Prohibition on operating as a bank without a licence

Factsheet

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If you do not hold a licence from the European Central Bank (ECB), you are not permitted to pursue the business of a bank in the Netherlands pursuant to Section 2:11 of the Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht - Wft).

Published: 01 April 2017

We pursue a policy of active enforcement and perform checks at regular intervals. If you pursue the business of a bank without a licence or statutory exception, DNB can take several enforcement measures, including issuing cease and desist orders and imposing administrative fines.

Economic offence

Non-compliance with the Financial Supervision Act constitutes a criminal offence under the Economic Offences Act, which we can report to the public prosecutor's office.

Information licence application for a bank

Licence as a bank - overview

License or no license

Definition of a bank

Activities requiring a licence

Exemption from licence requirement: central corporate treasuries

Full licence and partial licence

Licence application

Licence application

Application process (12 steps)

Application process timeline

Application fees

Application success factors

Background information

PSD2

Prohibition on operating as a bank without a licence

Dispensation from prohibition on takingrepayable funds

Public register

Foreign banks

Statutory framework governing market access for banks

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Factsheet

Market access

Banks

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