Public interest in bank resolution

Abstract

Resolution procedure was introduced into the Polish legal order by the Act of 10 June 2016 on the Bank Guarantee Fund, the deposit guarantee system and resolution. However, it was only three and a half years after the entry into force of this Act that the first case involving this resolution procedure was initiated against Podkarpacki Bank Spółdzielczy in Sanok. Three months later, similar proceedings were initiated against the Cooperative Bank in Przemków. These first two cases of launching resolution by the Bank Guarantee Fund allow us to make a preliminary analysis of the decision-making practice of the BFG in this matter. The analysis will not cover the decision of the BFG on the resolution of Idea Bank S.A., which, due to its much greater significance for the Polish financial system, deserves to be addressed separately. The article will focus in particular on examining the BFG’s approach to the ‘public interest’ aspect, which, according to Article 101(7)(3) of the Act of 10 June 2016 on the Bank Guarantee Fund, is a prerequisite for launching resolution. This premise is of key importance for the protection of the rights of holders of ownership rights and creditors of the entity under resolution, which are severely curtailed in the course of a procedure that may even lead to the write-off of ownership instruments and part of the liabilities. Ensuring that the authority does not interpret this premise too broadly is very important from an individual rights perspective. The article is structured as follows. The first section briefly discusses the resolution procedure. Then the public interest premise is described in more detail. The third section analyses the BFG’s approach to public interest in the above mentioned two resolution proceedings. Conclusions are presented in the last section.