How to Build a Bank: A Guide to Key Bank Regulations, the License Application Process and Bank Risk Management

As has been proven time and again, banks are the single most important business institution in any economy. If they fail, the whole economy fails. How to Build a Bank sets out, in a manner that is completely unprecedented, all the requirements for the core documentation essential for the operation of a bank. The book takes the reader through the core requirements to operate a bank, and then provides actual examples of the relevant regulatory documentation required for the bank’s operation, the rationale for the documentation and the details and information required to complete the documentation. Each chapter of the book includes a template of the key regulatory documents required to operate a bank. The book thus simplifies a very complex area of regulatory and banking laws and rules to enable a better understanding of the banking sector and a better understanding of the key requirements for a successful long-term banking business. It is essential reading for bank executives, financial service executives, regulators, lawyers, accountants and professionals involved in bank and financial service authorisation and bank and financial service operations. It will also be very helpful for anyone wishing to understand how the most important business institutions in an economy work and the lessons that can be learned from understanding the detailed regulatory requirements to ensure their success and long-term viability.

Ravi Takhar is an Oxford educated banking lawyer and former investment banker. Ravi qualified as a banking lawyer at Clifford Chance, the leading international law firm and as an investment banker led the Principal Finance and Mortgage Securitisation teams at Nikko, the Japanese investment bank and Investec Bank PLC.

Ravi has served on the Board of three Stock Exchange Listed companies as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Non-Executive Director. He was involved in the banking licence process of a number of challenger banks, including Cambridge & Counties Bank, Kingdom Bank and Bank of Birmingham.

Ravi is currently CEO of Orchard Funding Group PLC, a finance company listed on London Stock Exchange since 2015. Orchard has been invited to submit its bank application by the PRA and FCA.