The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan announced the “Draft Amendment to Article 18-1 of the Standards for the Establishment of Commercial Banks” on April 21, 2026. This amendment aims to relax the restriction on the aggregate shareholding ratio of financial industry shareholders for internet-only banks after they have been open for three years. It also simultaneously adjusts the regulations regarding the number of professional directors, reverting to the application of Article 9 of the “Regulations Governing Qualification Requirements and Concurrent Serving Restrictions and Matters for Compliance of Bank Responsible Persons.” Furthermore, considering the policy objectives behind establishing internet-only banks, the amendment still requires that at least one director must possess professional qualifications in fields such as financial technology (fintech), e-commerce, or telecommunications. 

According to the current provisions, the shareholding structure, director qualifications, and the number of directors of internet-only banks are strictly regulated during their initial stage of establishment. The purpose is to ensure that these banks fully understand and comply with financial regulatory frameworks in their early stages, balancing professional financial management capabilities with innovative development. 

However, considering that after three years of actual operation, the internal controls, legal compliance, and board governance functions of internet-only banks have gradually matured and stabilized, the FSC has decided to moderately relax these restrictions. 

It is generally anticipated across various sectors that this regulatory easing will inject new vitality into Taiwan’s digital finance environment and further promote progress and innovation throughout the entire industry.