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LSI supervision and oversight

Less-significant institutions (LSIs) are small and medium-sized banks that are directly supervised by their national competent authorities (NCAs), under the oversight of the ECB.

Below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on LSI supervision and oversight, which should help familiarise you with the topic.

A summary on organisation of LSI oversight and supervision, the activities carried out by ECB and NCAs as well as the structure and risk situation of the LSI sector in Europe can be retrieved from the report on LSI supervision and oversight.

LSI supervision report 2022

What determines a bank’s significance?

All supervised entities are by default classified as less significant.

They become significant – and therefore fall under the ECB’s direct supervision – only if they fulfil at least one of the criteria set out in the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) Regulation. Follow the links below to find out more about these criteria.

Who supervises LSIs?

LSIs are directly supervised by their respective NCAs and indirectly supervised by the ECB, whereas significant institutions (SIs) are directly supervised by the ECB.

To see whether a bank is classified as an SI or an LSI – and therefore who supervises it – you can consult the ECB’s list of supervised entities. The ECB reviews the significance of every bank at least once a year.

How is proportionality reflected in supervision?

The principle of proportionality ensures that the supervisor’s expectations and requirements correspond to the size, systemic importance and risk profile of the banks under supervision, and that supervisory resources are efficiently allocated.

The SSM accounts for proportionality in supervision and oversight in several ways. Its classification system is a key means of ensuring effective proportionality, and this in turn translates into proportionate approaches in supervisory reporting and supervisory expectations (for example related to governance arrangements and authorisation procedures), as well as in the intensity and scope of day-to-day supervisory activities and assessments. The ECB’s classification system differentiates between high-impact and high-risk LSIs, but the latter type is only used internally for supervisory intensity purposes. The small and non-complex institution (SNCI) criteria set out in the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) are also key to ensuring proportionality. 

What is an SNCI?

CRR II introduced the concept of a small and non-complex institution.

To qualify as one, an institution has to meet the nine criteria listed in the relevant article of the CRR (Art. 4(1)(145)).

It is up to banks to determine whether they are SNCIs, and in principle they should do this on an ongoing basis. LSIs are expected to let their NCAs know when there is a change in their status, i.e. when they start to qualify as an SNCI, or when they no longer meet all the criteria set out in the CRR. This does not preclude NCAs from determining whether banks under their supervision should be considered SNCIs, in accordance with the relevant CRR criteria, and from communicating the outcome of those determinations to the banks in question.

What is required for authorisation?

The ECB is responsible for licensing all banks in the SSM – that is, both SIs and LSIs – in cooperation with the relevant NCAs.

More information on Authorisations

Does my bank have to pay supervisory fees?

All banks supervised by the ECB, whether directly or indirectly, have to pay annual supervisory fees, which are calculated based on a bank’s importance and risk profile.

All about Supervisory fees

Who is in charge of…?

Organisation

ECB banking supervision comprises seven different directorates general, while the relevant decision-making body is the Supervisory Board.

Organisational structures
Decision-making

As the European banking supervisor, the ECB can take a number of supervisory decisions, which are legally binding on banks under the SSM.

Decision-making
Authorisation

In European banking supervision, the ECB is the authority in charge of banking authorisations.

Authorisations
Reporting

The ECB publishes the taxonomy to be used by NCAs when submitting supervisory financial reporting data points (SFRDP) to the ECB, in accordance with the regulations on supervisory reporting.

Reporting
Supervising LSIs

LSIs are supervised by their NCAs, under the oversight of the ECB, whereas SIs are directly supervised by the ECB.

Decision-making
Whistleblowing

Any breach of EU law relating to the prudential supervision of banks can be reported on the ECB’s whistleblowing platform. If the entity in question is an LSI or an entity not supervised by the ECB, such as an insurance undertaking, please contact the relevant NCA directly.

Whistleblowing platform
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What are less significant institutions?

All pages in this section

Whistleblowing