European Central Bank Requests Benchmark Transition Plans from Large Eurozone Banks

The Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank, Andrea Enria, has written a "Dear CEO" letter to the larger Eurozone banks on their preparation for the transition from interest rate benchmarks to risk-free-rates. The ECB is responsible for direct prudential supervision of certain significant banks based in the Eurozone as part of the Single Supervisory Mechanism. The ECB is seeking assurance from these banks that they have plans in place to address the transition from interest rate benchmarks to risk-free-rates, focusing on the transition from the Euro overnight index average, EONIA, to the Euro short-term rate - €STR - as a euro risk-free rate. EONIA will be calculated as €STR plus a fixed spread, from October 2, 2019, which is when €STR will be launched. EONIA is due to cease entirely from the beginning of 2022.

The ECB is requesting the significant Eurozone banks to provide: (i) a summary of the key risks to the reform of benchmarks; (ii) a detailed action plan on how to address those risks and pricing issues as well as implement process changes; and (iii) contact details for those at the firm overseeing the transition.

View the letter.

View details of the new EONIA methodology.

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