A stable, well-functioning financial market for allA stable, well-functioning financial market for allNews & Published Material
Here you can find everything that has been published in different news lists on www.fi.se.
2022
2022:1 Asylum seekers’ access to financial services
In this document, FI states its position on asylum-seeking refugees’ access to financial services in cases where the asylum seeker is lacking identity documents. The position replaces FI's previous memorandum (FI Ref.16-2898).
Greatest risk for repayment problems at so-called instant loan firms
One out of six who borrow from a consumer credit institution, previously called instant loan firms, receives a collection notice. Among all lenders, one out of five unsecured loans was approved for a person who does not have any money left after paying their monthly subsistence costs. Given the expected economic development – high inflation and higher interest rates – this percentage could increase to every third borrower. All of these observations indicate that credit assessments are insufficient. This is the conclusion of a consumer credit survey that FI is presenting today.
Swedish Consumer Credit
A large portion of Swedish households’ loans is for their homes. But the households also use loans to finance some of their consumption. Consumption credit has grown rapidly in recent years. In terms of SEK, unsecured loans represent the largest share of consumer credit. In terms of volume, invoices are the most common form of consumer credit. These are some of the conclusions from Finansinspektionen’s (FI) survey of new consumer credit with data from 2021.
FI Analysis No. 39: Are the capital buffers fulfilling their purpose?
The minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) is designed in such a way that the banks can breach it before they breach the capital requirements. As a result, this can reduce the usability of the capital buffers. This is shown in FI’s analysis of how the capital buffers are impacted when a bank must meet both MREL and the capital requirements.
FI maintains level of systemic risk buffer for major banks
The three major banks, SEB, Handelsbanken and Swedbank, will continue to maintain a systemic risk buffer of 3 per cent at group level. This decision was made following FI’s biennial review of the systemic risk buffer in accordance with the European Capital Requirements Directive.
Länsförsäkringar Bank is issued a remark and must pay administrative fine
Länsförsäkringar Bank has been deficient in its work to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The bank is therefore being issued a remark and must pay an administrative fine of SEK 90 million.
FI leaves the countercyclical buffer rate unchanged
FI leaves the countercyclical buffer rate unchanged. The buffer rate of 2 per cent, which will be applied as of 22 June 2023, shall thus continue to apply. The countercyclical buffer guide is calculated at 0 per cent.
Länsförsäkringar Bank recieves a remark and must pay an administrative fine
Länsförsäkringar Bank has been deficient in its compliance with the anti-money laundering regulations. Finansinspektionen is therefore issuing Länsförsäkringar Bank a remark that will be accompanied by an administrative fine of SEK 90 million.
A strategy to prevent greenwashing
Finansinspektionen will prevent greenwashing in the financial sector through preventive measures and supervisory activities. Today, in a new report that is submitted to the government, FI presents a strategy to prevent greenwashing.
Finansinspektionen’s strategy to prevent greenwashing
FI’s strategy for preventing greenwashing in the financial sector aims to safeguard the trust in sustainable investments and a sustainable finance market.
Roadmap for sustainable finance
In 2019, FI’s overarching mandate was expanded to include a responsibility to ensure that the financial system contributes to sustainable development. FI is also the responsible supervisory authority for a number of new regulations related to sustainable finance that are the result of the EU’s ambitious sustainability agenda.
Therese Östling Waller new HR director
Therese Östling Waller is currently the HR manager at SVT. Therese has extensive experience within HR, including from the Swedish Public Employment Service, where she was head of the HR department for several years.
Macro-based stress tests of Swedish banks: results and method, Autumn 2022
Major Swedish banks demonstrate considerable resilience in the stress test Finansinspektionen (FI) conducted in 2022. The test identifies the potential effects on the five largest Swedish banks’ financial positions when interest rates and inflation increase. This memorandum (only available in Swedish) describes the method behind the stress test and its results.
Financial stability risks are increasing on the back of rising interest rates and a weakening economy
Rising interest rates, decreased risk-taking and a slowing economy are weighing on highly indebted commercial real estate firms and households. The rapid transition to higher interest rates and a decreased willingness to take risk means financial stability risks have increased since spring. At the same time, this transition may lead to lower risk-taking and indebtedness in the long run, thus lowering stability risks.
Stability in the Financial System (2022:2)
High inflation has led to rapidly rising interest rates. Given the current rapid change in conditions, both participants on the financial markets and borrowers need to transition quickly. In the short term, this means elevated risks and greater uncertainty. The already high risks in the commercial real estate sector have continued to increase.
