Bank supervision

In the UK, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is the body responsible for the prudential regulation and supervision of banks and similar financial firms.

The PRA is part of the Bank of England.

In the Euro zone, the European Central Bank (ECB) regulates the financial stability of banks through its Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM).

The ECB has final supervisory authority, with Euro zone member states’ national supervisory authorities providing a supporting role. The ECB directly supervises the 'most significant' banks within each Euro zone member state, with the national supervisory authority directly supervising the other (less significant) banks within its jurisdiction.

The ECB is responsible for:

• Supervisory reviews
• On-site inspections and investigations
• Granting and withdrawing banking licences
• Assessing bank acquisitions
• Ensuring compliance with European Union prudential rules
• If required, setting higher capital requirements to counter financial risks.

In the United States, bank supervision is undertaken by the Federal Reserve System.

See also

• Bank of England
• Basel III
• Capital adequacy
• Contingent capital
• European Banking Authority
• European Central Bank
• Euro zone
• Federal Reserve System
• Financial Conduct Authority
• Financial Services Authority
• Financial stability
• Home supervisor
• Host supervisor
• Pillar 1
• Pillar 2
• Pillar 3
• Prudential Regulation Authority
• Supervisory college