The European Network of Credit Unions urged the European Supervisory Authorities to use the increased communication and collaboration that will be gained as a result of the revised guidelines for the “AML Colleges” to reduce regulatory burden for credit unions. 

These comments came as part of the consultation process on the Draft joint guidelines on the cooperation and information exchange for the purposes of Directive (EU) 2015/849 between competent authorities supervising credit and financial institutions. The AML Colleges will be used to establish supervisory protocols when an institution crosses over multiple countries or jurisdictions for supervision regarding Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism.

ENCU noted that AML/CFT burdens are often disproportionately borne by credit unions as they do not have the economies of scale as larger institutions and are not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives governed by a board of members who usually serve on a voluntary basis without receiving any remuneration for time and resources dedicated to the credit unions.

A copy of the comment letter can be viewed here.