• Retail vs. Wholesale

    • LR-1.2.1

      Depending on the nature of activities undertaken, conventional bank licensees must be licensed either as a conventional retail bank licensee or as a conventional wholesale bank licensee. The same legal entity may not hold both types of license.

    • LR-1.2.2

      The nature of activities allowed under each license sub-category is specified below (cf. Rule LR-1.2.4ff). The conventional retail bank licensee category replaces the Full Commercial Bank (conventional principles) category that existed prior to July 2006; the conventional wholesale bank licensee category replaces the Offshore Banking Unit and Investment Bank License (conventional principles) categories.

    • LR-1.2.3

      Banks licensed prior to the introduction of these new license categories in July 2006 are not required to reapply for their license. Rather, their new license category is to be confirmed by an exchange of letters with the BMA, and the issuance of a new license certificate. Where (prior to July 2006) the same legal entity holds multiple licenses, the BMA will agree transitional measures aimed at rationalizing the number of licenses held.