On 10 February 2022, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a press release stating that they will not extend capital and leverage relief for banks. The ECB sees no need to allow banks to operate below the level of capital defined by their Pillar 2 guidance beyond December 2022. Banks are also being asked to plan to maintain sufficient capital in the view of the expiry of this prudential exemption in March 2022 that currently allows them to exclude central bank exposures from their leverage ratios.

For further information on COVID-19 related measures see FAQs.