Recent news

We list here recent news from the banking sector.

2015

Environmental and sustainability perspectives in credit granting to companies

Finansinspektionen (FI) has been commissioned by the Government to report on the bank's internal rules regarding credit granting to companies from the perspective of the environment and sustainability. If necessary, FI shall present proposals for measures that can be included in the banks' credit granting process to promote such a perspective.

Decision regarding the countercyclical buffer rate

Finansinspektionen (FI) shall, in accordance with the Capital Buffers Act (2014:966), set a countercyclical buffer guide and a countercyclical buffer rate for each quarter.

FI Analysis 3: Liquidity in the market for covered bonds

2015-12-01 | Reports Markets Bank

The market for covered bonds is important for bank funding and therefore financial stability. The requirements for banks to hold more capital and liquidity for their operations have been tightened since the financial crisis. These requirements affect the banks' costs of holding securities in the trading book and so their costs of acting as market makers.

FI increases transparency in capital requirement for Swedish banks

FI today disclosed for the first time the actual capital requirements for the ten largest Swedish banks and credit institutions at the end of the third quarter of 2015. This is to increase clarity with regard to the effects of FI's capital requirements, including Pillar 2.

Measures against risks from household indebtedness

Summary of the speech by Finansinspektionen's Director General Erik Thedéen at the Centre for Business and Policy Studies' seminar on the economic situation on 19 November 2015.

Decision regarding the countercyclical buffer rate

Finansinspektionen (FI) shall, in accordance with the Capital Buffers Act (2014:966), set a countercyclical buffer guide and a countercyclical buffer rate for each quarter.

Capital needs of Swedish banks as of the second quarter 2015

Finansinspektionen publishes the capital needs of the ten largest Swedish banks and credit institutions as of the end of the second quarter 2015.

Recognition of other Member States' countercyclical buffer rates

Finansinspektionen decides to recognize countercyclical buffer rates up to 2.5 per cent that are set by the designated authority of another EEA country. The firms concerned shall use these buffer rates to calculate their firm specific countercyclical capital buffers.

The future structure of banks' capital requirements

At the Financial Stability Council meeting of 15 June, Finansinspektionen presented its views on the future structure of banks' capital requirements.

Driving forces behind household indebtedness

In this report, Finansinspektionen, Sveriges Riksbank and the Swedish National Debt Office present a general description of the driving forces behind the rise in household indebtedness. A central conclusion in the report is that indebtedness is largely linked to developments on the housing market.

Swedish banks' systemic importance (O-SII)

FI intends to comply with the European Banking Authority's (EBA) guidelines on criteria to assess other systemically important institutions (O-SIIs).

Capital needs of Swedish banks as of the first quarter 2015

Finansinspektionen publishes the capital needs of the ten largest Swedish banks and credit institutions as of the end of the first quarter 2015.

Handelsbanken receives a remark and is ordered to pay an administrative fine

2015-05-19 | Sanctions Bank

Handelsbanken has not complied with the money laundering rules. The bank has not conducted risk assessments for all of its customers or obtained sufficient information about customers and their business relations. The bank's system for reviewing transactions has also been deficient.

Nordea receives a warning and is ordered to pay the maximum administrative fine

2015-05-19 | Sanctions Bank

There have been major deficiencies in Nordea's work to prevent money laundering. This means there is a high probability that if people have tried to launder money or finance terrorism that they could have done so without Nordea having been able to detect this.

FI publishes methods for assessing capital requirements for three important risk types

Finansinspektionen (FI) establishes methods for assessing Pillar 2 capital requirements for three types of risk: credit-related concentration risk, interest rate risk in the banking book and pension risk.

Decision regarding the countercyclical buffer rate

Finansinspektionen (FI) shall, in accordance with the Capital Buffers Act (2014:966), set a countercyclical buffer guide and a countercyclical buffer rate for each quarter.

Capital needs of Swedish banks as of the fourth quarter 2014

Finansinspektionen publishes today the capital needs of the ten largest Swedish banks and credit institutions as of the end of the fourth quarter 2014.

2014

FI intends to implement a partial waiver for covered bonds

2014-12-29 | EBA News Bank

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its opinion regarding the Danish FSA's proposal of a partial waiver from the application of Article 129 (1)(c) of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR). Finansinspektionen will also implement the partial waiver within its jurisdicition.

FI's methods for assessing individual types of risk within Pillar 2

This memorandum describes FI's methods for assessing the capital adequacy requirement within the framework of Pillar 2 for three different types of risk.

Decision regarding the countercyclical buffer rate

Finansinspektionen (FI) shall, in accordance with the Capital Buffers Act (2014:966), set a countercyclical buffer guide and a countercyclical buffer rate for each quarter.

Leverage ratio requirement for Swedish banks

Finansinspektionen (Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority – FI) considers that a leverage ratio requirement may serve an important function for establishing financial stability in Sweden as a back-stop, which sets a floor for how low the capital adequacy requirement can fall in relation to the banks' gross assets.

Swedish banks pass the European stress test

2014-10-26 | EBA News Stability

FI has tested the resilience of the major Swedish banks to a sharp deterioration in the economy. The study is part of the extensive stress test of 123 European banks coordinated by EBA.

Capital requirements for Swedish banks

Finansinspektionen presents positions to ensure that the Swedish banking system stands more robustly equipped to withstand future financial crises.

Skandiabanken: adverse remark issued and administrative fine of SEK 10 million imposed

2014-06-26 | Sanctions Bank

There have been inadequacies in the investment advice that Skandiabanken Aktiebolag has provided through tied agents. The bank has not complied with the rules applicable for receiving commission nor dealt with conflicts of interest in the correct manner.

Authorisation for a bank merger in Skåne

2014-05-16 | Memos & decisions Bank

Finansinspektionen has decided to approve the reorganisation of Sparbanken 1826.

Capital requirements for Swedish banks

On 3 April, the Government presented a bill regarding strengthened capital adequacy rules.

Supervision of the financial infrastructure works well

2014-03-27 | IOSCO ESMA News

Finansinspektionen's and The Riksbank's joint internal audit has assessed the supervision and oversight of the financial infrastructures in Sweden on the basis of the "Principles for financial market infrastructures” (PFMIs) which Finansinspektionen use in its supervision and The Riksbank in its oversight.

FI withdraws the authorisation of Exchange Finans

2014-01-14 | Sanctions Bank

Finansinspektionen withdraws the authorisation to conduct financing business of Exchange Finans Europe.

2013

Bank interest rates and lending, Q3 2013 (Summary)

2013-12-05 | Reports Bank

In this report, Finansinspektionen (FI) describes the banks' adaptations to higher capital requirements and the effects on households and non-financial firms.