[unofficial translation]
Pursuant to Article 44 paragraph (2) item 3) of the Central Bank of Montenegro Law (OGM
40/10, 6/13, 70/17, 125/23), Article 29 paragraph (7) and Article 33a paragraph (2) of the Law on
Credit Institutions (OGM 72/19, 8/21, 113/24), the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro, at
its meeting held on 17 March 2025, passed the following
DECISION
ON MORE DETAILED METHOD FOR DETERMINING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR OWN FUNDS AND ELIGIBLE LIABILITIES OF CREDIT INSTITUTIONS AND
THE REPORTING METHOD
Subject Matter
Article 1
This Decision shall prescribe in more detail the method for determining minimum
requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities of credit institutions (hereinafter: the MREL), the
method for determining additional requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities for the credit
institution that is a resolution entity and that is a G-SI credit institution or a part of the G-SI credit
institution, more detailed requirements to be met by the eligible liabilities used for the purpose of
determining the MREL, the reporting method to the Central Bank of Montenegro (hereinafter: the
Central Bank), the disclosure of the MREL amounts, periods to reach the MREL, and the criteria
for determining subordinated eligible liabilities for selling to retail investors.
Mutatis mutandis
Article 2
The provisions of this Decision shall apply mutatis mutandis to legal persons referred to
in Article 3 items 2), 3) and 4) of the Law on Resolution of Credit Institutions (hereinafter: the
Law).
Determining the MREL for a credit institution that is not a part of the group and
the resolution group that is not cross-border resolution group
Article 3
(1) For the purpose of calculating the MREL expressed as a percentage of the total risk exposure
amount of a credit institution in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 1) of the Law,
the amount of the MREL for the credit institution that is not a part of the group and the resolution
group that is not a cross-border resolution group shall be determined as the sum of:
- an amount sufficient to absorb losses in the resolution proceedings, which is equal to the
sum of the amount of the requirement referred to in Article 101 paragraph (1) item 3) of
the Decision on Capital Adequacy of Credit Institutions (OGM 128/20, 140/21, 144/22,
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 2
52/24) – (hereinafter: the Decision on Capital Adequacy) and the requirement for
additional own funds and eligible liabilities above the minimum prescribed level
determined in accordance with the law governing the operations of credit institutions;
2) the amount for recapitalisation that allows the resolution entity or resolution group to
restore, after the resolution, the compliance with the requirement for the total capital ratio
referred to in Article 101 paragraph (1) item 3) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy and
the requirement for additional own funds and eligible liabilities above the minimum
prescribed level determined in accordance with the law governing the operations of credit
institutions.
(2) The MREL referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be expressed as a percentage
obtained by dividing the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Article by
the total risk exposure amount.
(3) For the purpose of calculating the MREL expressed as a percentage of the total exposure
measure of the credit institution in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 2) of the Law,
the amount of the MREL for the credit institution that is not a part of the group and the resolution
group that is not a cross-border resolution group shall be determined as the sum of:
- an amount sufficient to absorb losses in the resolution proceedings, which is equal to the
amount of the requirement for the credit institution that is the resolution entity in relation
to the leverage ratio referred to in Article 496 paragraph (2) of the Decision on Capital
Adequacy at the consolidated level of the resolution group; and
- the amount for recapitalisation that enables the resolution entity or resolution group to
restore, after the resolution, the compliance with the leverage ratio requirement referred
to in Article 496 paragraph (2) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy at the consolidated
level of the resolution group after the implementation of the preferred resolution strategy.
(4) The MREL referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article shall be expressed as a percentage
obtained by dividing the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (3) of this Article by
the total exposure amount calculated in accordance with Article 496 paragraph (4) of the
Decision on Capital Adequacy.
(5) When determining the individual requirement referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article, the
Central Bank shall take into account the requirements referred to in Article 69 paragraph (2)
of the Law and the conditions referred to in Article 96 paragraphs (2) and (6) of the Law.
