Regulatory AlertsPanama: fintech & payments regulation
Partially regulatedPanama: No specific fintech license; payments regulated under banking laws
- Lead regulator
- Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama (SBP)
- Also involved
- NFIU (AML/CFT supervision) · SMV (securities only)
- Core law
- Law 51 of 2011 (Payment Systems)
- Entry capital
- —
- Approval timeline
- —
- Customer assets
- Segregated accounts required for licensed institutions
- Data protection
- Law 81 of 2019 · Autoridad Nacional de Protección de Datos
- Sandbox
- No
Panama lacks a dedicated fintech or VASP licensing regime. Payment processing and money transfer activities are generally reserved for licensed financial institutions (banks, credit unions) or authorized payment institutions under Law 51 of 2011. Non-bank entities engaging in these activities without authorization risk enforcement. The Securities Market Superintendence (SMV) regulates securities, not payments.
Which licence do you need?
| Your activity | Requirement | Capital | Timeline | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payment processing / gateway | LicencePayment Institution License Reserved for authorized payment institutions under Law 51 | — | — | Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama |
| E-money & wallet issuance | LicencePayment Institution License Electronic money issuance falls under payment system regulations | — | — | Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama |
| Domestic money transfer | LicencePayment Institution License Domestic transfers require authorization under Law 51 | — | — | Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama |
| Cross-border remittance | LicencePayment Institution License Cross-border remittances are regulated payment services | — | — | Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama |
| Agent network | Uncertainverify with regulator Agent network rules not explicitly defined in source docs | — | — | — |
| Open banking / account information | Unregulated No open banking framework exists in Panama | — | — | — |
| Foreign-exchange services | LicencePayment Institution License FX services are part of regulated payment activities | — | — | Superintendencia de Bancos de Panama |
Market-entry checklist
- 1Verify banking license requirementConfirm if your model requires a full banking license or payment institution authorization under Law 51.
- 2Engage SBP for guidanceConsult the Superintendencia de Bancos directly regarding non-bank payment service eligibility.
- 3Establish AML/CFT frameworkImplement robust AML procedures compliant with NFIU reporting standards.
- 4Register with NFIUMandatory registration as a reporting entity for financial activities.
- 5Secure data protection complianceAlign data handling with Law 81 of 2019 and ANPD requirements.