Bank set-up procedure and issuing of operating licences and consents

With regard to the implementation of provisions of the Law on Banks (RS Official Gazette, 107/2005, 91/2010 and 14/2015) and the Decision on Implementing the Provisions of the Law on Banks Relating to Granting of Preliminary Bank Founding Permit, Bank Operating Licence and Consents and Approvals by the National Bank of Serbia (RS Official Gazette, No 82/2015) – effective as of 6 October 2015, the National Bank of Serbia hereby announces the publication of the following:

  1. Guidelines for filing an application with the National Bank of Serbia for preliminary bank founding permit, bank operating licence and consent to acts of the founding assembly;
  2. Guidelines for filing an application with the National Bank of Serbia for prior consent to the acquisition of ownership in a bank – “purchase” of a bank licensed by the National Bank of Serbia;
  3. Guidelines for filing an application with the National Bank of Serbia for prior consent to the appointment of members of the managing and/or executive board.

Practice has shown that persons applying for the approvals and consents of the NBS to found a bank, buy a bank and/or become members of the managing and executive boards, find it difficult to procure the necessary supporting documents and are often not clear about the content of their mandatory elements. Considering the above, these guidelines are written from the viewpoint of the applicant. Each guideline starts with information about the stages of the procedure, decision-making deadlines and other particulars, followed by the list of documents to be enclosed with the application and a specification of the requirements to be met by the applicant. Also, each guideline is accompanied by annexes available for download, some of which represent instructions for drawing up specific documents to be enclosed with the application, while others are decision or statement templates.

Licensing Manual

By publishing these documents, the NBS hopes to improve the practice, develop a better understanding of regulations, and make the procedure simpler and more efficient for all interested persons.