and responsibilities – Specialized services related to the administration, storage and management of financial assets on behalf of clients and for specific custody services; 1.13. Banks – Financial institutions providing financial services in accordance with the banking law, including microfinance and non-bank financial institutions; 1.14. Microfinance institutions – Microfinance institutions providing financial services in accordance with the banking, microfinance and non-bank financial institution laws; 1.15. Non-bank financial institutions – Non-bank financial institutions providing financial services in accordance with the banking, microfinance and non-bank financial institution laws; 1.16. Payment institutions and electronic money institutions – Licensed and authorized financial institutions providing payment and/or electronic money services in accordance with the payments law; 1.17. Insurance companies – Financial institutions providing financial services in accordance with the insurance law; 1.18. Kosovo Insurance Bureau – Financial institution operating in accordance with the mandatory motor insurance law; 1.19. Kosovo Deposit Insurance Fund – Financial institution operating in accordance with the law on establishing the deposit insurance system for financial institutions in Kosovo; 1.20. Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund – Financial institution operating in accordance with the law on establishing the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund; 1.21. Other central public interest funds – Other financial institutions managing assets of public interest and similar to the Kosovo Deposit Insurance Fund and the Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund; 1.22. Kosovo Pension Savings Fund – Financial institution operating in accordance with the Kosovo pension funds law; 1.23. Other Kosovo pension funds – Financial institutions operating in accordance with the Kosovo pension funds law; 1.24. Governmental institutions and municipalities of Kosovo – The Treasury and all budgetary institutions, including its agencies, as well as the municipalities of Kosovo; 1.25. Other independent public institutions – Other independent public institutions under the Constitution of Kosovo and/or special laws maintaining accounts at the Treasury; 1.26. Kosovo Privatization Agency – Independent public institution operating in accordance with the Kosovo Privatization Agency law; 1.27. Central and regional-local public enterprises – Public enterprises providing services of public interest, operating in accordance with the public enterprise law; 1.28. Foreign central banks – Monetary and regulatory institutions of other countries with functions similar to the CBK; 1.29. Foreign second-tier banks – Private banking institutions operating in other countries and providing services similar to domestic banks; 1.30. Foreign governments – Institutions including governments of other countries with which Kosovo has financial and/or trade relations; 1.31. International financial institutions – International financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, EBRD, EIB and similar; 1.32. International organizations – International institutions established under international law and agreements between two or more states, such as the UN, EU and similar; 1.33. Donor organizations – International donor institutions providing financial, technical or material assistance to strengthen democracy, the economy and various social sectors in Kosovo.

CHAPTER II OPENING OF CLIENT ACCOUNTS AND THEIR CATEGORIZATION

Article 4 Opening of accounts for eligible clients

1. In accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the CBK Law, to achieve its objectives, the CBK may open and maintain in its books cash and securities accounts for banks and other financial institutions, public entities, as well as foreign banks, central banks, international financial institutions and, upon request, foreign governments, international organizations and donor organizations. In accordance with this article, eligible clients for opening accounts and performing services at the CBK are: 1.1. Financial institutions: 1.1.1. Banking institutions; 1.1.2. Microfinance and non-bank institutions; 1.1.3. Payment institutions and electronic money institutions; 1.1.4. Insurance institutions; 1.1.5. Public interest funds for deposit insurance and credit guarantee funds; 1.1.6. Pension funds. 1.2. Public entities: 1.2.1. Public institutions; 1.2.2. Public enterprises. 1.3. International institutions, foreign governments and foreign banks: 1.3.1. Institutions, international financial and donor organizations, foreign governments and foreign banks.

Article 5 Client Categorization

1. The client accounts defined in Article 4, depending on their activity and grouping, are divided into respective sub-categories. Sub-categorization is based on the type of client activity and legal definitions in the CBK Law for each respective category and sub-category, or specific laws regulating the client's relevant activity. On this basis, clients are categorized: 1.1. Financial institutions: 1.1.1. Banking institutions: a. Banks. 1.1.2. Microfinance and non-bank institutions: a. Microfinance institutions; b. Non-bank financial institutions; c. Other non-bank financial institutions. 1.1.3. Payment institutions and electronic money institutions: a. Payment institutions; b. Electronic money institutions. 1.1.4. Insurance institutions: a. Insurance companies; b. Kosovo Insurance Bureau. 1.1.5. Public interest funds for deposit insurance and credit guarantee funds: a. Kosovo Deposit Insurance Fund; b. Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund; c. Other central public interest funds. 1.1.6. Pension funds: a. Kosovo Pension Savings Fund; b. Other Kosovo pension funds. 1.2. Public entities: 1.2.1. Public institutions: a. Governmental institutions and municipalities of Kosovo; b. Other independent public institutions; c. Kosovo Privatization Agency. 1.2.2. Public enterprises: a. Central public enterprises; b. Regional-local public enterprises.

1.3. International institutions, foreign governments and foreign banks: 1.3.1. Institutions, international financial and donor organizations, foreign governments and foreign banks a. Foreign central banks; b. Foreign second-tier banks; c. Foreign governments; d. International financial institutions; e. International organizations; f. Donor organizations.

