De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) wants to safeguard a stable financial system. This requires sound financial institutions that operate with integrity. This is necessary to ensure a sustainable economy in the Netherlands. We warn against risks that could affect the system as a whole, and issue advice. We also improve the financial system's resilience by demanding that financial institutions reinforce their buffers.
The financial system is at the heart of the economy. It allows you to save, borrow and invest. It also ensures that you can pay safely and quickly, and that you can cover financial risks that you do not want to or are unable to bear. These things are often taken for granted, but they are essential to the functioning of the economy. That is why it is important that the financial system is robust and that it continues to function under less favourable economic circumstances.
De Nederlandsche Bank monitors the stability of the financial system. Every six months, we publish our Financial Stability Report (FSR). In this report we identify risks to the financial system.
We look at various areas to assess the stability of the financial system. To do this, we use a large number of indicators, such as an increasing amount of loans (credit growth), rapidly rising real estate prices and the amount of cash that banks are holding (liquidity). For example, strong credit growth associated with strongly rising real estate prices is often an indication of (future) instability.
We chair the Financial Stability Committee, which meets at least twice a year. At international level we participate in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB). Our President Klaas Knot is the Vice-Chair of the FSB. Our participation in consultations in The Hague and Brussels is also important.
The heightened international tensions can have an impact on financial institutions, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in its supervisory strategy for 2025-2028 and in a study on the impact of geopolitical risks on financial institutions.
Read more Growing geopolitical risks impact financial sector
Dutch insurers and pension funds invest not only directly in listed equity and corporate bonds, but also indirectly via investment funds. New DNB figures on CO2 emissions of non-financial corporations relate to both types of investments and provide a more complete..
Read more Carbon footprint of Dutch insurers and pension funds in sharper focus
‘We encourage the use of AI to its full potential, while respecting the rules and regulations that ensure the stability and integrity of the financial system and that uphold our values of fairness, freedom and security,’ said Steven Maijoor at the kick-off event of the impact centre ‘AI4 Fintech’.
Read more 2024: An AI odyssey
The volume of lending by what are known as other non-bank financial intermediaries (OFIs) has continued to decline over the past two years.
Read more Lending by other financial intermediaries has declined further in the Netherlands
