Business accounts: Malta

Updated 6 October 2026

An honest assessment before work starts, the quote is fixed in writing.

We assess your chances against your profile, prepare the compliance file, help you present your source of funds properly and handle communication with the bank until it decides. The final decision always rests with the bank, and careful preparation improves the odds.

We quote the exact cost for this country after a short consultation: it depends on the bank and your residency. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.

A Maltese company: capital and taxes

A private company in Malta is formed with capital from €1,165, about $1,400, of which at least 20% is paid up at formation. Corporate tax is 35%, but after the 6/7 refund to the shareholder the final burden is usually 5%; since 2025 a company can opt for 15% without refunds for at least 5 years. VAT is 18%.

How opening a business account in Malta works

Stage	What happens	Timeline
1. Chances check	activity in Malta, staff, office, counterparties, industry	2-3 days
2. File	articles and register extract, structure up to the beneficial owners, business model, turnover, source of capital	1-2 weeks
3. Review	rounds of follow-up questions, a meeting with the director	weeks, longer for complex structures

Why accounts are declined

No link to Malta: no office, staff or local counterparties.
An opaque or multi-layered ownership structure.
A high-risk industry or counterparties in high-risk countries.

We prepare a file that answers the bank's questions in advance and handle onboarding until the decision. For the interim we set up a licensed EU payment institution with details for euro payments.

Reporting and deposit protection

Almost every Maltese company files annual financial statements with an auditor's report at the registry, and the bank asks for them at every client review. For financial periods starting on or after 1 January 2025, the smallest companies need only a review instead of a full audit if they do not exceed two of three thresholds: assets of EUR 46,600 (about $52,300), turnover of EUR 93,000 (about $104,200) and an average of 2 employees. Deposits in Maltese banks, as everywhere in the EU, are protected up to EUR 100,000, about $112,100, per depositor per bank.

What we do

Corporate account - opening assistance

FAQ

Can a Maltese company open a bank account?

Yes, but banks have become markedly stricter after a wave of de-risking and international scrutiny. Companies with real activity, local management and identifiable clients have a much easier time. Register a company and get an account the same week is no longer how it works here.

How long does a Maltese corporate account take?

Malta is known for slow onboarding: weeks is normal and complex structures take longer. Banks come back with rounds of follow up questions and extra document requests. Build in a buffer and do not schedule your launch around a promised date.

Why do Maltese banks reject applications?

Most often for a lack of connection to Malta, opaque ownership, a high risk industry or counterparty jurisdictions. Gambling, crypto and brokerage businesses have a particularly hard time despite being licensed in the country. The bank does not have to explain its reasoning.

Can I use an EMI instead of a Maltese bank?

Yes, many companies run day to day payments through EU licensed payment institutions with SEPA details. It is faster and more predictable, but there is no deposit guarantee, no credit and usually no full card acquiring. Regulated activities may still require a banking relationship.

What capital does a Maltese company need?

The minimum capital of a private company is €1,165, about $1,400, of which at least 20% is paid up at formation.

What tax does a company pay in Malta?

35%, but after the 6/7 refund to the shareholder the final burden is usually 5%. Since 2025 a company can opt for 15% without refunds for at least 5 years. VAT is 18%.

Does a Maltese company need an audit?

Almost always: financial statements with an auditor's report are filed with the registry every year. Since 2025 the smallest companies that do not exceed two of three thresholds - assets of EUR 46,600, turnover of EUR 93,000 and 2 employees - need only a review.

Need an account for your Malta company?

We compare Maltese banks and payment institutions on their substance requirements for your company, prepare the compliance pack and guide the opening. The catalogue covers every country.

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