Home / Business and Economy / Bank of England Issues New Bank Failure Playbook
Bank of England Issues New Bank Failure Playbook
13 Apr
Summary
- New guidance details safe bank failure implementation.
- Updated rules incorporate lessons from SVB and Credit Suisse.
- Plan ensures critical services continue without public funds.

The Bank of England has published updated guidance clarifying its resolution regime for bank failures. This framework is designed to ensure that banks can cease operations safely, preserving essential services and depositor access without taxpayer intervention. The regime mandates proactive planning by financial institutions to safeguard stability and confidence.
New operational guides now detail the Bank's approach to transfer resolutions, which could involve selling a failing firm's assets to a private buyer or a temporary bridge bank. Updates to bail-in resolution procedures reflect insights gained from the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse, enhancing the credibility of this method. A novel approach introduces contingent beneficial interests for creditors, simplifying the bail-in process.
These guides also provide specific details on resolving building societies. Furthermore, the Bank of England received a No-Action Letter from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, reinforcing the cross-border effectiveness of its bail-in procedures. Ruth Smith highlighted the enhanced transparency provided by this guidance for managing bank failures.