ESBG- the Strength of a European Association One Third of The
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ESBG- The strength of a European Association 900 financial institutions 85,000 branches 1,000,000 staff 90,000 ATMs 2,500 billion € non-bank deposits one third of the European retail banking market The European voice of savings and retail banking The strength of our members illustrated ... Hungary OTP Bank is a key player in Hungary and 8 countries of the region. It serves 10 million customers through 1,300 branches, agent networks and electronic channels. Luxembourg BCEE (Banque et Caisse d'Epargne de l'Etat) was nominated in 2005 and 2006 "Bank of the Year" by the prestigious trade magazine The Banker. The strength of our members illustrated ... Sweden Swedbank represents Sweden's largest branch network with 4.5 million customers - 50 % of Swedish population. United Kingdom Lloyds TSB posted a 24,8% return on equity in 2006. The company provides a full range of banking and financial services to 16 million people in the UK (26 % of population). Austria 2 million Austrians (25 % of population) are client with an Austrian savings bank. The strength of our members illustrated ... Germany German savings banks represent the country's largest branch network with 16,000 branches and 24,300 ATMs. 30 million individuals have an account with the savings banks Spain With 23,456 branches, 33,187 ATMs and 124,139 employees Spanish savings banks constitute the largest retail banking network in Spain. France 26 million customers - 41% of French population - make Groupe Caisse d'Epargne the 3rd French banking network and the n° 1 bank for young people. January 2006 WSBI • October 2007 • ESBG The global voice of savings and retail banking NEWS & VIEWS Pluralism and integration – A European approach The creation of the European Union is a unique phenomenon. Our continent is growing together and the European idea has achieved political, cultural and economic dynamics beyond what could be hoped for when the first steps to unite Europe were taken. Regarding the economic development of IN THIS ISSUE Europe, there are no precedents for an undertaking like the introduction of the Euro or the integration of our markets. Consequently, there are no clear paths and no proven recipes to follow. Much of the success of the European endeavour ultimately depends on the sound judgement of law makers. What we ESBG's main positions: also need, is independence of the mind. As Europeans we Heinrich Haasis, an overview should value our diversity, and strive for European solutions to ESBG President European challenges. page 3 The integration of our financial services industry is among the greatest of these challenges. The big gain for Europe lies in the establishment of a competitive and efficient financial environment, as well as in clarity of rules for market players and WSBI launches consumers throughout Europe. International Remittances Capability Agreement In order to succeed at all this, market regulation is necessary and we applaud the EU law makers for their efforts, and especially for recognizing that in order to achieve efficient integration we do not have to pay the price of losing the diversity of our page 7 financial system. > Pluralism and integration are not at odds. In fact, pluralistic integrated markets are the best outcome we could hope for. The prospects are good. The integration of Europe’s financial services sector is ongoing. European law makers have constructed a legal framework creating equal business conditions for all market participants, and taking into account the diversity of Europe’s financial systems. As a result, European banks compete on a level playing field and same business conditions are guaranteed to all market players. > Clearly, competition among different business models is thriving. From the perspective of the customer, pluralism and the competition between different banking models lead to a wide range of products and services, better prices, and, as a rule, more bank branches and a more stable and continuous overall supply of financial services. Furthermore, in pluralistic markets, customers can freely choose the business model they identify with most closely and which meets their demands best. > Consumers profit from competition and variety. EDitoriaL Pluralism and integration – A European approach This variety is increased by the fact that different banking models learn from each other. Products that had been the specialty of commercial banks have long been adopted by savings and cooperative banks. And business ideas developed by savings banks are being taken up by commercial banks. Variety of business models drives exchange and competition in product development, stimulating innovation and benefiting customers. > Pluralism implies dynamic financial sector development. Pluralism in business models also results in well balanced provision of financial services. Different types of banks identifying with different corporate and social values ensure that financial development is not single-minded or myopic. For example, in the case of savings banks the economic development of their regions of origin is part of their business plan. This includes guaranteeing access to finance for SME’s, and general access to financial services, without which economic development would come to a standstill. > Pluralism safeguards quality and continuity of the financial infrastructure. Pluralism thus clearly creates an additional dimension for competition and promotes economic development. There remains the question how in the future integration will be realised on our pluralistic markets. A specific answer to this question cannot be given as yet, since it is up to market forces to shape the European financial landscape. In particular with respect to retail financial services, very much depends on how the demand for retail banking products develops. Nevertheless it is a fact that retail customers strongly value reputation, cultural background and geographic proximity of their bank. More so, anonymity and the absence of bank branches can be a true deterrent for customers, whose trust and confidence rest on close contact with and personal counsel from their bank. In order to deserve and keep this trust, banks have to be able to flexibly react to their customers’ needs. For these reasons, seeking to achieve integration by full harmonization and standardisation would be fruitless and potentially harmful. It is impossible to predict the consequences of forcing one restrictive set of rules onto a market, where many coexisting models already achieve great results. Instead of dogmatically interpreting integration in the narrowest way, we should concentrate on how to best achieve the beneficial outcomes for which the concept of integration stands. Against this background it is of utmost importance for regulators to take into account the realities of the markets for retail financial services. Retail banking markets have already reached a high degree of integration and are demonstrating impressive efficiency and competitiveness. Should there be scope for further market integration, it could work through many channels. Of course consolidation is one of them, but alternatively organic growth and expansion would even further increase the choice of banking products for Europe’s consumers in line with the goals of integration. The success of integration rightly is appraised in view of our pluralistic markets. As it has held true in the individual member countries as well as on a European level, pluralism will ensure intense competition and dynamic market interaction for the future, too. > Plurality is a key feature of the European banking system. If I were to prophesy, it is the variety of our business models that guarantees that market integration will hold its promises to consumers. Heinrich Haasis ESBG President 2 ISSUES ESBG's main positions: an overview A broad choice in terms The process is currently under review. Based of financial products and on our experience with the Lamfalussy providers is an essential process, it is our view that nothing would condition to create an justify modifying significantly the current efficient retail banking architecture. Instead, all interested parties market. In this respect, the should focus on identifying areas where plurality of banks, whatever concrete improvements can be made. This their business philosophy, is in fact the approach followed by the Inter- geographical outreach, size and legal structure – Institutional Monitoring Group, who in its be they limited stock, cooperatives, foundations, recently published final report put forward a public banks – reflects not only the plurality of series of concrete recommendations. The ESBG European businesses’ goals and priorities but looks forward to the interesting exchange of also of European consumers’ needs. As there is views to which this will give rise. not a single type of EU consumer, there should not be a standardised type of retail banking The capital requirements directive: focus on offer. ESBG member institutions, with their consolidation and practical implementation strong retail banking focus accompany their of rules clients in the local community, on a regional and national level and internationally, as the The clock is ticking before the real start of Basel II lives and businesses of their clients evolve. In in the European Union: as of 1 January 2008, all this respect, they play a very specific role in the the credit institutions and investment firms in the EU context, and are a crucial component of the EU will have to comply with the new prudential retail banking landscape. requirements. The Lamfalussy process: the ESBG supports It took Europe a significant amount of time and the conclusions of the IIMG – as well as the efforts to arrive at this point. As a reminder, the practical approach proposed first discussions in Basel took place in 1999; the Basel II framework was adopted by the Basel The Lamfalussy process has been for a number Committee on Banking Supervision in June of years now the approach for drafting and 2004 and its European version - the Capital updating legislation in the financial services Requirements Directive - was published in the area.