EBA
EBAAlso called european Banking Authority
The European Banking Authority is the EU agency that writes detailed technical rules for banks and payment firms and promotes consistent supervision across member states. It drafts technical standards, issues guidelines and runs EU-wide stress tests. National supervisors and the ECB apply its rules to individual banks.
How it works
The EBA turns EU banking laws into detailed technical standards, which the Commission adopts as binding regulations. It also issues guidelines that national supervisors comply with or explain. Its reporting framework sets the templates banks file, such as COREP and FINREP. It runs EU-wide stress tests with the ECB and national authorities, and answers rule questions through its Q&A tool.
Most of a bank's day-to-day EU rule detail comes from EBA standards and guidelines. The authority also has direct supervisory roles under newer laws, including significant crypto token issuers under MiCA and, with ESMA and EIOPA, critical ICT providers under DORA. Its anti-money laundering mandate moved to AMLA at the end of 2025.
The rules
Creates the EBA and gives it powers to draft technical standards, issue guidelines and settle disputes between national supervisors.
EU credit institutions, investment firms, payment and e-money institutionsMoved the EBA's anti-money laundering mandate and functions to AMLA, with the EBA keeping a prudential view of financial crime.
EBA and AMLACommon questions
Does the EBA supervise banks directly?
Not in general. National authorities and the ECB supervise banks. The EBA sets rules and promotes consistency. It has direct supervisory powers in limited areas, such as significant asset-referenced and e-money tokens under MiCA.
Where is the EBA based?
The EBA is based in Paris. It moved there from London in 2019 after the UK voted to leave the EU. ESMA, the EU securities authority, is also based in Paris.
What is the single rulebook?
The single rulebook is the set of harmonised prudential rules that apply to banks across the EU. It combines the capital requirements laws with the EBA's technical standards and guidelines.
Does the EBA still handle anti-money laundering?
No. The EBA's AML and counter-terrorist financing mandate transferred to AMLA at the end of 2025. Existing EBA AML guidelines stay in force until AMLA replaces them.
