O.G. 46

29.4.2002

 

                       

 

BANKING LAW

OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

 

Law No :39/2001

 

      Notification under articles (5), (6), (8), (10), and (42)

 

The Central Bank of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with the powers entrusted under articles (5), (6), (8), (10), and (42) of the Banking Law 39/2001, determines the following provisions with this notification.

 

Short Title       

1- The notification may be cited as “ Establishment, opening of a branch and licensing of Banks”.

 

Interpretation  

2- Unless required otherwise in the text of this Notification

                       

“Law” shall mean the Banking Law of 39/2001,

 

“Central Bank” shall mean the Central Bank of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,

 

“Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,

 

Purpose          

3- The purpose of this notification, is to determine the rules and procedures

And      

relating to application for acquiring a permit to establish a bank, transfer of

Scope  

shares, permission for establishment and opening of a branch, acquiring a banking license and to establish branches and representative offices in other countries according to articles (5), (6), (7), (8), (10) and (42) of the Banking Law 39/2001.   

 

                                              

Provisions For Establishment

 

Establishment

4(1) a- Banks are established as Limited Company in the TRNC

                 

 

b- Foreign banks which will operate in TRNC, must be a Corporation,  Limited or of an equivalent statute, depending on the legislation of their countries.

 

 

c- The number of shareholders of the Banks established in TRNC shall not be less  than 10.

 

 

d- For the branches of  foreign Banks, limitations of subsection(c) are not required.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applications for Establishment and Transfer of Shares

 

Documents

to be

Included in

the

Application

Form

5- For establishing a bank, the following documents shall be enclosed with applications to be submitted to the Central Bank;

 

 

a) A statement to be prepared and signed in presence of a notary public by founders according to the sample documents enclosed within the Regulation (Annex 1 and Annex 2),

 

           

b) Draft Articles of Association of the partnership signed by shareholders,

 

 

c) A detailed feasibility report analyzing the benefit expected from the establishment of the bank, and a report including an estimated balance sheet and profit-loss account indicating targets for 3 (three) years starting from establishment, the amount and source of money required for increasing the bank’s capital,

 

 

d) A document to be issued by a Basic Commercial Court of TRNC or by an Enforcement Court of the countries that founders are citizens of, and real persons and  legal entities holding indirectly 10% (ten percent) or more shares of the capital are not bankrupt and have not entered into composition with creditors,

 

 

e) A record of convictions to be received in the last six months from the Directorate General of Judicial Records and Statistics or Public Prosecutor’s Office by real person founders and other real persons owning indirectly 10% (ten percent) or more shares of capital,

 

 

f) A copy of the document showing the decision rendered by an authorized board of legal entity founders on becoming a shareholder of the bank to be established,

 

 

g) A declaration to be made by founders, real persons and legal entities holding indirectly 10% (ten percent) or more shares in the capital, to the effect that they had not held directly or indirectly a share of ten percent or more in the banks until the date of liquidation or  transfer to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, (Annex 3),

 

 

h) A declaration to be made by founders, real persons and legal entities holding indirectly 10% (ten percent) or more shares of capital, to the effect that they do not own directly or indirectly a share of 10% (ten percent) or more in banks, insurance companies and institutions operating in money and capital markets which are subject to liquidation (Annex 3),

 

 

i) A copy of the Registrars Office report relating to the establishment of legal entity founders; lists indicating shareholders, rate and amount of shares and preference shares if any; detailed explanations about the line of business, fields of investment and operation; balance sheets and profit-loss accounts for the last 3 (three years) approved by a certified financial adviser  and a report drawn up by an internationally recognized rating company for legal entity founders which are banks or other financial institutions including also the rating, if any,

 

           

j) Schedules showing legal person partners of legal entity founders and shareholders and number of shares held by legal persons having shares in the capital of these partners as an indication of indirect share ownership in the capital,

 

 

k) Documents to be obtained from relevant tax departments and Social Insurance Institutions to the effect that founders and real persons and legal entities indirectly holding a share of 10% (ten percent) or more in the capital, have no tax and premium debts that have become due,

 

