Banking & Credit Institutions

Overview
Services
News
Publications

The acquisition of a licence in Malta offers a wide range of profitable activities from commercial and corporate banking to wealth management. As at 2014, there were a total of 27 credit institutions licensed in Malta.

Backed by Malta’s strong economic performance, a number of banking institutions have recognised Malta’s potential and set up a banking institution locally, serving both local and international clients. Subject to satisfying the relative criteria, the MFSA may issue a licenses for the following types of credit institutions:

Retail Banking
Corporate Banking
Private Banking
Business Banking
Investment Banking

In additional to traditional banking, banks in Malta may also carry out the following activities:

Financial leasing
Payment services
Issuing and administering means of payment (credit cards, travellers’ cheques and bankers’ drafts and similar instruments)
Guarantees and commitments
Trading for own account or for accounts of customers in:
- Money market instruments
- Foreign exchange
- Financial futures and options
- Exchange and interest-rate instruments
- Transferable securities
Participation in securities issues and the provision of services related to such issues
Money broking
Portfolio management and advice
Safekeeping and administration of securities
Credit reference services
Safe custody services
Issuing electronic money

Related Practices

Company Formation
Corporate Assistance
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)
Re-Domiciliation and Continuation
Financial Services

Setting up a UCITS in Malta

06/10/16

Investment Services Licence Categories

19/10/16

The Proposed 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive

11/11/16

Identity Malta Launches the Key Employee Initiative

22/11/16

New Residence Programme for Aviation Industry

16/01/17

Brexit Effects on the Insurance Industry

06/02/17

“Ancillary Activities” under the MiFID II Directive

16/02/17

The Obligation to appoint a DPO under the GDPR

20/02/17

MFSA issues Guidance on Prevention of Financial Markets Abuse

22/02/17

Is it Time to Coherently Regulate Blockchain?

03/04/17

GDPR – A Central Loop for Blockchain Deployment

02/08/17

GTG Advocates Participates in Blockchain Malta Event

31/08/17

Dr Ian Gauci appointed to Malta’s Blockchain task force

20/09/17

GTG Advocates to Speak at Malta Innovation Summit

10/10/17

GTG Advocates Participates in Malta Innovation Summit

18/10/17

GTG Advocates to Speak at EY Malta Attractiveness Event

20/10/17

MFSA Consultation on Investments in Virtual Currencies

26/10/17

The Regulation of ICOs

30/10/17

GTG to Speak at ILS Blockchain and Smart Contracts Event

03/11/17

Gibraltar Regulates ‘Distributed Ledger Technology’

06/11/17

GTG to Speak at Technology 2020 Conference

07/11/17

Demystifying Smart Contracts

28/11/17

MFSA Paper on ICOs & Cryptocurrencies

30/11/17

MGA Issues Call of Interest on DLT & Cryptocurrencies

06/12/17

New Rules on Register of UBO’s

03/01/18

Issue of New Gaming Licence Fees

04/01/18

MFSA issues Feedback on PIFs investing in VCs

23/01/18

MFSA Issues Rules for CIS investing in VCs

30/01/18

MFSA Consultation on PSD2 Implementation

01/02/18

GTG Advocates to Speak at IFSP Conference

14/02/18

Government Issues Consultation on DLT Regulator

16/02/18

The DAO as a step forward for the Digital Economy

26/02/18

Could Blockchain be the new dawn for AML?

05/03/18

GTG Participates at Blockchain Malta Event

05/03/18

MFSA Consultation on Financial Instrument Test

16/04/18

Setting up a PIF in Malta

21/05/18

DLT and Cryptocurrencies Laws approved by Maltese Parliament

28/06/18

MFSA Issues Requirements for Investment-Based Crowdfunding

14/08/18

Guidelines on the use of Cryptocurrencies in the iGaming sector

09/10/18

MFSA Issues Guidance Note on PEPs

10/10/18

ESMA updates Q&As on Regulation of Credit Rating Agencies

20/12/18

Amendment of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism Regulations

21/12/18

MFSA Issues Consultation on Fintech Strategy

31/01/19

The MFSA’s AML & CFT Strategy

06/02/19

MFSA Issues Consultation on FinTech Strategy First Pillar

17/07/19

MFSA issues Consultation on Amendments to Rules for Occupational Retirement Schemes

18/07/19

New Prospectus Regulation comes fully in force

23/07/19

Malta Implements Rules on Tax Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

19/08/19

AIFMD 2 approved by European Parliament and European Council

21/08/19

MFSA Imposes National Intervention Measures on CFDs

29/08/19

ESMA issues Final Guidance on Liquidity Stress Tests for Investment Funds

02/09/19

The 6th AML Directive – What next for the fight against ML/FT Risks?

03/09/19

Chambers and Partners FinTech Rankings 2020 – strong year for GTG Advocates & Caledo

16/01/20

Amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

14/02/20

Does your Insurance cover the Coronavirus?

20/03/20

Newly Revised Legal Grounds for the Processing of Personal Health Data for Insurance Purposes

23/04/20

EIOPA issues Statement on Principles to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the Occupational Pensions Sector

06/05/20

Preventing Insider Offences in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic

07/05/20

The European Commission publishes its AML/ CFT Action Plan

11/05/20

MFSA issues Circular on the publication of the new Pension Rules for Occupational Retirement Schemes

22/05/20

Malta Implements the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation

24/05/20

FIAU consults on a centralised mechanism for the collection and retrieval of data

27/05/20

Financial Services and Fintech Weekly Update

30/05/20

Amendments to the PMLFTR

03/06/20

Financial Services and Fintech Weekly Update

06/06/20

MFSA Issues Amendments to Insurance Business Rules

30/06/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

03/07/20

Maltese Public Companies make the shift to remote General Meetings

15/07/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

18/07/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

14/08/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

27/08/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

11/09/20

Financial Services and Fintech Update

26/09/20

Convergence in Law. The focus of the EU Digital Financial Package on technology assurance & new regulations on technology providers.

02/10/20

Electronic Money Institution Licensing in Malta

06/10/20

Collective Investment Scheme Setup in Malta

07/10/20

Financial Services and Fintech Updates

10/10/20

The Impact of Regulatory Sandboxes and Innovation Hubs in the FinTech Sphere

13/10/20

Financial Services and Fintech Updates

24/10/20

EU Approves New Crowdfunding Services Regulation

03/11/20

Financial Services and Fintech Updates

07/11/20

Financial Services and Fintech Updates

20/11/20

The Chimera of Legal Certainty under the proposed Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)

28/11/20

Financial Services and Fintech Updates

04/12/20

Chambers and Partners FinTech Legal Rankings 2021 – GTG Advocates retains Firm and Top Lawyer Ranking

11/12/20

Financial Services & FinTech Updates

19/12/20

Transfer of Virtual Financial Assets Becomes a Licensable Service in Malta

17/03/21

Financial Services & FinTech Updates

23/03/21

Related Publications

Qualifying Employment in Innovation and Creativity Programme

28/09/16

Highly Qualified Persons Programme

28/09/16

Global Residence Programme

28/09/16

At GTG we cater for the specific needs of our client – be it a private, commercial, investment, merchant, universal, or specialised bank.

Our activities cover both regulatory and operational work, providing assistance in the areas of:

The set-up of appropriate procedures and structures in compliance with Maltese legislation
The Licensing Requirements and Licensing Process
Transactions and banking operations
Loan documentation
Confidentiality
The provision of banking services on the internet
Derivatives