Germany: Financial Services

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Finance law and banking law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as capital adequacy, BASEL, acquisition finance, debt capital markets, fund finance, islamic finance, securitization and structured finance.
Article
Following The Money: The Commission Maps The Next Phase Of EU Financial-Intelligence Access
The European Commission has published its first report on Directive (EU) 2019/1153, mapping the evolving framework for law-enforcement access to financial intelligence across the EU. While the report defers decisions on expanding data access, it signals a shift toward faster, more standardized cross-border information sharing through interconnected account registers and structured transaction formats. Financial institutions face mounting pressure to ensure their data governance, production capabilities, and
Germany Government
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Den Geldströmen Auf Der Spur: Die EU-Kommission Skizziert Die Nächste Ausbaustufe Des Zugangs Zu Finanzinformationen
The European Commission has released its first report on the use of financial information by law enforcement authorities, nearly two years behind schedule. While creating no immediate new obligations for financial institutions, the report clearly signals a future direction: networked account registers, standardized transaction data, and faster cross-border inquiries. As data architecture becomes increasingly integrated while the legal framework remains fragmented, financial institutions must understand the
Germany Government
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
MISP Moves Into Political Negotiation: What More Than 1,900 Amendments Mean For The EU’s Future Market Architecture
The European Parliament has tabled over 1,900 amendments to the Market Integration and Supervision Package, transforming it from a straightforward proposal into a complex negotiation between competing models for European market supervision and infrastructure. As the Commission's original December 2025 proposal becomes obsolete and multiple parliamentary drafts emerge with conflicting visions, financial firms face critical questions about which supervisory architecture will ultimately govern their licenses
Germany Finance
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Bafin Raises The Bar On Virtual IBAN Compliance
Germany's financial regulator BaFin has issued new supervisory guidance on virtual IBANs, addressing concerns about transparency in payment flows and beneficial ownership while affirming that vIBANs remain legitimate payment infrastructure. The communication requires firms to demonstrate that their governance, customer transparency and monitoring arrangements have kept pace with technological innovation, particularly in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls.
Germany Finance
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Consultation—Bafin Circular On The Amendments To The KAGB Following The FRiG
BaFin has released draft guidance on amendments to Germany's Capital Investment Code (KAGB) following the Fund Risk Limitation Act (FRiG), introducing significant changes to authorization procedures for capital management companies. The circular addresses new requirements for senior managers, including mandatory full-time employment and EU residency rules, while providing grandfathering provisions for existing structures.
Germany Finance
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Bafin Strengthens Anti-financial Crime And Cyber Supervision
Germany's financial regulator Bafin is undertaking a major structural reorganization to intensify supervision of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and cyber risks across the financial sector. The authority is creating a new specialized Anti-Financial-Crime division and reallocating approximately 30 additional positions to high-risk areas, signaling heightened scrutiny for financial institutions. What does this mean for compliance frameworks and audit preparedness in the German banking sect
Germany Finance
AO
A&O Shearman
Article
From Option To Obligation: ESMA’s Messaging Consultation Makes T+1 Operational Readiness A 2026 Priority
The European Securities and Markets Authority has published a consultation paper proposing significant amendments to guidelines governing post-trade communication between investment firms and professional clients under the Central Securities Depositories Regulation. These changes mandate electronic standardised machine-readable messaging protocols, eliminate oral communication from regular workflows, and align regulatory expectations with the EU's transition to a T+1 settlement cycle taking effect in Octobe
Germany Finance
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Deals Still Get Done – But Only With A New Playbook
Private equity execution has evolved beyond traditional buyout models, requiring sophisticated deal structures, flexible financing arrangements, and comprehensive due diligence across ESG, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risks. Success now depends on navigating complexity through adaptive strategies, cross-border expertise, and the ability to maintain momentum when conventional approaches no longer suffice.
Germany Finance
SR
McDermott Will & Schulte
Article
AML Playbook: EU Edition #1: The New EU AML/CTF Package
The European Union has fundamentally restructured its anti-money laundering framework through a comprehensive legislative package that replaces fragmented national implementations with directly applicable regulations. This transformation introduces a new EU-wide supervisory authority, expands the scope of regulated entities, and establishes harmonized customer due diligence requirements across all member states.
European Union Government
AO
A&O Shearman
Article
The EU Credit Servicers Directive: Market Transformation And The Path Ahead
The EU's Credit Servicers Directive has fundamentally reshaped the European non-performing loans market, catalyzing market consolidation and the emergence of pan-European servicing platforms. With NPL rates resurging in 2026 and regulatory expectations intensifying, financial services firms face a critical strategic question: how to position themselves for success in a transformed market where harmonization remains incomplete and supervisory scrutiny is increasing.
Germany Finance
PL
PwC Legal Germany
Article
Investment Management Client Alert May 2026
European financial regulators are advancing major reforms across sustainable finance disclosure, investment firm risk management, and ESG ratings oversight. From stricter sustainability reporting requirements under SFDR 2.0 to streamlined fund reporting frameworks and new endorsement rules for third-country ESG ratings, these developments signal a significant shift in regulatory expectations for asset managers, investment firms, and rating providers operating in EU markets.
Germany Finance
KG
K&L Gates LLP
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