(6) When determining the amount for recapitalisation referred to in paragraph (1) item 2) and
paragraph (3) item 2) of this Article, the Central Bank shall:
- use the most recently reported values for the corresponding total risk exposure amount
or the total exposure measure adjusted on the basis of all changes resulting from the
resolution actions determined by the resolution plan, and
- increase or decrease the amount of the existing requirement for additional own funds and
eligible liabilities above the minimum prescribed level determined in accordance with the
law governing the operations of credit institutions, with the aim of harmonising that
requirement for the credit institution that is the resolution entity with the situation after the
implementation of the preferred resolution strategy.
(7) The Central Bank may increase the amount for recapitalisation referred to in paragraph (1)
item 2) of this Article by an amount sufficient to maintain the market confidence during the
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 3
appropriate period of no longer than one year following the day of the completion of the
resolution proceedings, which corresponds to the combined buffer requirement reduced by the
amount of the countercyclical capital buffer, determined in accordance with the law governing
the operations of credit institutions, which would be applied after the application of resolution
tools.
(8) The Central Bank shall reduce the amount referred to in paragraph (7) of this Article, where it
determines that a lower amount would be sufficient to maintain the market confidence during
the appropriate period of no longer than one year following the day of the initiation of the
resolution proceedings and to ensure the continuity of providing critical functions of credit
institution and its access to financing without the use of extraordinary public financial support,
except for contributions from the Resolution Fund in accordance with Article 96 paragraphs (2)
and (6) of the Law and Article 147 paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Law, after the implementation
of the resolution strategy.
(9) The Central Bank shall increase the amount referred to in paragraph (7) of this Article, where
it determines that a higher amount is needed to maintain the sufficient market confidence
during a corresponding period of no longer than one year following the day of the initiation of
the resolution procedure and to ensure the continuity of the provision of critical functions of the
credit institution and its access to financing without the use of extraordinary public financial
support, except for contributions from the Resolution Fund in accordance with Article 96
paragraphs (2) and (6) of the Law and Article 147 paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Law.
(10) The Central Bank shall determine the MREL for the credit institution that is a resolution entity
that is not subject to Article 102 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy and that is part of a
resolution group whose total assets exceed the equivalent of EUR 100 billion at least in the
amount of:
- 13.5 % of the total risk exposure amount of the credit institution, when calculated in
accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 1) of the Law, and
- 5% of the total exposure measure of the credit institution, when calculated in accordance
with Article 29 paragraph (4) item (2) of the Law.
(11) Notwithstanding Article 6 of this Decision, the MREL referred to in paragraph (10) of this
Article in the amount of 13.5% of the total risk exposure amount of the credit institution, when
calculated in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 1) of the Law or in the amount of
5% of the credit institution's total exposure measure, when calculated in accordance with
Article 29 paragraph (4) item 2) of the Law, shall be met by own funds instruments,
subordinated eligible instruments or liabilities referred to in Article 6 paragraph (6) issued by
the subsidiary undertaking.
(12) The Central Bank may also apply the provisions of paragraphs (10) and (11) of this Article to
a credit institution that is resolution entity that is not subject to Article 102 of the Decision on
Capital Adequacy and that is part of a resolution group whose total assets do not exceed EUR
100 billion if it assesses that it is likely that its deterioration would represent a systemic risk.
(13) In the event referred to in paragraph (12), the Central Bank shall take into consideration:
- the share of deposits and lack of debt instruments in financing;
- the extent to which access to the capital markets for eligible liabilities is limited, and
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 4
3) the extent to which the resolution entity relies on Common Equity Tier 1 to meet the
requirements referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2), Article 30 paragraph (3) item 1) or
Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law, whichever is applicable.
