Banking in the European Union

Latest business news and information covering the EU's banking sector.

Berlin eyes deal on EU bank supervision — 12 December 2012, 16:36 CET

Germany believes a breakthrough is possible in talks among European finance ministers later on Wednesday on a broader system of banking supervision in Europe, a senior government official said.

Sweden unfazed about staying outside EU banking union — 11 December 2012, 21:13 CET

Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg on Tuesday warned that Sweden could stay outside a planned EU bank union, saying it would have only a limited financial impact on the country.

Germany wants to cast EU bank supervisor in its own image — 11 December 2012, 21:16 CET

As talks drag on over a proposed EU-wide bank supervisor, Germany, Europe's effective paymaster, seems to be dragging its feet as it seeks to cast the new body in its own image.

Nervy euro summit once more for Nobel-laureate EU — 11 December 2012, 13:44 CET

Nobel Peace Prize in hand, European leaders meet for a final 2012 summit on Thursday still facing the uncertainties of the debt crisis and with unsettled Italy back in the spotlight.

Frictions holding up new European bank supervisor — 04 December 2012, 22:47 CET

The creation of a new system to supervise banks across the eurozone, a key condition for future use of eurozone rescue funds, has been held up by multiple frictions:

Flagship 'banking union' felled in growing EU clash — 04 December 2012, 22:45 CET

Plans to create a "banking union" across eurozone and European Union borders collapsed Tuesday amid intractable wrangling between Berlin, London and Paris.

EU finance ministers divided on bank supervision — 04 December 2012, 13:02 CET

EU finance ministers engaged Tuesday in arduous talks aimed at setting up a new system for cross-border supervision of thousands of banks as sharp differences emerged between Berlin, London and Paris.

Greece launches debt buyback as Spain bank cash agreed — 03 December 2012, 23:51 CET

Greece launched Monday its bid to buy back privately held debt at a big discount, freeing eurozone finance ministers to nod through 39.5 billion euros to recapitalise Spain's banks next week.

Greece launches debt buyback amid eurozone scrutiny — 03 December 2012, 19:32 CET

Greece launched an operation on Monday to buy back privately-held debt at a big discount, with eurozone finance ministers in Brussels studying the terms on offer alongside plans to bail out Cyprus too.

Euro finance bosses tackle banks, bailouts — 02 December 2012, 18:50 CET

European finance ministers regroup in Brussels on Monday for two-day talks focused as much on EU-wide problems installing cross-border banking supervision as on eurozone bailouts.

Spain banks cut thousands of jobs in shakeup — 28 November 2012, 23:04 CET

Crippled Spanish banks said they would cut thousands of jobs after Brussels on Wednesday gave a green light for a big slice of aid to rescue them with tough conditions.

Cyprus No. 2 lender Popular posts EUR 1.7 bn losses — 28 November 2012, 21:31 CET

Cyprus Popular Bank, the island's number two lender, announced post-tax losses on Wednesday of more than 1.67 billion euros for the first nine months of 2012, sharply up on the same period of last year.

Spanish bank reform advances, Bankia cuts 6,000 jobs — 28 November 2012, 15:30 CET

Spain advanced on Wednesday with a major overhaul of its stricken banking sector after Brussels approved EU-funded restructuring plans, while nationalised Bankia forecast a huge loss.

EU clears Bankia, Spanish bank restructuring — 28 November 2012, 12:20 CET

The European Commission has cleared the restructuring of four Spanish banks -- Bankia, NCG Banco, Catalunya Banc and Banco de Valencia -- as part of a major overhaul of Spain's stricken banking sector.

EU Parliament head calls for free trade with US — 28 November 2012, 10:15 CET

European Parliament president Martin Schulz on Tuesday called for a free trade deal between the EU and the United States that could bolster struggling economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

WikiLeaks's Assange urges EU to lift bank blockade — 27 November 2012, 19:08 CET

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded with the European Union on Tuesday to help lift a crippling two-year banking blockade blamed by the whistle-blowing website on rightwing US politicians.

EU to unfreeze Egyptian, Tunisian assets — 26 November 2012, 23:16 CET

The European Union is lifting its asset freeze on Egyptian and Tunisian funds, imposed as sanctions before the countries' strongmen rulers were ousted in the Arab Spring uprisings.

EU banks want delay for new rules: letter — 26 November 2012, 11:52 CET

European banks have asked EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier and other European Union leaders to postpone Basel III regulations aimed at strengthening the financial sector in view of a similar US decision which the banks say would put them at a disadvantage.

ING says Commission agrees amended restructuring — 19 November 2012, 10:48 CET

Dutch bank ING and the European Commission said Monday they have agreed to an extension for the bank to repay bailout loans granted during the financial crisis.

France bank chief says end of euro would be 'disaster' — 16 November 2012, 17:42 CET

Bank of France governor Christian Noyer said Friday the euro is here to stay and warned that its disappearance would be an "absolute disaster".

New Basel banking rules stumble, but markets implement — 15 November 2012, 19:22 CET

Global banking reforms known as Basel III are stumbling in Europe and the United States, but the rules have been published by major Asian financial powers and are already being enforced more broadly by financial markets.

Two-billion-euro shortfall at troubled Austrian bank — 14 November 2012, 16:44 CET

Scandal-plagued nationalised Austrian bank Hypo Alpe Adria said Wednesday that it may need more than two billion euros ($2.5 billion) in state aid this year and next.

Banco Popular approves EUR 2.5 bn capital boost — 10 November 2012, 17:14 CET

Shareholders of Spain's fifth-biggest bank Banco Popular on Saturday approved raising 2.5 billion euros in new capital by issuing new stock to boost its capital base rather than accepting bailout aid.

Development banks launch EUR 30 bn plan for E.Europe — 08 November 2012, 17:15 CET

Three major international development banks have announced investment plans of more than EUR 30 bn to boost economic growth in central and south-eastern Europe over 2013-14.

France, Belgium set EUR 5.5 bn Dexia capital boost — 08 November 2012, 11:01 CET

France and Belgium agreed Thursday to inject 5.5 billion euros of fresh capital into bailed out lender Dexia, Belgian Finance Minister Steven Vanackere said.