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Banking licence applications: EU, UK, Switzerland and the UAE

Bank authorisation files — universal, specialised and digital banks, third-country branches, acquisitions of a qualifying holding — prepared and followed with the supervisor.

Licences
11
Where
5 places
Our fees
from €139,990
Licences we prepareAsk for a firm quote

What we do, and what belongs to the authority

A banking licence is the heaviest authorisation in finance: minimum own funds of several million, a full management body, risk, compliance and internal audit functions, and a credible capital and liquidity plan. Supervisors review every shareholder with a qualifying holding.

We prepare the application and the supporting documents, coordinate the people and advisers the supervisor expects to see, file the application and follow it through every round of questions.

Good to know before you start

  • In the EU, the initial capital is at least €5 million, with national derogations.
  • The supervisor reviews shareholders, directors and the business plan in depth.
  • No time to approval is announced: the decision belongs to the supervisor.

Licences we prepare

Fees for preparing and filing, excluding VAT. The authority's own fees and the capital are not fees.

European Union and EEA

Universal bank / credit institution authorisationEU / euro areaCapital: ≥ €5,000,000 (CRD; national derogations possible)from €329,990Specialised / niche bankEU / EEACapital: ≥ €5,000,000, unless a national regime allows otherwisefrom €310,390Digital bank / neobank with a banking licenceEU / EEACapital: ≥ €5,000,000from €329,990Branch of a third-country bankEU / EEACapital: Endowment and requirements set by the host Statefrom €303,990Acquisition of a bank / qualifying holdingEU / EEACapital: Acquisition financing + regulatory capitalfrom €256,890

United Kingdom

Banking authorisationUnited Kingdom — PRA/FCACapital: Set by the PRA according to the modelfrom €329,990

Switzerland

Banking licenceSwitzerland — FINMACapital: Own funds according to activity and risksfrom €369,990FinTech licence / deposit-takingSwitzerland — FINMACapital: Regulatory capital under the FinTech regimeon quote

United Arab Emirates

Commercial / digital bank licenceUnited Arab Emirates — CBUAECapital: According to category and CBUAE decisionfrom €369,990

In the jurisdiction you choose

International banking licenceSelected jurisdictionCapital: Statutory minimum according to countryon quoteRepresentative office / bank branchSelected jurisdictionCapital: Endowment according to countryfrom €139,990

How it works

  1. Scoping call

    We check the activity, the market and the people, and name the licence that fits.

  2. Firm quote

    A written quote with the fees and what they cover, before anything is signed.

  3. Identity check

    Owners, directors and key people are verified before any work on the file.

  4. Application file

    Programme of operations, financial plan, policies and governance, written with you.

  5. Filing and questions

    We file the application and answer the authority's questions round after round.

  6. Decision

    The authority decides. We stay on the file until the decision and the first obligations after it.

Documents we will ask you for

Promoters, applicant bank, shareholders/UBOs and directors

Required in every case

  • Power of representation, notarised remotely. It gives us standing to act on your behalf before registries, banks and the relevant authorities, within the limits it sets out. The notarisation session is held by video; a valid identity document is required.
  • Draft articles or company documents of the applicant entity
  • KYC, tax numbers, CVs, diplomas, references and criminal records of the shareholders/UBOs and directors
  • Group chart and evidence of the origin of the regulatory capital
  • Programme of operations and detailed business plan
  • Prudential financial model, capital and liquidity plan
  • Operational chart, key functions and job descriptions
  • Questionnaires on governance, risk, AML/CFT, compliance, internal audit and ongoing control
  • IT architecture, cybersecurity, continuity, outsourcing and main supplier contracts

Depending on the case

  • Audited group accounts and existing regulators' reports
  • Fit & proper file and statements of assets
  • Lease, employment contracts and evidence of substance
  • Acquisition agreement, due diligence and financing for a change of control
  • Parent bank's authorisation for a branch

The exact list follows what you order; it is confirmed in your client space after payment.

Questions

Who operates Bankcharter Advisory?

Bankcharter Advisory is a service of AquaSands Trading AG, a Swiss stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft, AG), c/o Kaurum GmbH, Hasenbüelweg 32, 6300 Zug, Switzerland. Orders, invoices and contracts are with AquaSands Trading AG.

Do you guarantee the licence?

No. The licence is granted by the authority after its own review. Our commitment is the quality of the file, its filing and its follow-up until the decision.

How are your fees set?

Each licence shows its starting fee, from €139,990 on this site; some are quoted after review because the authority's own fees depend on the activity. The firm quote follows the scoping call, before anything is signed.

How long does it take?

Preparation and filing take 6–16 weeks once we have your documents. The decision and its timing belong to the authority: no time to approval is announced.

Where can these licences be obtained?

European Union and EEA, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, In the jurisdiction you choose.

Ask for a firm quote

Describe your activity and target market. We answer by email with the licences that fit and a firm quote before anything is signed.

Who operates Bankcharter Advisory

Bankcharter Advisory is a service of AquaSands Trading AG, a Swiss stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft, AG), c/o Kaurum GmbH, Hasenbüelweg 32, 6300 Zug, Switzerland. Orders, invoices and contracts are with AquaSands Trading AG.