Determining the MREL for subsidiary undertakings with head office in
Montenegro that are not resolution entities
Article 4
(1) For the purpose of calculating the MREL expressed as a percentage of the total risk exposure
amount of a credit institution in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 1) of the Law,
the amount of the MREL for the credit institution that is a subsidiary undertaking with head
office in Montenegro and that is not resolution entity shall be determined as the sum of:
- an amount sufficient to absorb losses, which is equal to the sum of the amount of the
requirement referred to in Article 101 paragraph (1) item 3) of the Decision on Capital
Adequacy and the requirement for additional own funds and eligible liabilities above the
minimum prescribed level determined in accordance with the law governing the
operations of credit institutions, and
- the amount for recapitalisation that allows the credit institution to re-align with the
requirement for the total capital ratio referred to in Article 101 paragraph (1) item 3) of the
Decision on Capital Adequacy and the requirement for additional own funds and eligible
liabilities above the minimum prescribed level determined in accordance with the law
governing operations credit institutions, after the exercising of the power to write down or
convert relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities in accordance with Article 48 of
the Law or after the resolution of the resolution group.
(2) The MREL referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article shall be expressed as a percentage
obtained by dividing the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Article by
the total risk exposure amount.
(3) For the purpose of calculating the MREL expressed as a percentage of the total exposure
measure of the credit institution in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) item 2) of the Law,
the amount of the MREL for the credit institution that is a subsidiary undertaking with head
office in Montenegro and that is not resolution entity shall be determined as the sum of:
- an amount sufficient to absorb losses, which is equal to the amount of the requirement
for the credit institution in connection with the leverage ratio referred to in Article 496
paragraph (2) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy; and
- the amount for recapitalisation that enables the credit institution to re-align itself with the
leverage ratio requirement referred to in Article 496 paragraph (2) of the Decision on
Capital Adequacy after the exercising of the power to write down or convert relevant
capital instruments and eligible liabilities in accordance with Article 48 of the Law or after
the resolution of the resolution group
(4) The MREL referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article shall be expressed as a percentage
obtained by dividing the amount calculated in accordance with that paragraph by the total
exposure amount calculated in accordance with Article 496 paragraph (4) of the Decision on
Capital Adequacy.
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 5
(5) When determining the individual requirement referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article, the
Central Bank shall take into account the provisions of Article 69 paragraph (2) and Article 96
paragraphs (2) and (6) of the Law.
(6) When determining the amount for recapitalisation referred to in paragraph (1) item 2) and
paragraph (3) item 2) of this Article, the Central Bank shall:
- use the latest reported values for the corresponding total risk exposure amount or the
total exposure amount of credit institution adjusted on the basis of all changes resulting
from the resolution actions determined by the resolution plan; and
- increase or decrease the amount of the existing requirement for additional own funds
above the minimum prescribed level determined in accordance with the law governing
the operations of credit institutions with the aim of harmonising that requirement of the
credit institution with the balance after the exercising of the power to write down or convert
relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities in accordance with Article 48 of the Law
or after resolution of the resolution group.
(7) The Central Bank may increase the amount for recapitalisation referred to in paragraph (1)
item 2) of this Article by an amount sufficient to maintain the market confidence during the
corresponding period of no longer than one year following the day of exercising the power to
write down or convert relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities in accordance with
Article 48 of the Law, which corresponds to the combined buffer requirement reduced by the
amount of the countercyclical capital buffer, determined in accordance with the regulation
governing the operations of credit institutions, which would be applied after exercising that
power or after the resolution of the resolution group.
(8) The Central Bank shall reduce the amount referred to in paragraph (1) item 2) of this Article,
if it determines that a lower amount would be sufficient to maintain the market confidence
during the appropriate period of no longer than one year following the day of exercising the
power referred to in Article 48 of the Law or after the resolution of the resolution group and to
ensure the continuity of the provision of critical functions of the credit institution and its access
to financing without the use of extraordinary public financial support, except for the contribution
from the Resolution Fund in accordance with Article 96 paragraphs (2) and (6) and Article 147
paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Law.
