Payment and EMI licenses in Czech Republic – Important changes in Regulations

The PSD2 Directive has been implemented into Czech law by the new Act on Payment Systems, no. 370/2017 Coll., which will come into effect on 13 January 2018.

The Payment Systems Act introduces a number of new obligations for:

• Payment institutions and small-scale payment service providers.
• Electronic money institutions and small-scale electronic money issuers.
• Applicants for CNB licences, and
• Foreign payment service providers.

Small-scale payment service providers and small-scale electronic money issuers must comply with the new act within nine months, otherwise the CNB will revoke their licence.

They must, among other things:

1. Establish a system for managing security and operational risks and a system for handling complaints and user claims,
2. Demonstrate the credibility of entities having a qualified holding in them.
3. Payment institutions and electronic money institutions must comply with the new act within three months, otherwise the CNB will revoke the licence.

A new feature for CNB payment and electronic money institution licence applicants is that at least part of their business relating to the provision of payment services must be operated in the Czech Republic.

In addition, companies that provide on-line payment initiation services PIS – payment indirect order – and account information services AIS will now need to apply for a CNB licence.

All payment service providers are also required to make their business terms and all contractual documentation complaint with the act.

Moreover, we would like to inform you that the Financial Analytical Office focuses on the inspection of AML obligations, especially with payment service providers and service providers relating to cryptocurrencies.

The attorneys at SBSB have been involved in payment transactions for many years. We would be happy to assist you in implementing the new rules under the Payment Systems Act.