Capital International Bank Celebrates Five Years in Business

We are proud to be marking five years since our official launch as a licensed bank on the Isle of Man, celebrating a milestone journey that has seen us grow into a profitable, internationally recognised corporate bank.

Launched in 2021, we became the first new bank to open on the Isle of Man in more than 30 years and the Island’s first digital‑only corporate bank, created to meet the evolving needs of corporate and high‑net‑worth clients.

Our foundations were laid following the Isle of Man Government’s introduction of the Alternative Banking Regime (ABR) in 2016, which opened the door to a new type of bank operating under a modern regulatory framework. The ABR was a groundbreaking step for the Isle of Man Government to specifically address the constraints in access to corporate banking, particularly for strategically important industry sectors. We began our application and development phase in 2017 and received a provisional Class 1(2) banking licence in 2019, which permitted it to commence the build-out phase of the bank.  

On 27 May 2021, we achieved a major milestone when the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority lifted the provisional restrictions and permitted the bank to officially commence operations as a Class 1(2) bank. This followed more than four years of planning, development and testing and an investment of approximately £14 million to build the bank from the ground up. We remain the only bank on the Isle of Man to hold this licence.  

The bank’s development and launch progressed through challenging conditions, including critical build phases during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, we remained focused on its long‑term strategy and today it supports both domestic and international clients, providing stable and well‑regulated corporate banking services across a range of industries.

The years that followed saw continued momentum. In 2023, we achieved our first year of profit, alongside receiving authorisation from the South African Reserve Bank Prudential Authority to operate a representative office in South Africa, supporting our growing international presence.

In 2025, the strength of our balance sheet and risk governance was further recognised when selected Excess Fiduciary Accounts (EFAs) received ‘AAAf’* credit quality ratings from S&P Global Ratings across GBP, USD and EUR currencies. The ‘AAAf’ rating signifies the extremely strong protection the underlying holdings within the EFA provide against losses from credit defaults, while the accompanying ‘S1+’ volatility rating recognises that the underlying pool of assets demonstrates extremely low sensitivity to changing market conditions.

That same year also saw us launch our mobile banking app, extending our digital offering and reinforcing our commitment to convenient, client‑focused banking. The app complements our existing desktop banking platform, allowing clients to view account balances, access transaction history, and authorise payments on the go.

Our growth has also delivered measurable economic benefits to the Isle of Man. Prior to launch, the bank received a grant from the Department for Enterprise to support the establishment of the business, based on projected job creation to generate additional employment tax and national insurance revenue for the Isle of Man Treasury. Since its launch, the bank has generated approximately £6 million in direct government revenue and, by the end of 2025, employed 58 people, exceeding the agreed grant requirements. This demonstrates a positive outcome for both the bank and the Department for Enterprise in supporting sustainable inward investment.

Now, in 2026, we reach our five‑year milestone with total direct client deposits and fiduciary deposits exceeding GBP450 million (in currency equivalent) and a continued focus on outstanding client service, pragmatic decision‑making and long‑term client relationships.

Commenting on the anniversary, Werner Alberts, Managing Director of Capital International Bank, said:  “Reaching five years in business is a meaningful milestone for the bank and is a testament to the trust our clients place in us, the dedication of our people, and the robust regulatory framework of the Isle of Man. Since launch, we have been focused on delivering a consistently high standard of client service and on building relationships founded on trust and longevity. Those values continue to shape our approach as the bank moves forward.”

Operating from the Isle of Man while supporting an international client base, we continue to contribute to the Island’s reputation as a centre for high‑quality, well‑regulated financial services.

*Disclaimer: While a fund credit quality rating methodology has been applied by S&P Global Ratings, the Excess Fiduciary Account (EFA) is not itself a fund. The EFA is a pooled account structure supporting financial products known as fiduciary deposits.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed within this article are those of the author, and not those of Capital International Group Limited (Group) and/or any of its subsidiary companies and as such are neither given nor endorsed by the Group or any company within the Group. Information in this article does not constitute advice and/or an offer and/or an invitation by or on behalf of any company within the Group to buy or sell any product or security or to make a bank deposit.Opinions constitute views as at the date of issue thereof and are subject to change.

Capital International Bank Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital International Group Limited (www.capital-iom.com), a privately owned financial services group based in the Isle of Man. We are licensed by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and operate as a non‑retail, restricted deposit taker under a Class 1 (2) licence. Deposits are not covered by the Isle of Man Depositors’ Compensation Scheme. Terms and conditions apply. Capital International Bank and Capital International are trading names of Capital International Bank Limited. We are also licensed by the South African Reserve Bank Prudential Authority to conduct the business of a Representative Office in South Africa.