EBA consults on draft Guidelines on remuneration and gender pay gap benchmarking exercise for banks and investment firms

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a consultation to update its Guidelines on the remuneration benchmarking exercise under the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD), which was originally published in 2012 and updated in 2014. The review integrates additional requirements introduced by CRD V regarding the application of derogations to the requirement to pay out a part of variable remuneration in instruments and under deferral arrangements and the benchmarking of the gender pay gap. In addition, the review also includes guidance on how to harmonise the benchmarking of approvals granted by shareholders to use higher ratios than 100% between the variable and fixed remuneration. A separate and specific set of Guidelines is provided for investment firms under Investment Firms Directive (IFD). The consultation runs until 21 March 2022.

EBA consults on updates to its Guidelines on data collection exercises regarding high earners

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a consultation on updates to its Guidelines on the data collection exercise on high earners, which were originally published in 2012 and revised in 2014. The review of the data collection exercises reflect the amended remuneration framework laid down in the Capital Requirements Directive (CRDV), including the introduction of derogations to pay out a part of the variable remuneration in instruments and under deferral arrangements. In addition, the need to update these Guidelines stems from the specific remuneration regime that has been introduced for investment firms and is laid down in the Investment Firms Directive (IFD) and Investment Firms Regulation (IFR). The consultation runs until 21 March 2022.

EBA publishes a Discussion Paper on its preliminary observations on selected payment fraud data under the Payment Services Directive

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today a Discussion Paper on its preliminary observations on selected payment fraud data under the Payment Services Directive (PSD2), as reported by the industry for the years 2019 and 2020. This Paper presents the main findings related to three payment instruments: credit transfers, card-based payments and cash withdrawals and also outlines other patterns that appear to be inconclusive and that would benefit from comments and views from market stakeholders. The responses to the questions raised in the Discussion Paper will support the EBA, the European Central Bank (ECB) and national authorities in interpreting the fraud data that will be reported in future years.

EBA confirms the continued application of COVID-19 related reporting and disclosure requirements until further notice

Following the uncertainty over COVID-19 developments, the European Banking Authority (EBA) confirms the need to continue monitoring exposures and the credit quality of loans benefitting from various public support measures. To facilitate such monitoring, the Guidelines on the reporting and disclosure of exposures subject to measures applied in response to the COVID-19 crisis continue to apply until further notice.

EBA publishes Guidelines for institutions and resolution authorities on improving banks’ resolvability and consults on transferability

​​​​​​​The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its final Guidelines for institutions and resolution authorities on improving banks’ resolvability. These Guidelines represent a significant step in complementing the EU legal framework in the field of resolution based on international standards and leveraging on EU best practices. The EBA also launched today its consultation paper on Guidelines for institutions and resolution authorities on transferability of parts of or a whole bank in the context of resolution to complement the resolvability assessment for transfer strategies. In particular, the Guidelines specify separability in the context of the application of transfer tools. The consultation runs until 15 April 2022.

Asset quality has further improved, but cyber risk remains a source of concern for EU banks

The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published its quarterly Risk Dashboard together with the results of the autumn edition of the Risk Assessment Questionnaire (RAQ). The NPL ratio declined to 2.1% and the stage 2 ratio contracted to 8.7%. Return on equity (RoE) was reported higher than pre-pandemic levels at 7.7%. RAQ results show that around 50% of banks cover their cost of equity (CoE) with more than 70% of banks estimate a CoE range between 8% and 12%. It remains to be seen to what extent the Omicron-related wave of infections will affect asset quality and profitability.

EBA alerts on the detrimental impact of unwarranted de-risking and ineffective management of money laundering and terrorist financing risks

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its Opinion on the scale and impact of de-risking in the EU and the steps competent authorities should take to tackle unwarranted de-risking. Providing access to at least basic financial products and services is a prerequisite for the participation in modern economic and social life and de-risking, when unwarranted, can cause the financial exclusion of legitimate customers. It can also affect competition and financial stability.

The EBA introduces enhanced proportionality in supervisory reporting

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its final draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on supervisory reporting with respect to common reporting (COREP), asset encumbrance, global systemically important institutions (G-SIIs) and additional liquidity monitoring metrics (ALMM). Proportionality was a key consideration in the proposed changes, making reporting requirements better suited to the size and risk of the institutions.

EBA publishes the methodology for investment firms to be reclassified as credit institutions 

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today a package of two final draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) regarding the reclassification of investment firms as credit institutions. These final draft RTS, which are part of the EBA’s roadmap for the implementation of a new prudential regime for investment firms, will provide clarity in the calculation of the EUR 30 bn threshold for investment firms looking to understand whether they should be applying for authorisation as a credit institution, as well as assist competent authorities in the monitoring of firms’ position triggering a reclassification.

EBA consults on the performance-related triggers for non-sequential amortisation systems in simple, transparent and standardised on-balance-sheet securitisations

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a public consultation on its draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) specifying and, where relevant, calibrating the minimum performance-related triggers for simple, transparent and standardised (STS) on-balance-sheet securitisations that feature non-sequential amortisation.  The Capital Markets Recovery Package amended the Securitisation Regulation in several aspects, including creating a specific framework for STS on-balance-sheet securitisation to ensure that the Union securitisation framework provides for an additional tool to foster economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. These draft technical standards aim at providing technical clarification on these triggers. The consultation runs until 28 February 2022.

The EBA paves the way for setting up a central database on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism

​​​​​​​The European Banking Authority (EBA) publishes today its draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on a central database on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) in the EU. The European Reporting system for material CFT/AML weaknesses (EuReCA) will be a key tool for coordinating efforts to prevent and counter money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) in the Union.

EBA consults on amending technical standards on benchmarking of internal models

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a consultation on the amendment of the Implementing Regulation for the 2023 benchmarking of internal approaches used in credit risk and market risk. While new instruments have been included for the 2023 market risk exercise, the credit risk IRB and IFRS 9 templates have remained untouched. However, for the IRB relevant data collection, some clarifications in the instructions are proposed and some issues are discussed with a view to apply future amendments to the ITS. The consultation runs until 18 February 2022.

EBA proposes amendments to technical standards on the mapping of ECAIs for securitisation positions

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a public consultation to amend the Implementing Regulation on the mapping of credit assessments of External Credit Assessment Institutions (ECAIs) for securitisation. The changes reflect the relevant amendments introduced by the new Securitisation Framework, as well as the mappings for two ECAIs that extended their credit assessments to cover securitisations. The Implementing Regulation is part of the EU Single Rulebook for banking aimed at creating a safe and sound regulatory framework consistently applicable across the European Union (EU). The consultation runs until 31 January 2022.

EBA publishes final Guidelines on the delineation and reporting of available financial means of deposit guarantee schemes

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its Final Guidelines on the delineation and reporting of available financial means (AFM) of DGSs. The purpose of the Guidelines is to ensure that only funds that credit institutions originally contributed to a DGS fund, or that stem indirectly from such contributions, such as recoveries, will count towards reaching the target level of said DGS fund. Conversely, funds that stem directly or indirectly from borrowed resources should not count towards the target level. These clarifications aim at preventing a situation whereby a DGS could meet the target level by taking out a loan, instead of raising contributions from the industry.

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