European Central Bank

(IN BRIEF) The European Central Bank and the Eurosystem have introduced a comprehensive payments strategy covering retail, wholesale, business-to-business, and cross-border payments. The framework aims to balance innovation with financial stability by maintaining central bank money as the core of … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) ABN AMRO has launched a EUR 250 million share buyback programme starting 27 March 2026 and running until October 2026, aimed at reducing its share capital while maintaining strong capital levels, with the programme already factored into its … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The Oesterreichische Nationalbank’s Interim Outlook for 2026–2028 projects modest economic growth for Austria, with GDP expected to increase by 0.5% in 2026 before gradually rising to around 1% in the following years. While the economy showed early signs … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The Eurosystem has published the roadmap for Appia, a strategic initiative aimed at supporting the development of a European tokenised financial ecosystem while ensuring that central bank money remains central to the monetary system. The project will involve … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The European Central Bank has welcomed the City of Frankfurt’s decision to select the former Deutsche Bundesbank headquarters site as the future location of the European School Frankfurt. The decision represents a major step toward resolving long-standing uncertainty … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The European Central Bank and the ONCE Foundation have partnered to ensure the digital euro app is accessible to all users by embedding inclusive design principles from the earliest development stages. The foundation will provide technical expertise, contribute … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The Bank of England, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the Bank of Thailand have announced a collaborative programme to assess how synchronised settlement mechanisms could improve the way cross-border FX transactions are completed. The initiative builds on … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Wolters Kluwer Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting will host its 12th OneSumX Client Conference in Porto, Portugal, from October 8–10, 2025. Under the theme “Future Ready Banking,” the event will convene regulators, financial executives, and technology partners to … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The EBA’s 2025–27 stress test, involving 64 major EU and Norwegian banks, simulated a recession driven by geopolitical tensions and protectionist disruptions to supply chains, which would elevate commodity and energy prices, inflation, and interest rates while curbing … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) ABN AMRO has nominated veteran executive Daniel Hartert to its Supervisory Board for a four‑year term, replacing Arjen Dorland. The appointment, subject to European Central Bank approval, will be decided at an EGM on 11 September 2025, with details posted at … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Crédit Agricole S.A. has announced that it has been authorized by the European Central Bank to exceed a 10% stake in Banco BPM S.p.A., allowing it to hold up to 19.9% of the bank’s share capital under the … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) KPMG and KfW have unveiled an analysis evaluating the maturity of DLT-based capital markets in Germany and Europe, with a focus on KfW’s blockchain-based bond issues. The study highlights the importance of developing scalable digital markets to ensure … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has published its inaugural Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Capital Market report, offering valuable insights into the global market’s growth in DLT issuance and related secondary market activities. The report highlights … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Dr. Dirk Schumacher has been appointed as the new Chief Economist of KfW Group, effective 1 April 2025. With a doctorate in economics, Schumacher brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Commerzbank, Goldman Sachs, the European Central … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) ABN AMRO has successfully completed its second use case in the Eurosystem Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) trials, marking a significant step in exploring digital asset innovations. The bank executed four repo trades using central bank money settled … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) European Union finance ministers have endorsed a new Action Plan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group aimed at strengthening the Capital Markets Union. This initiative is designed to broaden financing options for innovative European companies and unicorns, … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Crédit Agricole Assurances has invested in Scope Group, joining other major French financial institutions like AXA and BPCE in supporting Europe’s only independent rating agency accepted by the European Central Bank. This investment is part of broader efforts … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Siemens has issued a €300 million digital bond using blockchain technology, continuing its leadership in digital finance. This new bond, with a one-year maturity, was settled through SWIAT’s private blockchain and the Bundesbank Trigger Solution, significantly speeding up … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) BBVA has received approval from the U.K.’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to take indirect control of TSB Bank, a subsidiary of Banco Sabadell. This approval is a key step in BBVA’s plan to acquire Banco Sabadell, which will … Read the full press release →

(IN BRIEF) Norges Bank is continuing formal discussions with the European Central Bank (ECB) to integrate Norwegian instant payments into the Eurosystem’s TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service. After evaluating various factors, Norges Bank concluded that participating in TIPS would … Read the full press release →