EBA updates list of systemically important institutions
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published its updated list of other systemically important institutions (O-SIIs) in the EU for 2025. The list, based on national notifications, aims to increase transparency and provide a consistent overview of systemically important banks.
172 O-SIIs identified for 2025
For 2025, a total of 172 institutions have been identified as O-SIIs at the highest level of consolidation within each country, a number that remains broadly stable compared to the previous year.
These institutions are designated by national competent or designated authorities, adhering to harmonised criteria set out in EBA Guidelines.
The assessment of systemic importance considers factors such as an institution's size, its significance for the economy, the extent of its cross-border activities, and its interconnectedness within the financial system.
The updated list also specifies the systemic importance scores calculated using the EBA methodology, alongside the capital buffer rates, which range from 0.25 percent to 3 percent, as determined by the relevant national authorities for each identified entity.
National discretion, harmonised criteria
The identification of O-SIIs, while guided by EBA Guidelines (EBA/GL/2014/10), ultimately remains under the remit of national competent or designated authorities.
These guidelines, issued under Directive 2013/36/EU (CRD), allow for supervisory judgement in identifying additional institutions that might not be automatically captured by the quantitative criteria.
This approach supports a comparable assessment framework across the EU, while simultaneously accommodating national specificities in banking sectors.
The EBA's publication of this consolidated list, which includes both systemic importance scores and capital buffer rates, enhances market transparency and facilitates a consistent supervisory overview of these critical institutions across Member States.
The information is also made available through a user-friendly visualisation tool.
Transparency with caveats
This annual update from the EBA is a crucial exercise for financial stability, providing essential transparency on institutions deemed systemically important.
However, the continued reliance on national discretion, even within harmonised guidelines, introduces potential inconsistencies in cross-border comparability.
While acknowledging national specificities is important, a more unified approach could further strengthen the EU's banking supervision framework.