Source: OJ L, 2024/1640, 19.6.2024

Current language: EN

Article 64 Cooperation in relation to credit institutions or financial institutions


Summary What does Article 64 of the Sixth anti-money laundering (AML 6) directive say?

This article deals with the cross-authority cooperation obligations placed on financial supervisors, sitting within the broader cooperation framework established across this chapter.

It requires financial supervisors, FIUs, and prudential supervisors to cooperate and share information with each other, while making clear this must not interfere with ongoing investigations or proceedings.

Beyond that general duty, the article gets more specific: it sets out what financial supervisors must do when they detect AML/CFT weaknesses in a credit institution, when a bank unjustifiably refuses a business relationship, and when AML/CFT concerns point to a risk of institutional failure.

This last connection — between AML/CFT supervisory findings and resolution or deposit guarantee authorities — is a notable feature of the article, reflecting the broader systemic implications that money laundering risks can carry.

Important points:

  • Financial supervisors are required to notify EBA and the relevant prudential supervisor when they identify AML/CFT weaknesses in a credit institution that materially increase the risks to which it is exposed.
  • Financial supervisors are required to cooperate with resolution authorities and deposit guarantee authorities, and must inform them when AML/CFT findings point to an increased likelihood of deposits becoming unavailable or a risk of institutional failure.
  • Financial supervisors must report to AMLA on an annual basis on their cooperation with other authorities under this article, including the involvement of FIUs.

Springlex's summary of the article, a reading aid, not a substitute for the legal text.

    1. Member States shall ensure that financial supervisors, FIUs, and authorities competent for the supervision of credit institutions or financial institutions under other Union legal acts, cooperate closely with each other within their respective competences and provide each other with information relevant for the performance of their respective tasks. Such cooperation and information exchange shall not impinge on any ongoing inquiry, FIU analysis, investigation or proceedings in accordance with the criminal or administrative law of the Member State where the financial supervisor or authority entrusted with competences for the supervision of credit institutions or financial institutions under other legal acts is located and shall not affect professional secrecy requirements as provided in Article 67(1).

    1. Member States shall ensure that, where financial supervisors identify weaknesses in the AML/CFT internal control system and application of the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 of a credit institution which materially increase the risks to which the institution is or might be exposed, the financial supervisor immediately notifies the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the authority or body that supervises the credit institution in accordance with Directive 2013/36/EU, including the ECB acting in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013.

    2. In the event of potential increased risk, financial supervisors shall be able to cooperate and share information with the authorities supervising the institution in accordance with Directive 2013/36/EU and draw up a common assessment to be notified to EBA by the supervisor who first sent the notification. AMLA shall be kept informed of any such notifications.

    1. Member States shall ensure that, where financial supervisors find that a credit institution has refused to establish or decided to terminate a business relationship but the documented customer due diligence pursuant to Article 21(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 does not justify such refusal, they shall inform the authority responsible for ensuring compliance by that credit institution with Directives 2014/92/EU or (EU) 2015/2366.

    1. Member States shall ensure that financial supervisors cooperate with resolution authorities as defined in Article 2(1), point (18), of Directive 2014/59/EU or designated authorities as defined in Article 2(1), point (18), of Directive 2014/49/EU.

    2. Financial supervisors shall inform the authorities referred to in the first subparagraph where, in the exercise of their supervisory activities, they identify, on AML/CFT grounds, any of the following situations:

      1. an increased likelihood of deposits becoming unavailable;

      2. a risk that a credit institution or a financial institution be deemed to be failing or likely to fail in accordance with Article 32(4) of Directive 2014/59/EU.

    3. Upon request by the authorities referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, where there is an increased likelihood of deposits becoming unavailable or a risk that a credit institution or a financial institution be deemed to be failing or likely to fail in accordance with Article 32(4) of Directive 2014/59/EU, financial supervisors shall inform those authorities of any transaction, account or business relationship under management by that credit institution or financial institution that has been suspended by the FIU pursuant to Article 24.

    1. Financial supervisors shall report on an annual basis to AMLA on their cooperation with other authorities pursuant to this Article including involvement of FIUs in that cooperation.

    1. By 10 July 2029, AMLA shall, in consultation with EBA, issue guidelines on cooperation between financial supervisors and the authorities referred to in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, including on the level of involvement of FIUs in such cooperation.

We're continuously improving our platform to serve you better.

Your feedback matters! Let us know how we can improve.

Found a bug?

Springflod is a Swedish boutique consultancy firm specialising in cyber security within the financial services sector.

We offer professional services concerning information security governance, risk and compliance.

Crafted with ❤️ by Springflod