The purpose of this Guide is to enhance transparency for potential fintech bank applicants and increase their understanding of the procedure and criteria applied by the ECB in its assessment of licence applications. This transparency is also intended to facilitate the application process. The Guide is technology-neutral and seeks neither to support nor to discourage the entrance of fintech banks as market participants. The Guide does not have a legally binding nature and consists of a practical tool to support applicants and all entities involved in the process of authorisation to ensure a smooth and effective procedure and assessment.