Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden sign "Memorandum of Understanding" on significant branches

"The MoU establishes the principle of full reciprocity for macro-prudential measures. This will contribute to a level playing field in the Nordic financial market," says Minister of Finance Siv Jensen.

Several of the large Nordic banking groups conduct cross border activities in the neighbouring countries, either through a branch or directly without such an establishment. It is a common objective to contribute to a level playing field in the Nordic market and ensure effective and efficient supervision of significant branches located within the signatory countries. The competent authorities and Ministries in the relevant countries have therefore signed two separate Memoranda of Understandings (MoU) on significant branches in order to facilitate the cooperation regarding cross-border banking groups containing one or more of such branches.

Responsibility for significant branches is regulated in the Union and EEA law. The now relevant MoUs are of an all-embracing character and encompass significant branches more generally.  The MoUs do not modify or supersede Union and EEA law, but are to be regarded as a written understanding of how cooperation regarding significant branches in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden should be conducted.

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