EBA Publishes Opinion on Consideration of ML/TF Risks in SREP

EBA expects prudential supervisors to consider the ML/TF risks in the following components of the SREP:

• Monitoring of key indicators. Some prudential supervisors have developed a set of indicators based on quantitative or qualitative information from prudential reporting that may point to ML/TF risk. EBA invites prudential supervisors to share the outcome of the monitoring of these indicators with anti-money laundering/combating financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) supervisors if deemed relevant as it may inform their ML/TF risk assessment of the institution. 
• Business model analysis. If in the context of the business model analysis, prudential supervisors identify indications that the business model or changes to the business model could give rise to increased ML/TF risk, EBA expects prudential supervisors to alert AML/CFT supervisors as necessary.
• Assessment of internal governance and institution-wide controls. EBA expects prudential supervisors to assess, in cooperation with AML/CFT supervisors, if the institution has implemented an effective internal control framework, developed and maintained an integrated and institution-wide risk culture and that the risk management covers all the risks the institution faces, including ML/TF risks.
• Assessment of risks to capital. EBA advises prudential supervisors to pay attention to ML/TF risks that could result in reputational or operational risk (including legal and conduct risks). Prudential supervisors are asked to pay attention to ML/TF risks within the context of the credit granting process of the institution. In particular, prudential supervisors are encouraged to assess that institutions have systems and controls in place to ensure funds used to repay loans are from legitimate sources. 
• Assessment of risks to liquidity and funding. EBA advises prudential supervisors to remain alert to indications that could signal ML/TF risks when assessing the liquidity and funding profile of an institution. Such indications could include deposit taking in high risk jurisdictions, or a funding mix that cannot be explained by the business model or strategy of the institution. 

EBA expects prudential supervisors to cooperate effectively and in a timely manner with AML/CFT supervisors to exchange information on ML/TF risks and to assess the implication of those risks for the safety and soundness of the institution they supervise. This applies to prudential and AML/CFT supervisors that form part of the same competent authority, as it does to prudential and AML/CFT supervisors from different competent authorities and in cross-border situations. In the event of potential increased risk of money laundering or terrorist financing, the prudential supervisor and the AML/CFT supervisor are required to liaise and notify their common assessment immediately to EBA and the prudential supervisor shall take, as appropriate, measures in accordance with Capital Requirements Directive IV (2013/36/EU). EBA will include a more detailed guidance on how ML/TF risks should be considered by prudential supervisors as part of their overall SREP assessment in the revised version of the SREP guidelines, which are planned to be published by the end of December 2021 as set out in the Pillar 2 roadmap.

Related Links

• Press Release
• Opinion (PDF)

Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, ML/TF Risk, SREP, Opinion, Credit Risk, Operational Risk, Governance, AML/CFT, CRD IV, Basel, Pillar 2, EBA