Banking License Acquisition, the Benefits and How to Obtain One
An offshore banking license allows a bank to provide services in a country which is not their country of domicile. In order to open a bank and offer financial services, it is essential to obtain the correct type of license, and select the right jurisdiction. To obtain such a license, there is a complex procedure which needs to be followed that varies in each country. It is advisable to seek the guidance of a professional firm in order to acquire the license in a professional and timely manner.
The Benefits of an Offshore Banking License
In order to establish a banking institution in your chosen jurisdiction, you must be licensed. This grants the institution to conduct financial services across the jurisdiction or internationally in accordance with regulations.
A prominent advantage to obtaining an offshore banking license is to benefit from that country’s favorable taxation system. This is because unlike public banks, private bank owners are able to keep the profits gained through offering banking services. If the chosen jurisdiction has lower or zero percent tax on profits, the owner is able to benefit from this greatly, in addition the clients can benefit from the tax regime on their capital gains tax as well as profits.
Choosing a country that meets your intending banking service requirements is important, and so it is advised to seek assistance of a professional firm to guide you on the most appropriate country to choose.
Types of Offshore Banking Licenses
There is a range of licenses available, and depending on the type of services the bank intends to offer, the necessary license must be applied for. Bank licenses must be obtained from the relevant regulatory body in your selected jurisdiction.
Licenses are often classed as follows:
Class A: is an unrestricted license which allows owners to offer general banking services with offshore clients.
Class B: is a restricted license which limits the owner to only provide banking services to specific clients.
As each jurisdiction offers their own range of banking licenses, it is advised to enlist the help of a professional firm that will match your banking requirements with the most appropriate banking license and favorable jurisdiction to meet your overall banking objectives.
How to obtain a Bank License
In order to obtain a license there are a number of factors that must be satisfied. Depending on the type of license and the country the bank owner chooses to acquire the license from, the process can be relevantly simple. It is choosing the most favorable jurisdiction which requires research and insight which is the most crucial step.
After the jurisdiction has been selected, the next step is to research the regulatory body and submit all necessary documents along with the completed application form. Depending on the regulatory body you are dealing with, they will require certain documents detailing:
- Nature of the bank
- Services the bank intends to offer
- Clients it targets
Most authorities will perform a thorough background check to determine the viability of banking services your wish to offer.
Following this, given that the bank owner passes the checks, you can obtain your license. Depending on the processing time, you can acquire your banking license in as little as four weeks in some jurisdictions.