Liechtenstein: Banking & Finance

The main governmental authority relevant for financial regulation in Liechtenstein is the Ministry for General Government Affairs and Finance, and in particular the Office for International Financial Affairs (Stabsstelle für Finanzplatzinnovation).

The local competent supervisory authority is the Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein (FMA). The legal mandate of the authority is to safeguard the stability and functioning of the Liechtenstein financial market, the protection of clients, the prevention of market abuse, and the implementation of and compliance with recognized international standards.

As the Principality of Liechtenstein is an active member of the European Economic Area (EEA), European law heavily influences financial regulation in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein Banks are primarily regulated under the Liechtenstein Banking Act (BA) and Banking Ordinance (BO). The BA and BO transpose and complement the partly directly applicable European regulatory framework covering banks and investment firms (in particular the CRD/CRR framework as well as the European MIFID II/MIFIR framework).

The BA stipulates licensing requirements for banks and investment firms and thus does not only cover banking activities, but also the provision of investment services and ancillary services under MIFID II. Licensing requirements under the BA are triggered, if the following activities are conducted on a commercial basis:

1. acceptance of deposits and other repayable funds;
2. lending of third-party funds to an indeterminate group of borrowers;
3. custody business;
4. provision of investment services and ancillary services (MIFID II/MIFIR) as well as the execution of other off-balance-sheet banking transactions;
5. the issuance of electronic money;
6. the assumption of guarantees, warranties and other liabilities for others, insofar as the assumed obligation is to make cash payments;
7. trading in foreign currencies for own account or for the account of third parties.

The BA distinguishes between banks and investment firms. Different licenses are available for investment firms, depending on the specific services provided. Lower regulatory requirements and approval standards may apply, if an investment firm provides only a limited spectrum of services (e.g. do not deal on own account with financial instruments or underwrite issues of financial instruments on a firm commitment basis).

A license under the BA is always issued based on a specific business model and scope of services and does not automatically cover the provision of all services and activities. Generally, however, a banking license may cover the provision of investment services and the issuance of e-money. Banks do not require a separate license under the payment services act.

There is no specific sandbox model or light license comparable to other jurisdictions. However, the FMA has established a FinTech competence team (fintech[at]fma-li.li) and is known to support and accompany FinTechs during the licensing process as well for its constructive exchange with innovative financial service providers.

Liechtenstein is known to be a crypto and FinTech friendly jurisdiction. The financial center welcomes and encourages the research and development of crypto-based business models and financial solutions.

Dealings in crypto-currencies may be subject to licensing requirements, if they fall within the scope of financial markets regulation, e.g. if the respective currency qualifies as financial instrument or security under Liechtenstein law. Virtual currencies do not constitute an official currency, but, depending on the specific design of the token or coin, may qualify as security, financial instrument or other form of asset as the case may be.

Sales of token, however, which qualify as security under Liechtenstein law, require compliance with the respective legal framework for a public offering of securities. Other potentially applicable rules or regulations depend on the individual circumstances, business activity and instruments involved.

The issuing and sale of token that do not qualify as financial instrument or security under Liechtenstein law, is subject to the Act on Tokens and Trustworthy Technology Service Providers (otherwise known as the “Blockchain Act”) and its requirements. The bill does not only address the issuance or custody of crypto currencies, but also deals with tokenization of assets and generally seeks to provide for a functioning legal environment for businesses, transactions and investments related to crypto currencies. The bill, however, does not address activities subject to traditional banking and financial regulation. As Liechtenstein is part of the EEA, the Liechtenstein legal environment will be influenced by legal developments on a European level.

Banking licenses are issued by the FMA. The FMA offers a voluntary preliminary application process in which it checks the application for “red flags”. The preliminary application process does not require the original documents later needed for the definitive application.

Upon receipt of the definitive application, the FMA issues an acknowledgement of receipt. The duration of the approval procedure depends primarily on the conclusiveness and completeness of the information and documents specified in the application. Any rejection must be notified to the applicant within six months of receipt of the application or, if the application is incomplete, within six months of submission of the required information. In any event, a decision shall be taken within twelve months of receipt of the application.

The licensing procedure triggers supervisory fees in the amount of CHF 100.000 for banks and CHF 30.000 for investment firms.

An activity in Liechtenstein on a cross border basis by an EEA bank/investment firm is possible and requires a notification with the home country authority (“passporting”). The Liechtenstein Banking Act, however, does not provide for cross-border licenses for third country (non-EEA) banks/investment firms and in lack of an MIFID II equivalency decision by the European Commission a general MIFID II third country passport for such entities is currently not available. Third country intermediaries must therefore establish a branch in Liechtenstein and obtain a respective license. Branches of a non-EEA bank operating under a branch license within the EEA may not provide services on a cross border basis.

Under Liechtenstein law banks may be organised as a stock company (AG) or as a European company (Societas Europea – SE). Under certain circumstances, the FMA can approve of other legal forms. The commonly used legal form is the stock company.

As banks are subject to regulation and prudential supervision, the organizational requirements for banks are heavily influenced by European law and supervisory guidance. A business plan must outline the details of the organisation. Generally, the bank must have a sound internal organisation and a proper business operation, whereas organisational requirements are applied with regard to the size of the institution and the nature of its business and the services provided.

The bank must have its head office in Liechtenstein and must be organised in a permitted legal form, thus as a stock company (AG) or European company (Societas Europea – SE). The minimum initial capital of a bank under Liechtenstein law amounts to at least 10 million Swiss francs. Furthermore, there is a requirement to have an investor compensation scheme in place as well as appropriate procedures for employees to report violations of the Banking Act and the CRR.

