Malta is commonly known for its large iGaming sector, contributing around 12% to its GDP and hosting hundreds of gaming companies, including some of the largest and most well-known online casinos, online betting and lottery, as well as a number of B2B gaming software providers. Furthermore, and subject to a number of conditions and requirements, Malta is one of the few jurisdictions that allow interactive gaming providers to accept deposits and distribute prizes in crypto assets.
Besides its gaming industry, the country's favourable tax regime, with some of the lowest effective tax rates in the European Union, has attracted companies from other sectors such as fintech, pharmaceuticals, and technology.
Despite its small population, Malta also has a significantly large financial services sector. The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) regulates the banking, insurance, securities, and investment services sectors. It oversees the operations of financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and collective investment schemes. The MFSA also regulates the capital markets, trustees, and company service providers.
Its relatively sizable securities and forex industry contributes notably to its financial services sector, including numerous forex CFD brokers, investment firms, and financial services companies. While not as dominant as the gaming sector, the securities and forex industry plays a crucial role in diversifying Malta's economy and maintaining its reputation as a competitive financial hub in the European Union.
Malta also has a relatively large offshore banking sector, though it is not as large as the banking sectors in other European offshore financial giants, such as Luxembourg and Switzerland. The country’s banking sector is mostly made up of local banks although a few large international banking groups have a presence in Malta as well.
However, in line with EU directives, banks typically require companies to have economic substance in the jurisdiction where they claim they are resident such as local directors, local offices, and/or employees. Further, for nonresident companies, especially small and medium-sized companies, a commercial or investment nexus in Malta is oftentimes required (e.g. clients and suppliers in Malta).
Local banks in Malta include Bank of Valletta (BOV), APS Bank, Lombard Bank, Agribank, MeDirect (formerly Mediterranean Bank), FIMBank, and BNF Bank, among others.
Subsidiaries and branches of international banks include HSBC and Sparkasse, banks that operate on a global scale and have a presence in multiple countries, including Malta.
Our services in Malta focus on assisting local companies in opening corporate bank accounts in Malta for operational purposes.
We work with 3 different banks in Malta, each bank has different eligibility requirements, types of accounts available and onboarding processes.
We invite you to carefully review each banks requirements and services to better understand if their banking services meet your needs.
The Republic of Malta is a densely populated archipelago, located in the center of the Mediterranean, in the south of Italy, east of Tunisia and north of Libya. Malta is a former British colony, and currently a member of the European Union and the Commonwealth.
It has about half a million inhabitants. Its capital is Valletta, although its most populated urban center is Birkirkara, with over 22,000 inhabitants. Its official languages are Maltese and English. Since 2008 its legal tender currency is the Euro (EUR).
Malta has a House of Representatives, known in Maltese as Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti, which is elected by direct universal suffrage by simple transferable vote every five years unless the House is dissolved by the President in consultation with the Prime Minister.
The President of the Republic is elected every five years by the House of Representatives.
Malta is strategically located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea at a crossroads between Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Its economy depends mainly on tourism, foreign trade, serving as a transshipment port for ships, manufactures, especially electronics and textiles, and on its developed ICTs and financial clusters.
The country produces only 20% of the food it consumes. It also has limited reserves of fresh water and does not have its own sources of energy.
Film production is a growth factor for the Maltese economy, with several large-budget foreign films being shot annually.
The country has increased exports of many other types of services such as banking and finance. The financial sector has grown in recent years and managed to escape the economic crisis of 2008. Locally attributed to the stability of the country's banking sector and its prudent practices in granting loans.
It also stands out its fully developed mixed market economy and its low effective corporate tax compared to the European Union average, which encourages the location of foreign companies' headquarters.
Malta also has an approved EU citizenship by investment program, where it is possible in a period of 12 months, to be granted as Maltese citizen, through a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund, among other requirements.
Our banking support service is not just a mere introduction to the bank. We assist you in filling out the business questionnaires appropriately and help you understand and provide business details, commercial information and purpose/use of the bank account that a given bank wants to know in order to approve your account application. Banks want certainty and clarity on how the account will be used. Everything must be watertight. We will work with you to make sure there is minimal 'back and forth' and a smooth account opening process.
Bank Account opening requirements are subject to change at the discretion of the bank. There might be additional fees charged by the bank itself. Bank account opening is not guaranteed and is subject to the bank policies and compliance department. There might be restrictions on UBO nationalities, business activities and/or jurisdictions. A refund is available if the account is not successfully opened subject to our terms of service (20% to partly cover service and payment processing and administrative costs apply).