Managing crisis-affected banks

In 2016, the Debt Office was appointed resolution authority under the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive. The resolution regulations apply in all EU countries and were developed based on the lessons learned from the global financial crisis of 2008–2009, which resulted in considerable costs to society. The aim of the resolution regulations is to safeguard financial stability and mitigate the costs of any future crisis.

The central government takes control

A bank in crisis can now be managed in a more orderly manner than previously by the central government – the Debt Office – putting the institution in resolution. This entails that the bank’s shareholders and creditors will have to bear the costs of crisis management instead of the state having to resort to using tax money. While the resolution process is ongoing, the bank is kept open so that customers have access to their accounts and other services as usual.

Resolution also helps to reduce the risk of a financial crisis occurring, partly because lenders will be more cautious about lending to banks that take excessive risks.

Taxpayers do not have to bear the costs of a banking crisis.

Resolution requires planning and preparation

The Debt Office, in its role as the Swedish resolution authority, makes an annual assessment of which banks and financial institutions are systemically important, i.e. their significance for the financial system as a whole. Resolution applies only to banks and institutions that are systemically important. Other institutions may be placed in bankruptcy or liquidation because their potential failure is not deemed to have a major impact on other parts of the financial system. Currently, nine banks in Sweden are considered systemically important.

Each year, the Debt Office produces plans for how every individual bank and institution will be handled if a financial crisis occurs.

Read more about resolution planning

Deposit insurance always applies

Deposit insurance applies irrespective of how a crisis-affected institution is to be handled. The protection for depositors is the same regardless of whether the institution is placed in bankruptcy proceedings or put in resolution. The Debt Office’s responsibilities comprise everything from issuing information about the deposit insurance scheme to disbursing compensation if the scheme is activated.

Read more about deposit insurance