EBA Revises Internal Governance Guidelines Under CRD
The European Banking Authority published revised guidelines reflecting changes introduced by the CRD VI directive.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Services
The European Banking Authority published revised Guidelines on internal governance under the Capital Requirements Directive, reflecting changes introduced by CRD VI. The final guidelines incorporate feedback from public consultation and targeted outreach.
Why it matters
The revision follows the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2024/1619, which amends Directive 2013/36/EU and sets new governance expectations for banks operating in the European Union. The updated framework applies a more proportionate, risk-based approach to governance requirements based on institution size, nature and complexity.
No quantitative figures are provided beyond the reduction in granularity relative to the consultation paper. The source does not specify implementation timelines for affected institutions.
The players
European Banking Authority
The European Union's independent banking regulator, which develops regulatory technical standards and guidelines for financial institutions across the bloc.
The details
The revised guidelines map duties and responsibilities for members of the management body and key function holders, and introduce a dedicated governance framework for third-country branches. They also clarify provisions on conflicts of interest, including the combination of Chair and executive functions, and reduce granularity in diversity and inclusion monitoring requirements.
Timeline
2024: Directive (EU) 2024/1619 (CRD VI) adopted.
- 2026-11-05
European Banking Authority publishes revised internal governance Guidelines.
Market Landscape
The guidelines translate the governance mandates of CRD VI, which amends Directive 2013/36/EU, into operational supervisory expectations for European banks. They reflect a broader EU regulatory push toward proportionate, risk-based oversight rather than uniform compliance requirements across institutions of all sizes.
Banks operating in the European Union will need to align their internal governance structures with the revised guidelines as CRD VI takes effect. Customers may see indirect effects through changes in how institutions manage conflicts of interest and oversee their leadership.
The takeaway
Strong internal governance is increasingly expected to be proportionate to an institution's size and risk profile rather than applied uniformly. Financial firms should review how their management body responsibilities and conflict-of-interest safeguards map against the revised framework.
Further reading
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