Banking License
Medium-length body copy of one or two sentences goes here to support the main headline. Do not make your text longer than this.
Banking License
Medium-length body copy of one or two sentences goes here to support the main headline. Do not make your text longer than this.
Banking License
Medium-length body copy of one or two sentences goes here to support the main headline. Do not make your text longer than this.
Table of contents
A banking license is official authorization from a financial regulator that allows a company to operate as a bank. Without one, a company can offer some financial services, but it cannot take deposits, issue credit, or provide the full range of legal protections that licensed banks must offer by law.
\n\n
What a banking license means for your money
\n
When a bank holds a full banking license, it's subject to strict ongoing requirements set by regulators. These include:
\n
\n
Capital requirements, the bank must hold sufficient funds to absorb losses and remain solvent
\n
Deposit protection, customer deposits are covered by a national guarantee scheme up to a set limit
\n
Regular audits, regulators review financial health, compliance, and risk management on an ongoing basis
\n
Consumer protection rules, licensed banks must follow clear rules about how they treat customers and handle complaints
\n
\n
For you, this translates to a practical guarantee: your money is protected and the institution handling it is held to enforceable standards.
\n\n
E-money institutions vs. full banking licenses
\n
Not every fintech app holds a full banking license. Some operate as e-money institutions (EMIs), which can store money and process payments, but cannot lend, earn interest on deposits, or offer the same level of deposit protection.
\n
The distinction matters. An e-money institution may look like a bank, but your deposits may not be covered by the national deposit guarantee scheme in the same way. Before treating a financial app as your primary bank, check which type of license it holds.
\n\n
bunq's banking license
\n
bunq holds a full banking license issued by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank. This means bunq operates under the same regulatory framework as traditional banks, and your deposits are protected up to €100,000 by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
\n
Beyond the regulatory baseline, the license enables bunq to offer features like Savings Interest, Bank Accounts with real IBANs, and deposit-backed products that only a licensed bank can provide. Learn more about how bunq protects your money.
\n\n
Frequently asked questions
\n
\n
Is a banking license the same in every country? No. Requirements vary by country and regulator. European banking licenses issued under EU law follow harmonized standards, but the specifics differ by jurisdiction.
\n
What is the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme? A scheme that protects customer deposits up to €100,000 per person, per bank, in the event the bank fails.
\n
Does every app that holds your money need a banking license? No. Payment apps and e-money services operate under different licenses. A banking license is specifically required to take deposits and provide the full protections that come with regulated banking.
\n
How do I know if my bank is licensed? Licensed banks are listed in official national registers maintained by central banks or financial regulators. In the EU, the European Banking Authority (EBA) publishes a register of all licensed institutions.
\n
Table of contents
A banking license is official authorization from a financial regulator that allows a company to operate as a bank. Without one, a company can offer some financial services, but it cannot take deposits, issue credit, or provide the full range of legal protections that licensed banks must offer by law.
\n\n
What a banking license means for your money
\n
When a bank holds a full banking license, it's subject to strict ongoing requirements set by regulators. These include:
\n
\n
Capital requirements, the bank must hold sufficient funds to absorb losses and remain solvent
\n
Deposit protection, customer deposits are covered by a national guarantee scheme up to a set limit
\n
Regular audits, regulators review financial health, compliance, and risk management on an ongoing basis
\n
Consumer protection rules, licensed banks must follow clear rules about how they treat customers and handle complaints
\n
\n
For you, this translates to a practical guarantee: your money is protected and the institution handling it is held to enforceable standards.
\n\n
E-money institutions vs. full banking licenses
\n
Not every fintech app holds a full banking license. Some operate as e-money institutions (EMIs), which can store money and process payments, but cannot lend, earn interest on deposits, or offer the same level of deposit protection.
\n
The distinction matters. An e-money institution may look like a bank, but your deposits may not be covered by the national deposit guarantee scheme in the same way. Before treating a financial app as your primary bank, check which type of license it holds.
\n\n
bunq's banking license
\n
bunq holds a full banking license issued by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank. This means bunq operates under the same regulatory framework as traditional banks, and your deposits are protected up to €100,000 by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
\n
Beyond the regulatory baseline, the license enables bunq to offer features like Savings Interest, Bank Accounts with real IBANs, and deposit-backed products that only a licensed bank can provide. Learn more about how bunq protects your money.
\n\n
Frequently asked questions
\n
\n
Is a banking license the same in every country? No. Requirements vary by country and regulator. European banking licenses issued under EU law follow harmonized standards, but the specifics differ by jurisdiction.
\n
What is the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme? A scheme that protects customer deposits up to €100,000 per person, per bank, in the event the bank fails.
\n
Does every app that holds your money need a banking license? No. Payment apps and e-money services operate under different licenses. A banking license is specifically required to take deposits and provide the full protections that come with regulated banking.
\n
How do I know if my bank is licensed? Licensed banks are listed in official national registers maintained by central banks or financial regulators. In the EU, the European Banking Authority (EBA) publishes a register of all licensed institutions.
\n
Table of contents
A banking license is official authorization from a financial regulator that allows a company to operate as a bank. Without one, a company can offer some financial services, but it cannot take deposits, issue credit, or provide the full range of legal protections that licensed banks must offer by law.
\n\n
What a banking license means for your money
\n
When a bank holds a full banking license, it's subject to strict ongoing requirements set by regulators. These include:
\n
\n
Capital requirements, the bank must hold sufficient funds to absorb losses and remain solvent
\n
Deposit protection, customer deposits are covered by a national guarantee scheme up to a set limit
\n
Regular audits, regulators review financial health, compliance, and risk management on an ongoing basis
\n
Consumer protection rules, licensed banks must follow clear rules about how they treat customers and handle complaints
\n
\n
For you, this translates to a practical guarantee: your money is protected and the institution handling it is held to enforceable standards.
\n\n
E-money institutions vs. full banking licenses
\n
Not every fintech app holds a full banking license. Some operate as e-money institutions (EMIs), which can store money and process payments, but cannot lend, earn interest on deposits, or offer the same level of deposit protection.
\n
The distinction matters. An e-money institution may look like a bank, but your deposits may not be covered by the national deposit guarantee scheme in the same way. Before treating a financial app as your primary bank, check which type of license it holds.
\n\n
bunq's banking license
\n
bunq holds a full banking license issued by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank. This means bunq operates under the same regulatory framework as traditional banks, and your deposits are protected up to €100,000 by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
\n
Beyond the regulatory baseline, the license enables bunq to offer features like Savings Interest, Bank Accounts with real IBANs, and deposit-backed products that only a licensed bank can provide. Learn more about how bunq protects your money.
\n\n
Frequently asked questions
\n
\n
Is a banking license the same in every country? No. Requirements vary by country and regulator. European banking licenses issued under EU law follow harmonized standards, but the specifics differ by jurisdiction.
\n
What is the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme? A scheme that protects customer deposits up to €100,000 per person, per bank, in the event the bank fails.
\n
Does every app that holds your money need a banking license? No. Payment apps and e-money services operate under different licenses. A banking license is specifically required to take deposits and provide the full protections that come with regulated banking.
\n
How do I know if my bank is licensed? Licensed banks are listed in official national registers maintained by central banks or financial regulators. In the EU, the European Banking Authority (EBA) publishes a register of all licensed institutions.
\n