 

l) Income and corporation tax returns and annexes thereof for the last five years filed by founders and approved by tax departments; real estate tax returns filed  for real estate owned by founders and approved by relevant units of municipalities;  real estate register entries relating to these real estates to be obtained from real estate registration offices and a document indicating the annotations and restrictions on such real estate,

 

 

m) Documents issued by the relevant banks and addressed to the Central Bank of TRNC, bearing the same date each, to substantiate the information provided about deposit and credit accounts in declarations made by founders subscribing 10% (ten percent) or more of the capital, including also the date on which these accounts were opened,

 

 

n) A report to be drawn up by certified financial advisers on the financial standing of founders subscribing 10% (ten percent) or more of the capital,

 

 

o) Detailed curriculum vitae of real person founders, holders of preference shares, other real persons owning indirectly 10% (ten percent) or more of the capital, and members of the board of directors and the general director if appointed, including also information about whether or not they have been employed in a financial institution in the last 10 (ten) years,

 

 

p) Copies of powers of attorney issued to person(s) authorized to represent real persons or legal entity founders,

 

 

r) A letter of undertaking to be issued and signed according to the sample document in (Annex 4) by founders subscribing 10% (ten percent) or more shares of the capital, to the effect that they have provided the necessary capital from their commercial, industrial and other legal operations free of any simulation.

 

Documents

Regarding

Transfer

of Shares        

6 - For the transfer of shares according to article 6(2) of the Banking Law, the real persons and corporate bodies who will acquire the capital shares of a bank should also include the following documents in addition to article 5 of this

notification.

           

 

 

 

a) Information of the source of money in acquiring the shares.

 

 

b) A copy of the agreement  between the buyers and sellers for the transfer of shares.

 

Establishment

of a bank

or Taking

Over the

Shares of an

Existing

7 - The following documents should be enclosed with the application to be filed      with the Central Bank of  TRNC by banks and financial institutions incorporated abroad in order to establish a bank or to take over the shares of an existing bank in TRNC or to  establish the first branch in TRNC of a bank established abroad;

Bank in           

a) Articles of Association of the Bank or financial institution,

TRNC by

 

Banks or

Financial

Institutions

Established      

Abroad

b) A copy of the document showing the decision taken by their authorized board on the establishment of a bank or taking over the shares of an existing bank in TRNC or the establishment of a branch in TRNC,

           

 

                       

c) A detailed feasibility report analyzing the benefit expected from the establishment of the bank or taking over the shares or opening of a branch and a report indicating targets for 3 (three) years and including an estimated balance sheet and profit-loss accounts, and the amount and source of money required for increasing the bank’s capital if necessary,

 

 

d) Balance sheet and profit-loss accounts of the bank or financial institution for the last five years and independent auditors reports issued by authorized agencies,

 

 

e) Detailed information and documents about the shareholders of the bank or financial institution, organization and organizational structure outside the country where it is established and operations in international financial markets and a report drawn up by an internationally recognized rating company about the bank or financial institution including also the rating envisaged,

 

 

f) A document obtained from the relevant official authorities to the effect that the bank or financial institution has not been prohibited from accepting deposits or conducting banking transactions and/or that no restrictions have been placed on its operations in the country where it is established or operates,

 

 

g) Minutes of the most recent general assembly meeting of the bank or financial institution and a list of shareholders holding an interest of more than 10% (ten percent) in the capital, approved by competent authorities of the country where the head office of the bank or financial institution is located,

 

 

h) A letter of undertaking shall be submitted to the Central Bank of TRNC which reports the examinations to be made annually by an authorized independent auditing company pursuant to the legislation of the country where the head office of the bank or financial institution is located.

 

Additional

Documents      

8 - The Central Bank of TRNC shall be authorized to demand additional information and documents it may deem necessary, according to articles 5, 6, and 7 of this notification.

           The article 5 of this notification is comparatively applicable to the information and documents presented by foreign nationals.

