Financial Services Licensing

Every financial license type issued by the RFSA — banking classes, fintech, trusts, funds, brokerage — what each permits, and how to apply.


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The Roatán Financial Services Authority (RFSA) is the licensing and supervisory body for financial institutions and fintech companies in Próspera ZEDE. If you want to offer banking, fintech, or other financial services under Próspera's jurisdiction, the RFSA is your starting point. The full licensing catalogue is published on the official Licensing Services page.

Under Financial Regulation A and FinTech Regulation A, entities engaging in regulated financial or fintech activities must be properly licensed, registered, or noticed with the RFSA. Licensing grants a safe-harbor regime, regulatory certainty, and legal recognition to operate under Próspera rules.

License Types

License / RegistrationRFSA RequirementWhat it covers
Class A Bank — "Lending-only Bank"LicenseCredit from the licensee's own capital: term loans, revolving credit, asset-backed loans, factoring, venture debt. No public deposits or payment accounts.
Class B Bank — "100%-Reserve Bank"LicenseDeposit accounts fully backed by cash or high-quality liquid assets; payment accounts, stored-value cards, remittances, FX at par. No fractional lending.
Class C Bank — "Commercial Bank"LicenseTraditional fractional-reserve banking: deposit-taking and lending, mortgages, credit cards, treasury services, trade finance, correspondent banking.
Class D Bank — "Micro-finance Bank"LicenseLending and deposits only from Honduran natural or legal persons: micro-loans, village savings groups, local payment accounts.
Money TransmitterLicenseDomestic and cross-border remittances, currency exchange, fiat–crypto ramps, mobile money, crypto ATMs, payment rails for other fintechs.
Non-Banking LenderLicensePersonal/commercial loans, microfinance, buy-now-pay-later, invoice factoring, peer-to-peer lending platforms — without taking deposits.
Investment CompanyLicenseStructuring and managing investment funds, portfolio management, private placements and public offerings, SPVs. Requires USD 100,000 capital or substitute.
Issuer of a Public OfferingRegistrationIssuing securities to the public with an Offering Memorandum; listed in the Financial Products Registry. Must be a licensed Investment Company or a sponsored Próspera resident.
Private PlacementsExempt noticeOfferings to Próspera residents, accredited, and sophisticated investors only — no public marketing. Notice to the RFSA within 15 days of the first sale or offer.
Private FundExempt noticePooled investment vehicles for eligible private investors, not listed for public sale.
Trust Company (Class I)LicenseProfessional trustee services with assets over USD 10 million, unlimited trusts, general public. Requires USD 100,000 capital or a mix of insurance and promissory note.
Trust Company (Class II)LicenseUp to USD 10 million in trust assets and 50 trusts; lighter capital and reporting (USD 50,000 capital or reduced substitute).
Private Trust CompanyRegistrationServes up to 5 family or business groups; cannot advertise or serve the public.
Escrow AgentLicenseHolding client funds or assets in escrow for real estate, M&A, token sales, crowdfunding, and settlements.
Crowdfunding PlatformLicenseCrowdfunding, tokenized-asset, and digital-securities platforms; P2P lending marketplaces; real-estate fractional ownership.
Alternative Transaction System (ATS)LicensePrivate blockchain payment networks, stable-coin ecosystems, closed-loop currencies, layer-2 micropayment systems.
Brokerage of Financial InstrumentsLicenseCrypto exchanges and OTC desks, securities and FX brokerage, placement agency, market making. Cannot hold client assets without a Custody or Escrow license.
Order RoutingLicenseSmart order routers, algo-trading execution, best-bid aggregation, white-label API gateways.
Credit Advisory and Investment AdvisoryLicenseRobo-advice, wealth management, debt counselling, research and recommendations, loan-origination platforms without balance-sheet risk.
Custody of Financial InstrumentsLicenseCold-storage/multi-sig crypto custody, segregated client asset accounts, settlement and clearing, collateral management.

How to Apply

  1. Choose your regulatory framework — elect to be governed under Próspera Financial Regulation A or Próspera FinTech Regulation A, depending on your business model. The election is made by notifying the General Service Provider (GSP) and including it in your regulatory filings.

  2. Submit your license application — complete the RFSA Licensing Application Form with your business plan, proof of residency or registration in Próspera, compliance protocols (e.g. AML), and applicable disclosures.

  3. Undergo review — the RFSA reviews your submission, may request additional documentation, and may issue published administrative actions setting out specific licensing or reporting requirements.

  4. Receive your permit — once approved, you receive a Regulated Industry Permit. You must maintain good standing, file required reports, and comply with RFSA administrative actions.

Ongoing Compliance

Licensed entities are subject to:

  • Anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism-financing (CTF) measures

  • Reporting requirements for certain transactions over $10,000

  • Cooperation with the Financial Intelligence Unit Liaison (FIUL)

  • Annual renewals and updates to regulatory status

The RFSA may inspect operations, issue summonses, or coordinate enforcement with the Próspera Entity Registry. See Roatán Financial Services Authority (RFSA) for the regulator itself and the underlying legal framework.

Note: This article does not substitute a qualified attorney and should not be construed as legal advice.

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