With the communiqué published in the Official Gazette dated January 30, 2025, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey redefined the minimum equity requirements of payment and electronic money institutions. This regulation will be effective as of June 30, 2025.
According to the new regulation, the minimum equity amounts have been updated as follows
- Payment institutions intermediating bill payments:
While the previous minimum equity amount was TRY 10 million, this amount has been increased to TRY 15 million with the new regulation.
- Other payment institutions:
The minimum shareholders’ equity amount, which was previously TL 20 million, has been updated to TL 30 million.
- Electronic money institutions:
The minimum shareholders’ equity amount, which was previously TL 55 million, has been increased to TL 80 million with the new regulation.
These updates aim to increase the financial soundness of payment and electronic money institutions and reinforce confidence in the sector. These institutions are required to comply with the new minimum equity requirements by June 30, 2025.
What is Equity?
Equity is defined in Article 32 of the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers. Pursuant to the relevant article of the Regulation, shareholders’ equity is the amount of capital that financial institutions are required to hold, which is calculated by deducting the balance sheet items specified in this paragraph from the total of the balance sheet items specified in the second paragraph.
What is the Minimum Equity Obligation?
It is the minimum amount of capital that payment and electronic money institutions are required to hold according to the service they provide in accordance with the Communiqué. Minimum equity requirements are regulated in Article 33 of the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers. This amount is updated every year in January by publishing a communiqué. Equity calculations of payment and electronic money institutions are made in June and December each year.
You can access the relevant communiqué here.
