Europe
Banking and finance news from the United Kingdom, European Union, and broader Europe
BBVA green bonds avoid 2.9 million tons of CO2 in 2025, up 51% year-on-year
BBVA's Green Bonds Report 2025 showed financed projects avoided 2.9 million tons of CO2 emissions, a 51% rise from 2024.
UK Upper Tribunal upholds FCA lifetime ban on Crispin Odey, cuts fine to £1.53 million
The Upper Tribunal upheld the FCA's lifetime ban on Crispin Odey for lacking integrity, reducing his fine from £1.84m to £1.53m.
Deutsche Bank buys back 2.19 million shares in latest weekly tranche of EUR 500 million programme
Deutsche Bank repurchased 2,192,965 shares between 7-11 September, taking total buybacks since 25 August to 5,121,715 shares.
Danske Bank buys back DKK 118.5 million of shares in week 37 of DKK 4.5 billion programme
Danske Bank repurchased 317,832 shares worth DKK 118.5 million in week 37, lifting cumulative buybacks to DKK 2.51 billion.
The second shock: Europe’s rate hike turns energy inflation into a bank-credit test
The ECB lifted its deposit rate to 2.50% as euro area energy inflation reached 14.3% in August, and banks had already tightened standards for firms, mortgages and consumer credit while rejecting more loan applications before the second rate rise.
Europe’s largest banks call for capital moratorium and regulatory simplification
Eleven of Europe’s largest banking groups have called on European Union institutions to halt further increases in capital requirements and accelerate regulatory simplification, arguing that the bloc’s banks are falling behind US rivals.
Vanquis CEO Ian McLaughlin to step down as John Natalizia prepares for interim role
Vanquis Banking Group chief executive Ian McLaughlin will step down by the end of 2026, for personal reasons, the UK specialist lender said.
Germany prepares conditions for UniCredit-Commerzbank deal ahead of Orcel talks
A combination of the two institutions would create a banking group with more than €1.3 trillion in assets and a significant presence across two of the euro area’s largest economies.
Bank of Russia holds key rate at 14.00%, first pause since easing began in June 2025
The Bank of Russia kept its key rate at 14.00% on 11 September after cutting at every meeting since June 2025, citing a significant increase in current price pressures.
ECB raises key rates 25 basis points to 2.50% amid Middle East energy shock
The European Central Bank lifted its deposit facility rate to 2.50% on Thursday, a second increase in three months, as Middle East conflict-driven energy costs pushed euro area inflation to 3.3%.
Credit Bank of Moscow classifies $8 billion of corporate loans as problematic
Credit Bank of Moscow disclosed that 671 billion rubles, or more than 27% of its corporate loan portfolio, was classified as problematic at the end of June, a 28% increase over six months.
HSBC begins search for new group CFO after Pam Kaur signals 2027 departure
HSBC said on Thursday that Group Chief Financial Officer Pam Kaur will leave her role in 2027, no later than the annual general meeting, after just over two years in the post.