FI Analysis No. 37: Stress tests of funds’ liquidity risks
FI’s stress tests show that the majority of Swedish funds appear to be able to handle relatively large outflows in an effective manner. However, some corporate bond funds and a relatively large share of high-yield bond funds may experience liquidity problems under stressed market conditions.
Capital requirements of Swedish banks as of Q3 2022
Finansinspektionen publishes the capital requirements of the largest Swedish banks and credit institutions that belong to supervisory categories 1 and 2 as of the end of Q3 2022.
TRS 2 system closed on Wednesday, 23 November
The TRS 2 system will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, 23 November. It will be possible to submit TR files, but feedback will not be sent until after the maintenance is completed.
Susanna Grufman takes over as acting director general
Susanna Grufman has been the deputy director general since March 2020 in addition to her role as executive director for Markets. She will take over today, 21 November, as acting director general as Erik Thedéen steps down from his role as director general to become the head of the central bank.
SIP Nordic receives a warning and an administrative fine
SIP Nordic Fondkommission AB (SIP Nordic) is receiving a warning and must pay an administrative fine of SEK 6.7 million.
Celina Fondförvaltning receives warning and administrative fine
Celina Fondförvaltning AB (Celina) is receiving a warning and must pay an administrative fine of SEK 10 million.
Borrower-based measures following high inflation and rising interest rates
Changing or pausing the amortisation requirements is not an accurate or appropriate measure for helping the households with the greatest need for financial support to handle their higher costs. This is the conclusion of FI’s evaluation of how the amortisation requirements impact households with lower incomes and small margins in today’s difficult economy.
Improperly issued error codes CON-070 and CON-160 may occur in the TRS 2 validation
From around the 26:th of October it has occurred that Buyer and Seller LEI have been wrongly validated, which has resulted in improperly issued error codes CON-070 and CON-160.
The TRS 2 system’s test environment will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, 9 November
It will be possible to submit TR files, but feedback will be sent first after the maintenance has been completed.
New operational section for payments and preparedness
FI will create a new operational section to focus on payments and preparedness.
Reciprocation of Norwegian systemic risk buffer
Finansinspektionen has reciprocated the Norwegian systemic risk buffer.
Funds with sustainable investment as its objective
The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, Finansinspektionen (FI) has conducted an in-depth analysis of how managers of funds registered in Sweden that have sustainable investment as its objective (so-called Article 9 funds) meet the requirements on sustainability-related disclosures in the pre-contractual information they must provide to investors.
TRS 2 system closed on Wednesday, 5 October
The TRS 2 system will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, 5 October.
TRS 2 closed 28 september
The FTP server for the TRS 2 system will not be available on 28 September 2022 due to a change in certificate.
The TRS 2 system’s test environment will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday, 21 September
It will be possible to submit TR files, but feedback will be sent first after the maintenance has been completed.
Erik Thedéen: Adjustments needed on the commercial real estate market
Erik Thedéen, Director General of Finansinspektionen (FI), spoke at the Öresundsmarknaden conference about FI’s view on the commercial real estate market.
FI leaves the countercyclical buffer rate unchanged
FI leaves the countercyclical buffer rate unchanged. The buffer rate of 2 per cent, which will be applied as of 22 June 2023, shall thus continue to apply. The countercyclical buffer guide is calculated at 0 per cent.
Money remittance provider Moneygram must resolve anti-money laundering deficiencies
The foreign money remittance provider Moneygram International SPRL has not had a sufficient scope in the general risk assessment of its operations in Sweden to its assessment of the risk of being used for money laundering or terrorist financing. Therefore, FI has decided to issue an injunction to Moneygram to resolve the deficiencies by 30 December of this year.
Moneygram receives injunction to take remedial action
Moneygram International SPRL has not applied a sufficient scope to its assessment of the risks of its operations in Sweden being used for money laundering. Moneygram must resolve these deficiencies no later than 30 December 2022.
Minutes from the extraordinary meeting of the Financial Stability Council held on 4 September 2022
The minutes from the Financial Stability Council’s extraordinary meeting on 4 September is now available.
Unclear information about sustainable funds
The disclosures provided about funds with sustainable investment as their objective are often unclear. This is the conclusion of an in-depth analysis conducted by Finansinspektionen (FI). In many cases, the disclosures provided in the funds’ prospectuses need to be clearer and more specific.
FI closes investigation into EQT AB
Finansinspektionen has closed an investigation into whether EQT AB was in violation of EU’s Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) when the company disclosed information on 7 September 2021 regarding a revision of the existing lock-up agreements. FI has closed the investigation.
Test environment for TRS 2 closed 14 september
The FTP server for the TRS 2 system's test environment will not be available on 14 September 2022 due to a change in certificate.
