Ownership & funding
Explain the group structure, beneficial owners, proposed funding and financial resources.
BRIS GROUP · Banking licence support
Offshore banking
licence support.
Planning a banking business? Start with your proposed activities, ownership and operating model. BRIS GROUP helps you explore licensing routes and coordinate application preparation.
Plan the regulated business
A banking project begins
with its operating model.
A banking licence authorises specified banking activities within the scope set by the relevant jurisdiction and regulator. The description “offshore” does not create a universal licence category or permission to operate worldwide. The intended services, clients and markets need to be considered together.
If you need an account for an existing company, visit our business bank account support page. This service concerns establishing a licensed banking business.
Application planning
Build the application around a viable bank.
The exact requirements depend on the jurisdiction and licence. These are key areas to prepare for discussion.
Management & governance
Identify proposed directors, senior management and the experience relevant to their roles.
Business plan
Define your services, customers, markets, operating model and financial projections.
Capital & financial resilience
Assess the capital, liquidity and funding needs of the proposed operation under the applicable requirements.
Risk & internal controls
Prepare the approach to risk management, financial crime controls, internal oversight and reporting.
Operational readiness
Plan staff, premises, systems, security, outsourcing and the resources needed to operate.
International background: Basel Core Principles — licensing criteria. Local legislation and the licensing authority’s requirements determine the applicable process.
Our role
Coordinate the preparation.
Clarify the next steps.
Discuss the project
Share your proposed services, markets, owners, management and available resources.
Explore potential routes
We discuss the jurisdictions and licensing services relevant to the proposed model.
Agree the engagement
We confirm our service scope, fees and the professional input needed for the project.
Prepare & coordinate
We assist with organising application information and coordinating agreed next steps and follow-up requests.
The authority decides whether to grant a licence and sets its scope and conditions. BRIS GROUP does not guarantee approval, processing times, correspondent banking relationships or access to payment systems.
Common questions
Before committing to a jurisdiction.
Is incorporating a company enough to start a bank?
No. Incorporation and banking authorisation are separate steps. The permissions and conditions relevant to your planned activities must be established before operations begin.
How much capital will the project need?
There is no single amount for every jurisdiction or business model. Consider regulatory capital, operating resources, technology, staffing and professional costs. Specific figures require a defined jurisdiction and proposed licence.
Can one licence cover international customers?
The licence’s scope and the requirements in the markets you intend to serve must be assessed. A licence in one jurisdiction does not automatically authorise activity in another.
Does a licence guarantee correspondent banking or payment access?
No. Banking partners and payment system operators have their own admission, risk and due diligence processes.
What happens after licensing?
A bank must continue meeting applicable supervisory requirements and licence conditions. Ongoing governance, capital, controls, reporting and operational resources should be planned from the outset.
Discuss your proposed banking business
Start with the details of your project.
Tell us the intended activities, target markets, preferred jurisdiction, ownership and management structure, available resources and proposed timetable.