Why is "real-required" capital often higher than the regulator number?

Banks need confidence you can absorb operational losses. The regulatory minimum is a floor — most acquirers, correspondents, and counterparties want to see 2-5x cover. PI insurance, reserves, and operational float are real additional costs.

Can I run on the cheapest jurisdiction and serve global customers?

No. A Curaçao licence cannot serve UK/EU residents legally post-MiCA and post-UKGC reforms. Cheap licences are useful as starter or secondary, not primary, for any meaningful regulated market.

Is "specialised bank" same as a real bank?

No. Lithuanian Specialised Bank licence (€1M) cannot offer the full deposit-taking and lending product set of a fully chartered bank. It is the cheapest credible EU bank route but with limits.

CalculatorUpdated May 2026

Capital Requirements by Activity & Jurisdiction

EMI, PSP, bank, sportsbook, casino, broker, crypto exchange — capital floors, segregation rules, setup time, annual cost.

Pick your activity. See every realistic jurisdiction with its capital floor, ongoing CAR, client-fund-segregation rule, setup time, and annual operating cost. The numbers banks actually want to see.

Activity

Jurisdiction	Capital	CAR	Funds	Setup	Annual
🇬🇧 UK	€350,000	2%	safeguarded	12 mo	€80,000
🇱🇹 Lithuania	€350,000	2%	safeguarded	9 mo	€60,000
🇲🇹 Malta	€350,000	2%	safeguarded	14 mo	€75,000
🇪🇪 Estonia	€350,000	2%	safeguarded	10 mo	€55,000

🇬🇧 UK

FCA EMI authorisation. Safeguarding requirement on relevant funds. Stricter than EU equivalents post-Brexit.

🇱🇹 Lithuania

Bank of Lithuania EMI licence. Most popular EU EMI jurisdiction with EU passport.

🇲🇹 Malta

MFSA EMI licence. Strong reputation, slower onboarding, strict substance.

🇪🇪 Estonia

EFSA EMI licence. Higher tech focus; banking access narrower than Lithuania.

Discuss these results with us.

We will look at your specific case, validate the numbers against our active banking partners, and give you a free, honest pre-approval read — usually within 24 hours.

⚠ For informational purposes only. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify with a qualified advisor before acting on any output.

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Methodology & sources

Data sourced from each regulator's capital handbook. Numbers reflect minimum statutory thresholds — bank-required capital is typically 2–5× higher.

Annual cost includes licence renewal, ongoing supervision, mandatory audit, and basic compliance officer cost. Excludes: tech, marketing, headcount.

This is a curated dataset. We add jurisdictions on request — let us know what you're missing.

Frequently asked questions

Why is "real-required" capital often higher than the regulator number?: Banks need confidence you can absorb operational losses. The regulatory minimum is a floor — most acquirers, correspondents, and counterparties want to see 2-5x cover. PI insurance, reserves, and operational float are real additional costs.
Can I run on the cheapest jurisdiction and serve global customers?: No. A Curaçao licence cannot serve UK/EU residents legally post-MiCA and post-UKGC reforms. Cheap licences are useful as starter or secondary, not primary, for any meaningful regulated market.
Is "specialised bank" same as a real bank?: No. Lithuanian Specialised Bank licence (€1M) cannot offer the full deposit-taking and lending product set of a fully chartered bank. It is the cheapest credible EU bank route but with limits.

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Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Licence fees, tax rates, and regulatory requirements change. You must consult a qualified advisor in each relevant jurisdiction before making any commercial or investment decision. GetBanked and BMC Strategic Inc accept no liability for decisions made on the basis of these calculations.