           

 

Establishment, Opening of a Branch in TRNC, Banking License

 

Permission

To Establish

a Bank or to    

Open a

Branch in

TRNC

9- Permission to establish a bank or open a branch in TRNC shall be given by a decision taken by an affirmative vote of at least 4 (four) members of the Board of the Central Bank. After obtaining all the necessary documents for application and the decision for establishment is taken by the Board of the Central Bank, with request of the Central Bank, the minimum capital must be blocked in an account within the Central Bank. With this procedure completed, the Central Bank seals its decision in a week and removes the blockage. A permission so granted will be notified to the persons concerned and published in the Official Gazette by the Central Bank. A banking license to operate should also be received following the consummation of establishment or branch opening transactions, in order to start receiving deposits and/or conducting banking transactions. A permission granted to establish a bank or to open a branch in the TRNC shall be invalid in the event of failure to operate within six months from the date on which permission is given.

 

License           

10- a) Following the consummation of transactions for establishment and opening of a branch in TRNC according to the provisions of pertinent legislation and completion of transactions relating to registration with the Registrars Office, an application shall be filed with the Central Bank submitting a statement to be issued according to the sample document in (Annex 5) to receive authorisation to accept deposits and/or to conduct banking transactions. An application to receive a Banking License should be filed , by taking into consideration of the six month period, starting from the date on which persons concerned are notified of the Board’s Decision in the Official Gazette and by the end of 3. (third) month at the latest after granting the permission for establishment and opening of a branch in TRNC.

 

    

b)  The Central Bank shall examine whether the capital of applying bank to receive a Banking License has been paid in cash, free of any simulation, whether it has technical equipment and adequate personnel to conduct the transactions relating to accepting of deposits or conducting banking activities, whether executive personnel meet the legal requirements and are adequate in number, whether necessary arrangements have been made relating to the management of the bank and internal audit, and following an evaluation, the Board shall grant a Banking License for accepting deposits and/or to conduct banking transactions. Permissions so granted shall be valid as of the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

 

 

c) A document must be included in the application form,  indicating that the $20.000.- (twenty thousand US Dollars) equivalent of Turkish Lira as the  License fee, has been  deposited into a treasury account opened within the Central Bank.

                            

 

d) For the renewal of Banking Licenses, Each Bank should deposit a $10.000.- (Ten thousand US dollars) equivalent of Turkish Lira into a Treasury account opened within the Central Bank by the end of January of each year.

 

 

Opening of Branches or Representative Offices, Forming of or Participating in Partnerships Abroad by Banks established in TRNC

 

 

Permission      

And

Requirements  

Of Opening

Of Branches

Representative   

Offices

and     

Participating

In Partnerships 

Abroad

11- Opening of branches or representative offices, forming of or participating in partnerships abroad by banks established in TRNC shall be subject to the permission of the Central Bank. Applications to receive permission shall be filed with the Central Bank accompanied by a report including a detailed statement of reasons for opening of a branch or representative office, forming or participating in a partnership abroad. Applications to be made by banks failing to meet the requirements of standard ratios currently in force, having inadequate capital and reserve, or those which have restrictions imposed on  their organisational structures, shall be rejected.

 

Provisional

Article             

1- As from the date this notification comes into force, those banks already operating in TRNC, unless they increase their Capital and Reserve according to article 12 of the Law, must get the permission of the Central Bank to open a new branch.

 

17.6.76

O.G. 133

Number 46     

12- As from the date this notification comes into force,  the notification published under article 4. (2) (b) of  the Law 11/76, shall be repealed.

 

Coming

Into

Force  

13- This Notification shall be effective as from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                              ANNEX-1

 

                   Declaratýon for bank founders/share assIgnees

(Corporate bodies)

 

 

 

 

CORPORATE BODY’S:                                                

 

 

TRADENAME                                     :                                               

 

 

HEAD OFFICE & DATE OF

 ESTABLISHMENT                           :

 

 

CAPITAL

(with explanation)

 

 

ADDRESS                                           :

 

 

FIELD OF ACTIVITY                        :

 

 

Some balance sheet fýgures FOR the LAST FIVE YEARS (tl BILLION)

YEARS

NET PROFIT (LOSS) (1)

OWN FUNDS

TOTAL ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTICIPATIONS/SUBSIDIARIES (2)

 

TRADENAME OF COMPANY

FIELD OF ACTIVITY

CAPITAL

AMOUNT OF SHARE

1

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

8