Licensing, approval proceedings and entry in the register – Payment service providers and electronic money issuers

The requirements for applications and notifications for the performance of activities of payment institutions, electronic money institutions, account information service providers, small-scale payment service providers and small-scale electronic money issuers submitted pursuant to Act No. 370/2017 Coll., on Payment Systems, are regulated by Decree No 1/2022 Coll., on applications and notifications to perform activities pursuant to the Payment System Act.

Applications can only be submitted electronically, either via a data box or by e-mail with a recognised electronic signature to the CNB’s at podatelna@cnb.cz (CNB contacts). The CNB recommends using the forms available below.

The CNB’s website also provides explanations and answers to frequently asked questions related to the performance of activities of persons carrying on activities under the Payment System Act. All relevant legislation and methodological information is also available in the Article Legislation – Payment institutions, electronic money institutions, small-scale payment service providers and small-scale electronic issuers (including additional English versions).

The Act

Decrees

Selected European Union legislation

  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2055 (external link) supplementing Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards for the cooperation and exchange of information between competent authorities relating to the exercise of the right of establishment and the freedom to provide services of payment institutions.

Official information and methodological documents

General EBA Guidelines

General EBA Guidelines on the information to be provided for the authorisation of payment institutions and electronic money institutions and the registration of account information service providers under Article 5(5) of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (external link).

Methodology

Methodology for assessing applications for authorisations for activities under the Payment System Act (pdf, 1 MB, available in Czech only).

Application forms and notifications

  1. Decree No 1/2022 Coll. (hereinafter referred to as “the Decree”) lists the requirements for applications for a permit to operate as a payment institution, electronic money institution or account information service provider. The CNB points out that the General Guidelines on applications for authorisation – see above – should be taken into account at the same time. These guidelines provide applicants with a more detailed overview of the data and facts relating to the information requested as set out in the Decree.
  2. Before completing the trustworthiness assessment form, it is necessary to familiarise yourself with the Official Information of the Czech National Bank on the interpretation of the concepts of trustworthiness (pdf, 255 KB), in particular with the criteria for assessing trustworthiness set out on page 6 of that Official Information. In the event of a positive answer to any of the questions in the trustworthiness assessment form, it is necessary to provide data and documents or propose other evidence that will enable the CNB to make the assessment referred to on page 6 of the Official Notice.

A. Payment institutions

B. Account information service provider

C. Electronic money institutions

D. Small-scale payment service provider

E. Small-scale electronic money issuer

F. Authorised representative

G. Dynamic currency conversion service provider