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

License or no license

Licence application

Background information

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