2025-01-01
The Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro issued this Decision to establish detailed requirements for the knowledge, competence, and training of staff involved in housing loan activities. It mandates specific educational and experience thresholds for employees, requires professional indemnity insurance with minimum coverage limits, and sets strict good repute criteria for management bodies. Furthermore, the regulation defines the procedural steps for authorizing credit intermediaries, including mandatory agreements with creditors and application documentation submitted to the Central Bank.
[unofficial translation] Pursuant to Article 44 paragraph 2 item 3 of the Central Bank of Montenegro Law (OGM 40/10, 6/13, 70/17, 125/23), Article 14 paragraph 5 and Article 56 paragraph 6 of the Consumer Credit Law (OGM 15/25), the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro, at its meeting held on 20 November 2025, passed the following DECISION ON MORE DETAILED CONDITIONS REGARDING THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE OF STAFF OF CREDITORS AND CREDIT INTERMEDIARIES AND ON THE CONDITIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF CREDIT INTERMEDIATION SERVICES RELATING TO HOUSING LOANS Subject matter Article 1 This Decision shall prescribe detailed conditions regarding the necessary knowledge and competence of the staff of the creditor and the credit intermediary performing, pursuant to the Consumer Credit Law, activities related to manufacturing, offering or granting of loan agreements, and providing credit intermediation services or advisory services, as well as detailed conditions for providing intermediation services in relation to housing loans, and the manner of submitting applications and evidence in the procedure of granting authorisations for the provision of such services. Definitions Article 2 The terms used in this Decision shall have the following meanings:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 2
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 3 (5) The creditor shall keep records of knowledge assessments of the staff of the creditor and credit intermediary. (6) The staff of a credit intermediary tied to multiple creditors shall attend training and knowledge assessment at all creditors to which it is tied. (7) The creditor shall inform their staff, as well as the staff of the tied credit intermediary, on the significant changes occurring in the fields referred to in Article 3, paragraph (1) of this Decision in a timely and ongoing manner. (8) A staff member of the creditor, as well as a staff member of the credit intermediary referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, who was not engaged in activities referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article for longer than five years, shall undergo the training and knowledge assessment procedure again. (9) The creditor shall create a training programme for that year and submit it to the Central Bank of Montenegro (hereinafter: the Central Bank) at the latest by 31 January of that year, and the programme shall in particular include the valuation criteria for the staff knowledge assessment referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article. (10) The creditor shall appoint a person responsible for conducting the training and knowledge assessment procedure that shall sign the certificate of completed training and knowledge assessment procedure referred to in paragraph (4) of this Article, and the training programme referred to in paragraph (9) of this Article. Professional indemnity insurance Article 5 (1) The minimum monetary amount of the professional indemnity insurance or comparable guarantee required to be held by a credit intermediary for the provision of intermediation services in relation to housing loans in accordance with the Law, shall be set as follows:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 4 Member of the management body of a credit intermediary responsible for credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans Article 6 (1) A member of the management body of a credit intermediary responsible for credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans shall be of good repute, where that the person:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 5 9) the manner in which the services provided by the credit intermediary pursuant to this agreement are supervised; 10) types of reports to be received by the creditor from the credit intermediary and the frequency of their delivery; 11) the obligation of banking and business secrecy and the obligation and manner of protecting the confidentiality of data; 12) the obligation of the credit intermediary to notify the creditor in a timely manner of all facts and changes in the circumstances that have, or might have a significant influence on the meeting of the contractual obligations; 13) the obligation of the credit intermediary to provide services in such a way that it fully complies with the law and other regulations; 14) the obligation of the credit intermediary to enable the Central Bank to carry out on-site examination in the location where the services are being provided, or at the credit intermediary's premises, and to provide access to the documentation and data related to outsourcing which are in the possession of the credit intermediary; 15) duration of the agreement; 16) a detailed description of the conditions for the cancellation and/or termination of the agreement, including the rights of the creditor to cancel or terminate an agreement with the credit intermediary, if so ordered by the Central Bank; 17) a detailed description of the rights and obligations of the parties to the agreement in the case of premature termination of the agreement, in order to ensure continuity of service provision; 18) the applicable law chosen; and 19) the method of dispute settlement. (2) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, at the moment of submitting the application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans, the credit intermediary may also conclude a preliminary agreement on the provision of credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans with the creditor to which the credit intermediary is tied, wherein such preliminary agreement shall in particular contain the elements referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, including the obligation to conclude an agreement within three months from the date of receiving the authorisation. (3) After the agreement referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article is concluded, the creditor shall deliver it to the Central Bank. Application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to consumer housing loans Article 8 (1) An application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans shall be submitted to the Central Bank in Template 1 which is provided in the Annex to this Decision and which makes an integral part thereof. (2) The application referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be supported by the following:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 6 3) a completed Statement by the credit intermediary in Template 2 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 4) a certified copy of the personal identity card, or a certified copy of the passport for foreign citizens, of the member of the management body of the applicant who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services; 5) a certified copy of the diploma of the member of the management body of the applicant along with proof of nostrification, in confirmation that the member of the management body of the credit intermediary has the education specified in item 4) of the Questionnaire in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 6) a completed Questionnaire for the member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 7) evidence that the member of the of the management body of the credit intermediary has the knowledge listed in Article 3 paragraph (1) of this Decision, specified in item 5) of the Questionnaire in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 8) evidence that the member of the management body of the credit intermediary has the work experience listed in item 6) of the Questionnaire in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 9) a completed Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision containing data on the staff of the credit intermediary; 10) evidence on the education and professional qualifications of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 11) evidence on the work experience of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 12) certificate of knowledge and competence of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision. Submission of application by the creditor Article 9 (1) An application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans for only one tied credit intermediary of the creditor shall be submitted by that creditor in Template 5 provided in the Annex to this Decision which shall be supported by the documentation regarding the fulfilment of the conditions set out in Article 56 paragraph (1) of the Law. (2) The application referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be supported by a completed Statement by the credit intermediary in Template 2 and in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision, with the data on the staff of the credit intermediary, and the Questionnaire completed by the member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision. Data updates Article 10 (1) A credit intermediary shall notify the Central Bank, without delay, of any changes to the data specified in the templates provided in the annex to the application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans and submit updated corresponding templates provided in the Annex to this Decision with the supporting documentation.
