Banking, Insurance and Capital Markets

Tanzania’s financial sector operates under the close supervision of the Bank of Tanzania, the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) and the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA). FIN & LAW advises banks, insurers, fund managers, fintechs and capital-markets participants on the full spectrum of transactions and regulatory matters that this environment presents.

Our banking work covers lending and security transactions, syndications, trade finance, and the perfection and enforcement of security over movable and immovable assets. For insurers and intermediaries we advise on licensing, product approval, policy documentation and claims disputes. In the capital markets we support issuers and arrangers on listings, bond programmes and collective investment schemes.

We also work at the frontier of the sector - advising payment service providers, mobile money operators and fintech innovators on licensing and partnership structures within the national payment systems framework.

What We Do

• Lending, syndicated finance and trade finance transactions
• Creation, perfection and enforcement of security interests
• Banking regulatory advisory and Bank of Tanzania licensing
• Insurance licensing, product approval and policy documentation
• Capital markets - listings, debt programmes and CMSA compliance
• Payment systems, mobile money and fintech licensing
• Asset finance, leasing and structured transactions
• Financial services disputes and debt recovery

Typical Matters

• Lending, security and loan documentation for banks, financial institutions and borrowers
• Regulatory compliance under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act and Bank of Tanzania requirements
• Insurance and reinsurance arrangements and compliance with insurance regulation
• Capital markets transactions, securities offerings and listings on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange
• Advisory on financial services licensing and product regulation
• Debt recovery, enforcement of security and financial restructuring

Frequently Asked Questions

Who regulates banks and financial institutions in Tanzania?

Banking activity is supervised by the central bank, while capital markets and securities activity fall under the relevant capital markets and securities authority, and insurance is overseen by the insurance regulator. Each regulator sets licensing, capital, and conduct requirements for its sector.

What legal issues arise when raising finance?

Financing transactions typically involve loan or facility agreements, security documents such as mortgages or charges, and regulatory considerations. Properly drafted and registered security is important so that a lender’s rights are enforceable if a borrower defaults.

What is required to offer securities to the public?

Public offers of securities are regulated and generally require disclosure through a prospectus and approval from the capital markets authority, along with ongoing reporting obligations once listed. These rules are designed to protect investors and maintain market integrity.

How is insurance regulated?

Insurers, brokers, and agents generally require licensing and must meet solvency and conduct standards set by the insurance regulator. Policyholders benefit from these protections, and disputes over claims can sometimes be escalated to the regulator or the courts.