Europe
Banking and finance news from the United Kingdom, European Union, and broader Europe
European Union Parliament Approves Major Banking Crisis Management Overhaul
The EU's legislative body has greenlit sweeping reforms to strengthen bank resolution frameworks and deposit protection, marking a pivotal step toward completing the banking union.
Norges Bank Keeps Rates at 4%, Signals Hikes Ahead
Norges Bank's Monetary and Financial Stability Committee held the policy rate steady at 4% on March 25, citing persistent inflation above target and heightened uncertainty from Middle East tensions. Governor Ida Wolden Bache indicated likely rate increases at upcoming meetings to tame price press...
Bank of Ireland Posts Strong 2025 Results in Strategy Refresh
Bank of Ireland unveiled robust full-year 2025 results on March 2, alongside a strategy update emphasizing growth in core Irish operations and digital innovation. Profits surged amid favorable economic conditions, with CEO Myles O'Grady highlighting resilience and shareholder returns.
Germany's Solaris Pivots to AI-Native Banking with SBI Backing
Germany's Solaris is slashing 20% of staff to fund its transformation into Europe's first AI-native bank, backed by majority owner SBI Group. New CEO Steffen Jentsch aims to automate processes with AI agents while humans oversee governance.[178 characters]
Bulgaria's BORICA Executes Flawless Euro Payments Transition
Bulgaria's national payments operator processed over 930,000 transactions worth €42 million in the first 48 hours of euro adoption, with zero downtime and the first ATM withdrawal occurring just 20 seconds after midnight.
UK Fintech Bank of London Hit with £2m Fraud Fine
The UK's Bank of London, a key clearing house fintech, faces a £2 million penalty from regulators for using fraudulent documents to misrepresent its capital position, in a landmark case testing business integrity rules.
EBA Q4 2025 Dashboard Shows EU Banks' Robust Resilience
The European Banking Authority's latest Risk Dashboard reveals EU/EEA banks entering 2026 with a CET1 ratio of 16.3%, ample liquidity at 163.1% LCR, and stable NPLs at 1.8%, despite Middle East tensions and indirect economic risks. Direct regional exposure remains minimal at under 0.5% of assets.
UK Neobank Zero Halts Trading, Shuts All Accounts
UK-based digital bank Zero has abruptly stopped all trading and will close customer accounts amid regulatory scrutiny and fierce competition. The collapse highlights mounting pressures on challenger fintechs in a maturing market.
UK PRA Fines Bank of London and Parent £2M for Integrity Failures
Britain's PRA imposed a £2 million penalty on The Bank of London Group and Oplyse Holdings for misleading regulators on capital positions and failing to act with integrity from 2021 to 2024. The fine, reduced from £12 million due to financial hardship, marks the regulator's first such action agai...
Europe Sees Record Government Bond Trading Surge in 2025
European government bond trading volumes hit record highs in 2025, up 6% from 2024, with Q4 marking the strongest fourth-quarter performance on record amid heavy issuance and ESG momentum. EU states and UK issued €877 billion in bonds and bills.
Fifth Third's Newline Co-Founder John Piazza Departs Bank
John Piazza, co-founder and product lead of Fifth Third Bank's embedded payments arm Newline, has left the institution after nearly seven years. His exit highlights ongoing evolution in the bank's payments innovation strategy amid strong business performance.
ECB Speeds Securitisation Approvals to Eight Days for Simpler Deals
The ECB has launched a fast-track process for simple securitisations, slashing supervisory reviews from three months to eight working days since January. Aimed at boosting the EU market, it demands standardised structures while preserving risk oversight.