2018-08-08
Added · Updated
This Royal Decree approves the National Bank of Belgium's regulation detailing the administrative documentation required for the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions in Belgium. The regulation mandates that applicants submit specific files including work programs, business and financial plans for the first three years, proof of initial capital, and descriptions of organizational structures, security policies, and anti-money laundering compliance measures. It further specifies additional requirements for entities offering both payment services and e-money issuance, such as proof of capital for the payment service and adherence to communication and security standards. These rules implement partial transposition of EU Directive 2015/2366 and entered into force upon publication in the Belgian State Gazette on 8 August 2018.
FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE FINANCES [C - 2018/13236] 30 JULY 2018. — Royal Decree approving the regulation of the National Bank of Belgium of 26 June 2018 on the administrative file concerning the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions
PHILIPPE, King of the Belgians, To all, present and future, Greetings.
Having regard to the Law of 22 February 1998 fixing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium, Article 12bis, § 2; Having regard to the Law of 11 March 2018 on the status and supervision of payment institutions and e-money institutions, access to the business of payment service providers and to the activity of issuing e-money, and access to payment systems, Articles 82, § 1, and 200, § 1; On the proposal of the Minister of Finance, We have decided and decide:
Article 1. The regulation of 26 June 2018 of the National Bank of Belgium concerning the administrative file relating to the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions, attached to this Decree, is approved.
Art. 2. This Decree shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Belgian State Gazette.
Art. 3. The Minister responsible for Finance is charged with the execution of this Decree.
Given at L’Île-d’Yeu, 30 July 2018.
PHILIPPE By the King: The Minister of Finance, J. VAN OVERTVELDT
Annex to the Royal Decree of 30 July 2018 approving the regulation of the National Bank of Belgium of 26 June 2018 concerning the administrative file relating to the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions
Regulation of the National Bank of Belgium of 26 June 2018 concerning the administrative file relating to the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions
The National Bank of Belgium, Having regard to Article 12bis of the Law of 22 February 1998 fixing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium; Having regard to the Law of 11 March 2018 on the status and supervision of payment institutions and e-money institutions, access to the business of payment service providers and to the activity of issuing e-money, and access to payment systems, in particular Articles 82, § 1, and 200, § 1,
We have decided and decide:
Section 1. — General provision, definitions and scope
Art. 1. This regulation aims to partially transpose Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC.
Art. 2. For the purposes of this regulation, the following shall be understood: 1° "the Law": the Law of 11 March 2018 on the status and supervision of payment institutions and e-money institutions, access to the business of payment service providers and to the activity of issuing e-money, and access to payment systems; 2° "the Bank": the National Bank of Belgium; 3° "limited payment institution": an institution referred to in Article 2, 9°, of the Law which is registered pursuant to Article 82 of the Law; 4° "limited e-money institution": an institution referred to in Article 2, 74°, of the Law; 5° "auditor": the auditor referred to in Article 110 of the Law.
Section 2. — Limited payment institutions
Art. 3. The administrative file referred to in Article 82, § 1, of the Law shall contain the following: 1° a work program indicating which of the payment services referred to in points 1 to 5 of Annex I.A of the Law the applicant intends to provide, and, if applicable, which other activities referred to in Articles 43 and 44 of the Law; 2° a business plan including a financial plan for the first three financial years, demonstrating that the applicant has appropriate resources to ensure sound management for the payment services; 3° proof that the applicant has the initial capital referred to in Article 17 of the Law; 4° a description of the measures taken in accordance with Article 42, § 1, of the Law to protect the funds of payment service users; 5° a description of the applicant's governance structure and organizational arrangements, demonstrating compliance with the obligations imposed by the Law of 18 September 2017 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and on the limitation of the use of cash; 6° a description of the use of agents and branches in Belgium and the schedule of on-site and documentary inspections, referred to in Article 73 of the Law, and, if applicable, the applicant's intended participation in a national or international payment system; 7° the identity of the shareholders or partners referred to in Article 19 of the Law, the extent of their participation in capital fractions and voting rights, as well as all information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Article 19 of the Law; 8° the identity of the managers referred to in Article 20, § 1, of the Law and all information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Article 20, §§ 1 and 3, of the Law; 9° the identity of the auditor(s); 10° the legal form and statutes of the applicant; 11° the address of the applicant's registered office; 12° a description of the arrangements ensuring compliance with the common and secure open communication standards referred to in Article 49 of the Law; 13° a description of the applicant's security policy, demonstrating compliance with Articles 50 to 52 of the Law, and in particular a detailed analysis of the risks associated with payment services carried out in accordance with Article 50 of the Law, and a description of risk management and mitigation measures taken to protect users and manage the operational and security risks referred to in Articles 51 and 52 of the Law; 14° for the provision of services consisting in the issuance of card-based payment instruments: a description of the procedure demonstrating compliance with Article 55 of the Law; 15° for account management: a description of the procedure demonstrating compliance with Articles 56 to 58 of the Law.
Section 3. — Limited e-money institutions
Art. 4. § 1. The administrative file referred to in Article 200, § 1, shall contain the following: 1° a work program indicating the e-money issuance activity the applicant intends to carry out, and, if applicable, any other activities referred to in Article 191, second paragraph, 192, and 203, § 1, of the Law; 2° a business plan including a financial plan for the first three financial years, demonstrating that the applicant has appropriate resources to ensure sound management for the issuance of e-money; 3° a description of the measures taken in accordance with Article 194 of the Law to protect funds received in exchange for issued e-money; 4° a description of the applicant's governance structure and organizational arrangements, demonstrating compliance with the obligations imposed by the Law of 18 September 2017 on the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and on the limitation of the use of cash; 5° a description of the use of distributors, agents, and branches in Belgium and the schedule of on-site and documentary inspections referred to in Article 73 of the Law, as referenced in Article 190, § 2, of the Law, and, if applicable, the applicant's intended participation in a national or international payment system; 6° the identity of the shareholders or partners referred to in Article 174 of the Law, the extent of their participation in capital fractions and voting rights, as well as all information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Article 174 of the Law; 7° the identity of the managers referred to in Article 175, § 1, of the Law and all information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of Article 175, §§ 1 and 3, of the Law; 8° the identity of the auditor(s); 9° the legal form and statutes of the applicant; 10° the address of the applicant's registered office.
§ 2. If the limited e-money institution also provides payment services, the administrative file referred to in the first paragraph shall additionally contain: 1° proof that the applicant has the initial capital required by Article 17 for the specific payment service; 2° a description of the arrangements ensuring compliance with the common and secure open communication standards referred to in Article 49 of the Law; 3° a description of the legal entity's security policy, demonstrating compliance with Articles 50 to 52 of the Law, and in particular a detailed analysis of the risks associated with payment services carried out in accordance with Article 50 of the Law, and a description of risk management and mitigation measures taken to protect users and manage the operational and security risks referred to in Articles 51 and 52 of the Law; 4° for the provision of services consisting in the issuance of card-based payment instruments: a description of the procedure demonstrating compliance with Article 55 of the Law; 5° for account management: a description of the procedure demonstrating compliance with Articles 56 to 58 of the Law.
Section 4. — Final provisions
Art. 5. This regulation shall enter into force on the date of entry into force of the Royal Decree approving it.
Brussels, 26 June 2018. The Governor, J. SMETS
Approved to be attached to Our Decree of 30 July 2018 approving the regulation of the National Bank of Belgium of 26 June 2018 on the administrative file concerning the registration of limited payment institutions and limited e-money institutions.
PHILIPPE By the King: The Minister of Finance, J. VAN OVERTVELDT