The banking system

Sweden has a large banking system that is concentrated around a few tightly interwoven major banks. Consequently, in the event of a financial crisis, problems in one of these banks risk rapidly spreading to the entire banking system, which could involve a threat to the stability of the Swedish financial system.

The Riksbank oversees the banking system

The Riksbank oversees and analyses the Swedish financial system from the perspective of risk and vulnerability, with a focus on systemically important major banks active in Sweden: Nordea, Danske Bank, Handelsbanken, SEB and Swedbank. The Riksbank makes assessments of the banks' resilience to financial stress and other unexpected negative events, primarily from the perspective of liquidity risk and credit risk.

One of the Riksbank's most important tasks is to supply liquidity to the banking system when necessary. This can happen either under normal economic circumstances or in a crisis situation. In a stress situation, the Riksbank can provide liquidity to the economy as a whole, but it can also issue emergency liquidity assistance to individual participants.

The Riksbank also takes part in the design of international banking regulations and in other banking-related forums on both the national and international levels.