CHAPTER III SERVICES PROVIDED

Article 6 Financial Services

1. The CBK provides its services to clients exclusively in accordance with its objectives and duties defined by the CBK Law. These services may be provided only in accordance with conditions and terms determined by the CBK.
2. Payment services (domestic and international) specified in paragraph 3.4 of this article may not be provided by the CBK to clients who can perform these services through banking institutions and non-bank payment service providers.
3. The categories of services provided by the CBK are: 3.1. Opening and administration of accounts services: 3.1.1. Account opening; 3.1.2. Account administration. 3.2. Cash deposit and withdrawal services: 3.2.1. Banknote deposit; 3.2.2. Coin deposit; 3.2.3. Banknote withdrawal; 3.2.4. Coin withdrawal. 3.3. Domestic and international fund transfer services: 3.3.1. Inbound domestic fund transfers; 3.3.2. Inbound international fund transfers; 3.3.3. Outbound domestic fund transfers; 3.3.4. Outbound international fund transfers. 3.4. Domestic and international payment services: 3.4.1. Inbound domestic payments; 3.4.2. Inbound international payments; 3.4.3. Outbound domestic payments; 3.4.4. Outbound international payments. 3.5. Access and settlement services in the Payment System: 3.5.1. Access to real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system; 3.5.2. Access to net settlement system (ACH); 3.5.3. Access to fast payment system (TIPS); 3.5.4. Opening and administration of reserve accounts; 3.5.5. Opening and administration of settlement and/or other technical accounts provided by payment system regulations for payment settlement purposes; 3.5.6. Intraday settlements. 3.6. Regulatory reserve management services; 3.7. Securities operations services (purchase and sale of securities): 3.7.1. Access to primary market securities operations system (CSD); 3.7.2. Access to secondary market securities operations system (CSD). 3.8. Time deposit services: 3.8.1. Fixing of funds. 3.9. Emergency liquidity support services; 3.10. Safekeeping services for movable assets; 3.11. Custody/trustee services arising from CBK duties and responsibilities.

Article 7 Services by Client Categories

1. Services for client categories may be provided only to clients defined in Articles 4 and 5 of this regulation.
2. Each category of services offered to a client must be part of the services defined in Article 6 of this regulation.
3. The linkage of services defined in Article 6 with the client category defined in Articles 4 and 5 may be provided only after meeting specific requirements set by relevant regulations addressing the specific service.
4. Clients defined in Article 5 of this regulation are offered categories of services defined in Article 6 as follows: 4.1. Categories of services offered to Banks are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.9 of Article 6; 4.2. Categories of services offered to Microfinance institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.3. Categories of services offered to Non-bank financial institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.4. Categories of services offered to Other non-bank financial institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.5. Categories of services offered to Payment institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and points 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.3, 3.5.5 and 3.5.6 of sub-paragraph 3.5, Article 6; 4.6. Categories of services offered to Electronic money institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and points 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.3, 3.5.5 and 3.5.6 of sub-paragraph 3.5, Article 6; 4.7. Categories of services offered to Insurance companies are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.6 of Article 6; 4.8. Categories of services offered to Kosovo Insurance Bureau are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.9. Categories of services offered to Kosovo Deposit Insurance Fund are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 of Article 6; 4.10. Categories of services offered to Kosovo Credit Guarantee Fund are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 of Article 6; 4.11. Categories of services offered to Other central public interest funds are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 of Article 6; 4.12. Categories of services offered to Kosovo Pension Savings Fund are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 and points 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.5.6 of sub-paragraph 3.5, and sub-paragraph 3.7, Article 6; 4.13. Categories of services offered to Other Kosovo pension funds are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 and points 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.5.6 of sub-paragraph 3.5, and sub-paragraph 3.7, Article 6; 4.14. Categories of services offered to Governmental institutions and municipalities of Kosovo are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, points 3.5.1, 3.5.2, 3.5.3, 3.5.5 and 3.5.6 of sub-paragraph 3.5, sub-paragraph 3.7, sub-paragraph 3.8 and sub-paragraph 3.10, Article 6; 4.15. Categories of services offered to Other independent public institutions are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 of Article 6; 4.16. Categories of services offered to Kosovo Privatization Agency are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.10 of Article 6; 4.17. Categories of services offered to Central public enterprises are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.18. Categories of services offered to Regional-local public enterprises are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1 and 3.3 of Article 6; 4.19. Categories of services offered to Foreign central banks, Foreign second-tier banks, Foreign governments, International financial institutions, International organizations and Donor organizations are defined in sub-paragraphs 3.1, 3.3 and 3.11 of Article 6.

CHAPTER V TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 8 Transitional Provisions Existing client accounts must be adapted to the requirements of this regulation within a period of 6 (six) months following the approval of this regulation.

Article 9 Final Provisions

1. Within a period of 6 (six) months following the entry into force of this regulation and related secondary acts, all clients must accept and sign new terms and conditions in accordance with the provisions of this regulation and related secondary acts regulating procedures for management and administration of client accounts.
2. The Executive Board, through an internal regulation, determines the organizational units of the CBK for implementation of this regulation.
3. Other technical aspects will be regulated through policies, rules, procedures and other secondary acts based on delegated responsibilities under Article 36 of the CBK Law.

Article 10 Entry into Force This regulation enters into force on December 15, 2025, with the exception of sub-paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 of Article 7, which will be applied upon entry into force of Law No. 08/L-328 on Payment Services and relevant regulatory requirements.

Dr. Sc. Bashkim Nurboja Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo