In August 2017, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) launched a public consultation concerning a new licensing regime for authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADI). This article argues that the new Restricted ADI licences proposed by APRA should, if implemented, serve to promote competition and innovation in Australia’s financial system. However, such promotion must preserve the integrity of the market and, crucially, ensure that Australians are not affected by possible failures of the new entrants. The integrity of the new licensing regime, which follows a global trend of creating new opportunities for businesses to enter the banking market, will ultimately depend on APRA’s response to the underlying challenges highlighted in this article.

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