The Swedish Financial Stability Council agrees on measures to safeguard financial stability
The Swedish Financial Stability Council agrees on measures to safeguard financial stability. The council met on Sunday the 4th of September for an extraordinary meeting due to the liquidity problems in the market for electricity derivatives.
Commercial real estate debt, non-banks, and the stability of the financial system
Karin Lundberg, Executive Director of Banking, FI, talked about commercial real estate debt, non-banks, and the stability of the financial system in a speech at the UBS Annual Nordic Financial Services Conference.
Do you need insurance for your new TV?
When purchasing a mobile telephone, TV or appliances, for example, you often receive an offer to buy insurance for the newly purchased item. FI will now review whether so-called product insurances create unnecessary costs for customers without providing extra protection.
Capital requirements of Swedish banks as of Q2 2022
Finansinspektionen publishes the capital requirements of the largest Swedish banks and credit institutions that belong to supervisory categories 1 and 2 as of the end of Q2 2022.
Erik Thedéen: Current assessment of financial stability
FI’s Director General Erik Thedéen participated in a panel discussion on the opportunities and risks associated with increased application of artificial intelligence and machine learning within lending and advice to households. Before he described FI’s view on this topic, Thedéen commented briefly on FI’s current assessment of the stability of the Swedish financial system.
Do loyal policyholders pay more?
Finansinspektionen has analysed whether loyal policyholders pay higher premiums for the three non-life insurance products that are most important for consumers: home insurance (contents), home insurance (building) and private car insurance. The analysis shows that premiums for home insurance (contents) are raised significantly more for loyal customers than for new customers. The premiums for home insurance (building) also are raised more for loyal customers, but this does not apply to private car insurance.
FI presents new Pillar 2 method for pension risk in credit institutions
Finansinspektionen presents here a new Pillar 2 method for assessing an additional own funds requirement for pension risk in credit institutions.
Decisions regarding reciprocation of macroprudential measures in three EU countries
Finansinspektionen has passed decisions concerning reciprocation of macroprudential measures in Lithuania, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Jacob Henriksson new executive director for Administration and Operational Support
Jacob Henriksson comes most recently from the Swedish Fortifications Agency where he worked for almost five years as CFO and deputy director general.
Svea Bank receives a remark and an administrative fine
Svea Bank is being issued a remark and must pay an administrative fine of SEK 45 million.
Resurs Bank receives a remark and an administrative fine
Resurs Bank is being issued a remark and must pay an administrative fine of SEK 50 million.
The countercyclical buffer rate will be raised
FI has decided to raise the countercyclical buffer rate to 2 per cent, which is its neutral level. This was already communicated in the report Stability in the Financial Markets. Due to the 12-month implementation period, this rate will start to go into effect at the end of June 2023.
Svea Bank and Resurs Bank receive remarks for insufficient credit assessments
Svea Ekonomi, which has now merged with Svea Bank, and Resurs Bank have been deficient in their credit assessments of consumers who received large unsecured loans. Both banks are therefore receiving a remark and an administrative fine of SEK 45 million and SEK 50 million, respectively.
Erik Thedéen to step down from FI
Erik Thedéen will step down from his role as director general at FI on 1 January 2023 to become the head of Sweden’s central bank.
FI would like to see data on declined bank accounts
Finansinspektionen views seriously the complaints from consumers who have been denied a bank account, and the authority is now encouraging banks to carefully maintain data on how many people are experiencing problems opening an account. This data will give a clearer overview of the situation and help find solutions.
Start of regular publication of aggregate short positions
Starting today, Finansinspektionen will regularly publish the total of all short positions that must be reported to FI.
It is now possible to update the installed application for periodic reporting
Rapporteurs need to update the application for periodic reporting that they have installed locally. The new version is now available to download and install.
Rising interest rates put pressure on indebted households and firms
Interest rates are rising rapidly in the wake of high inflation. High interest rates and lower risk appetite are placing downward pressure on risk-taking and asset prices. In the long term, this can slow the growth of debt and benefit financial stability. However, the large debts that built up over the extended period of low interest rates are putting pressure on highly indebted households and firms.
FI intends to raise the countercyclical buffer rate to 2 per cent
Finansinspektionen (FI ) intends to raise the countercyclical buffer rate to 2 per cent in Q2 2022.
Stability in the Financial System (2022:1)
Interest rates and interest rate expectations have increased in 2022 due to high and rising inflation. One sector that is vulnerable to rising interest rates is the commercial real estate sector. FI has also noted that liquidity on the bond markets has decreased, and the functionality of the corporate bond market is once again impaired.
