What challenges does the coronavirus pandemic pose for banks? And what role can they play in helping the real economy deal with the crisis? Our host Michael Steen discusses these questions and more with ECB Supervisory Board Chair Andrea Enria in this episode.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 10 June 2020 and recorded on 29 May 2020.

In this episode:

(02:38) Coronavirus and the banks
How the pandemic is posing challenges for banks, their response to the crisis and what banks can do to support the economy by lending to people and businesses.

(07:42) The ECB’s measures to boost lending
How the ECB has supported bank lending in the euro area.

(11:25) The advantages of supervision at European level
How European supervision enabled banks to enter this crisis in a much stronger position than in 2008, and how it has allowed for a unified and fast response to increase the safety of banks.

(14:57) The coronavirus and digitalisation in the banking sector
The opportunities for banks that come with digitalisation and how to mitigate the new risks increased digitalisation introduces.

Further reading:

The ECB’s response to the coronavirus pandemic
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/search/coronavirus/html/index.en.html
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/search/coronavirus/html/index.en.html

Supervision.Explained.: Why do banks need to hold capital?
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/about/ssmexplained/html/hold_capital.en.html

Press release: ECB Banking Supervision provides temporary relief from capital requirements for market risk
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2020/html/ssm.pr200416~ecf270bca8.en.html

Press release: ECB asks banks not to pay dividends until at least October 2020
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2020/html/ssm.pr200327~d4d8f81a53.en.html

Banking supervision website
http://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/