Qualifying full banks (“QFBs”)
5 Subject to paragraph 6, a QFB shall not have more than 15 places of business, of which a maximum of 10 may be branches.
6 With effect from 1 January 2005, a QFB may increase the number of its places of business, including branches, up to a maximum of 25. For the avoidance of doubt, the limit on the maximum number of branches set out in paragraph 5 shall no longer apply.
6A The Authority may, on the application by any QFB—
(a) exclude a place of business from the application of the limit on the number of places of business that the QFB may establish; or
(b) where the QFB is not subject to a limit on the number of places of business that it may establish, allow the QFB to treat two or more of its places of business as one, for the purpose of ATM sharing agreements with other QFBs, subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Authority think fit.