The board of directors must consist of at least 3 members; there must be two managing directors who exercise joint responsibility for their activities and who may not simultaneously be members of the Board of Directors. Key personnel must be fit and proper and thus must be sufficiently qualified with respect to their education and experience in the sector and must be of good repute. The law further requires for example an internal audit department, a compliance function and a risk management system independent of operational business. Shareholders with qualifying holdings are subject to an eligibility requirement.

Further details regarding the banks organization are provided by law and regulatory guidelines. As mentioned above, lower regulatory requirements and approval standards may apply, if not a full banking license, but an investment firm license with only a limited spectrum of services is obtained.

The CRD IV/CRR provisions on remuneration apply, which cover the remuneration of certain employee categories and high-income personnel, fixed and variable remuneration as well as organizational aspects.

As Liechtenstein is part of the EEA, EU legislation, which is transposed into the EEA Agreement is either directly applicable or is transposed into Liechtenstein law. Further, the Liechtenstein FMA regularly follows guidance by European regulators (such as the European securities and markets authority ESMA or the European banking authority EBA). Liechtenstein has implemented and fully complies with the CRD IV/CRR framework, which reflects the Basel III standards. The CRD has been transposed into national law and the CRR (EU) No 575/2013 as well as the associated implementing and delegated acts are legally binding and applied accordingly.

See our answer above under section 12.

See our answer above under section 12.

Yes, banks have to draw up and publish an annual report, annual disclosure report and, if applicable a consolidated annual report and a cash flow statement. Banks and investment firms with a balance sheet total of at least CHF 100 mio must also prepare interim financial statements every six months.

Yes. The provisions of the CRD/CRR and MIFID II framework apply as well as the provisions on financial conglomerates.

The BA stipulates specific approval requirements. The Liechtenstein FMA applies them in line with the Joint Guidelines on the prudential assessment of the acquisition and increase of qualifying holdings in the financial sector (JC/GL/2016/01) of 20 December 2016, issued jointly by EBA, EIOPA and ESMA.

Persons interested in the direct or indirect acquisition of a qualifying holding in a bank or investment firm must notify this intent to the FMA in writing. Further, any intended direct or indirect increase of a qualifying holding must be notified if, as a result of the increase, the thresholds of 20%, 30% or 50% in the capital or voting rights of the bank or investment firm are reached or exceeded, or if the bank or investment firm would become a subsidiary of an acquirer.

The FMA examines the suitability of the proposed acquirer and the soundness of the intended acquisition or increase and may object, if the influence of the acquirer could impair the prudent and sound management of the target. If a participation is acquired or increased despite an objection by the FMA, the voting rights of the acquirer may not be exercised until the objection has been amended or revoked by appeal or the objection has been withdrawn by the FMA. A cast vote in spite of an objection is null and void.

Yes. In the process described above, the suitability of the proposed acquirer is assessed. This includes inter alia the following aspects

• shareholder structure and beneficial owners
• good repute and experience of any person who, as a result of the acquisition or increase, will direct the bank or investment firm;
• the financial soundness of the proposed acquirer;
• potential risks with regard to compliance with regulatory requirements and effectiveness of supervision and exchange of information with competent authorities,
• potential risks with regard to money laundering or terrorist financing.

See our answers 17 and 18. No additional specific restrictions apply.

See our answer above under section 12.

The FMA is authorized to issue injunctions and impose sanctions. These include a withdrawal of the license and dissolution of a bank or investment firm. Further sanctions, such as penal provisions depend on the type of violation. For example, anyone who performs banking activities without a license, operates a representative office without a license or operates a branch without a license may be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or with a monetary penalty of up to 360 daily rates. Further, anyone who engages in activities by virtue of the free movement of services (within the EEA) before the respective preconditions have been met shall be punished with imprisonment of up to six months or with a monetary penalty of up to 180 daily rates. The amount of the daily rates depends to the economic capacity of the party concerned.

Liechtenstein has transposed the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive 2014/59/EU (BRRD) into national law in the Law on Recovery and Resolution of Banks and Investment Firms (Sanierungs- und Abwicklungsgesetz/”SAG”).

Banks and investment firms are obliged to join a self-regulation body or participate in a foreign protection scheme for the purpose of deposit protection. The self-regulation body is subject to approval by the FMA. The majority of regulated intermediaries in Liechtenstein has joined the Deposit Guarantee and Investor Compensation Foundation SV (Einlagensicherungs- und Anlegerentschädigungsstiftung, EAS)

Yes. Liechtenstein has transposed the BRRD into national law, which inter alia encompasses a bail-in tool as possible resolution mechanism.

Liechtenstein has transposed the CRD IV/CRR framework as well as the BRRD, which reflect the TLAC standard, into national law.

FinTech and blockchain related regulatory efforts remain a topical matter. On a legislative level the Blockchain Act (TVTG) has recently been enacted. This trend continues on the supervisory level, where the FMA has installed a specialized practice group for FinTech-related financial services (www.fma-li.li/en/regulation/fintech-in-liechtenstein.html). Other trends are widely influenced by European financial markets regulation and supervisory activity.

In spite of being challenged by the rapid regulatory development in recent years and its small size, Liechtenstein has maintained a high-level of quality and flexibility when it comes to financial services and supervision. Qualified workforce is in high demand and in this regard Liechtenstein is competing with financial centers all over the world. The ability to attract qualified workforce will be an important factor to remain competitive.