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 7 (2) In case of changes that might indicate that the credit intermediary no longer meets the prescribed conditions, the credit intermediary shall notify the Central Bank thereof without delay, not later than eight days after determining the change. Entry into force Article 11 This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the “Official Gazette of Montenegro “and it shall apply as of 28 November 2025. THE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO
Decision number: 0101- 9051-9 /2025 Podgorica, 20 November 2025 CHAIRPERSON GOVERNOR
Irena Radović, m.p.
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 8 ANNEX Template 1 CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog br. 6 81000 Podgorica APPLICATION for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 9 6. Where the professional indemnity insurance or comparable guarantee is provided to the applicant by a creditor to which the applicant is tied, basic information on such insurance or guarantee: 7. Data on the member of the management body of the applicant credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of the intermediation services in relation to housing loan: Name and surname: Address of habitual residence: Place and date of birth: Unique master citizen number: Function in the applicant's management body: Place and date Name and surname of the applicant’s authorised person The following shall be enclosed with this application:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 10 12) certificate of knowledge and competence of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision. Template 2
STATEMENT of the credit intermediary Credit intermediary: Head office address: TIN: Name, surname and function of the authorised representative:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 11 Template 3 QUESTIONNAIRE for a member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans
Credit intermediary:
General data on the member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans: Name and surname (maiden name): Father's and mother's names and surnames: Date and place of birth: Habitual and temporary residence: Citizenship: Unique master citizen number: Official phone: Fax: E-mail:
Education: (specify education with the year of graduation and the degree obtained)
Work experience: (list in chronological order the previous employers, job positions, and description of the tasks and functions performed by the member of the management body)
Has a member of the management body of the credit intermediary been convicted by a final judgement of any criminal offense? YES/NO
Have criminal proceedings been initiated against a member of the management body of the credit intermediary? YES/NO
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 12 8. Has a member of the management body of the credit intermediary been convicted by a final judgement of any misdemeanour? YES/NO 9. Has a member of the management body of the credit intermediary been imposed a supervisory measure in the field of banking, insurance or finance? YES/NO 10. Is there any reason to doubt a good reputation? YES/NO If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, please provide details. I hereby declare that all answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, and that I have not withheld any information that could affect the decision of the Central Bank of Montenegro. I hereby undertake to inform the Central Bank of Montenegro of any changes that could significantly affect the issuance of consent for the appointment. Place and date Signature of a member of the management body of the credit intermediary
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 13 Template 4 DATA on the staff of the credit intermediary Credit intermediary: Head office address: TIN: Name and surname of the member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans:
surname Education and professional qualifications Years of work experience Certificate of appropriate knowledge (with the issue date) A brief description of the tasks performed by the employee at a credit intermediary 1. 2. … 2. Has any member of the credit intermediary's staff committed any criminal offense?
YES/NO 3. Has any member of the credit intermediary’s staff committed a misdemeanour for which a pecuniary fine of more than EUR 5,000 is prescribed? YES/NO 4. Has any member of the credit intermediary’s staff been imposed any supervisory measure by the supervisory or competent authority? YES/NO
If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, please provide details. I hereby declare that all answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge, and that I have not withheld any information that could affect the decision of the Central Bank of Montenegro. I hereby undertake to inform the Central Bank of Montenegro of any changes that could significantly affect the issuance of consent for the appointment. Place and date Signature of a member of the management body of the credit intermediary
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 14 Template 5 CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO Bulevar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog br.6 81000 Podgorica APPLICATION application for granting authorisation to provide credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans for a credit intermediary tied to only one creditor
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 15 5. Basic information on the professional indemnity insurance policy or comparable guarantee: 6. Where professional indemnity insurance policy or comparable guarantee is provided to the applicant by a creditor to which the applicant is tied, the basic information about that insurance or guarantee: 7. Data on the member of the management body of the credit intermediary who will be responsible for the provision of credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans: Name and surname: Address of habitual residence: Place and date of birth: Unique master citizen number: Function in the applicant's management body: Place and date Name and surname of the applicant’s authorised person The following shall be enclosed with this application:
[unofficial translation) Decision on More Detailed Conditions Regarding the Necessary Knowledge and Competence of Staff of Creditors and Credit Intermediaries and on the Conditions for the Provision of Credit Intermediation Services Relating to Housing Loans (OGM 135/25) 16 8. evidence that the member of the management body of the credit intermediary has the work experience listed in item 6) of the Questionnaire in Template 3 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 9. a completed Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision containing data on the staff of the credit intermediary; 10. evidence on the education and professional qualifications of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 11. evidence on the work experience of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 12. certificate of knowledge and competence of each staff member of the credit intermediary named in Template 4 provided in the Annex to this Decision; 13. a Statement by the credit intermediary that credit intermediation services in relation to housing loans will be provided exclusively for the creditor of the applicant; 14. an assessment by the creditor of the applicant that the credit intermediary meets the conditions referred to in Article 56 paragraph (1) of the Consumer Credit Law.