Banking and Financial Institutions

Effectively, Malta has moved from being an offshore to an onshore jurisdiction, providing a seamless framework that supports both domestic and international economic activity. CSB Group offers a wealth of experience in the licensing of financial services in Malta and assists clients throughout the entire licensing process.

Malta’s Financial Legislation

Following an overhaul of Malta’s financial legislation which was undertaken in earnest in the early 1990s, Malta has obtained international recognition as a stable financial services centre of repute.

The Maltese Financial Services Industry

Malta has succeeded in reforming its financial legislation in line with international best practice and was one of the first six countries in the world to reach an advanced accord on fiscal matters with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Today, Malta is actively involved with the OECD, the EU and the Commonwealth in modelling global regulatory policy.

The Maltese financial services industry has witnessed a rapid growth over the last decade, with over 6,000 people presently employed in the financial services sector (excluding law firms and accountancy firms), contributing a significant 12% to the country’s GDP. Financial services operators have benefited from a reduction in bureaucracy, streamlined procedures, lower fees and compliance costs and a consistent implementation of standards.

The Maltese government continues to evaluate and update relevant legislation and regulations, keeping it abreast of developments in the industry with a view to maintaining Malta’s competitiveness in this sector.

The Malta Financial Services Authority

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) was established by law on 23 July 2002 as Malta’s single regulator for banking, investment services, insurance and other financial services activity. It is a fully autonomous public institution and reports to Parliament on an annual basis.

The MFSA has taken over supervisory functions previously carried out by the Central Bank of Malta, the Malta Stock Exchange and the Malta Financial Services Centre. The MFSA manages and houses the Registry of Companies and has also taken over responsibility as the Listing Authority.

The three main organs of the Authority are the Board of Governors, responsible for policy and direction; the Supervisory Council, responsible for licensing, monitoring and supervision of financial services licence holders; and the Board of Management and Resources responsible for the day-to-day management, the finances of the Authority and for the general coordination of the Authority’s administrative affairs.