(9) The Central Bank shall increase the amount referred to in paragraph (8) of this Article, if it
determines that a higher amount is needed to maintain the sufficient market confidence during
a corresponding period of no longer than one year following the day of exercising of the power
to write down and convert relevant capital instruments and eligible liabilities in accordance with
Article 48 of the Law or the resolution of the resolution group and to ensure the continuity of
the provision of critical functions of the credit institution and its access to financing without the
use of extraordinary public financial support, except for the contribution from the Resolution
Fund in accordance with Article 96 paragraphs (2) and (6) and Article 147 paragraphs (3) and
(4) of the Law.
(10) Where the application of the bail-in tool to the liabilities of the resolution entity that does not
have its head office in Montenegro would include a liability towards a subsidiary undertaking
with its head office in Montenegro that is a part of the same resolution group and whose claim
is related to that liability in a lower priority ranking in accordance with the law governing the
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 6
bankruptcy proceedings of credit institutions, in relation to the priority ranking of claims related
to other regular unsecured liabilities, the Central Bank shall assess in a timely manner whether
the amount of items of eligible liabilities of the subsidiary undertaking with its head office in
Montenegro is sufficient, in accordance with Article 6 of this Law, to implement the preferred
resolution strategies.
Determining additional MREL for a credit institution that is a resolution entity and
that is a G-SI credit institution or part of a G-SI credit institution
Article 5
(1) The MREL for a credit institution that is a resolution entity and that is a G-SI credit institution
or part of a G-SI credit institution shall consist of:
- requirements referred to in Article 102 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, and
- additional requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities referred to in paragraph (4) of
this Article, as needed.
(2) The MREL for an EU material subsidiary undertaking of a non-EU G-SI credit institution shall
consist of:
- requirements referred to in the Decision on Capital Adequacy related to the requirements
for own funds and eligible liabilities for G-SI credit institutions that do not have their head
offices in the European Union, in relation to own funds and eligible liabilities; and
- additional requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities referred to in paragraph (4) of
this Article, which is met using the own funds and eligible liabilities of a credit institution
that is not resolution entity referred to in Article 128 paragraph (5) of the Law, as needed.
(3) A material subsidiary undertaking referred to in paragraph (2) of this Article means a subsidiary
undertaking that, on an individual or consolidated basis, meets the following requirements:
- the subsidiary undertaking has more than 5% of the amount of risk-weighted assets of
the parent undertaking determined at the consolidated level;
- the subsidiary undertaking generates more than 5% of the total revenues from the
operations of its parent undertaking; or
- the amount of the total exposure of the subsidiary undertaking calculated in accordance
with the Decision on Capital Adequacy is more than 5% of the amount of the total
exposure of its parent undertaking determined at the consolidated level.
(4) If the requirement referred to in paragraph (1) item 1) or paragraph (2) item 1) of this Article is
not sufficient to meet the conditions referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Decision, the Central
Bank shall determine the additional requirement for the MREL referred to in paragraph (1) item
- of this Article to the extent necessary to meet the conditions referred to in Articles 3 and 4
of this Decision.
(5) Where two or more G-SI credit institutions are at the same time resolution entities, the Central
Bank shall calculate the amount of the additional MREL referred to in paragraph (1) item 2) of
this Article for each resolution entity with their head offices in Montenegro and for the EU parent
undertaking as if the sole resolution entity is the G-SI credit institution, and it shall agree with
the resolution authorities referred to in Article 32 paragraph (1) of the Law, when it is applicable
and coordinated with the resolution strategy of the G-SI credit institution, on the application of:
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 7
- deductions from items of eligible liabilities in accordance with the Decision on Capital
Adequacy, and
- all adjustments in order to reduce or eliminate the differences between the sum of the
amount of the additional MREL and the amount related to the calculation of the amount
for G-SI credit institutions with multiple resolution entities on a consolidated basis.
(6) The adjustment referred to in paragraph (5) item 2) of this Article may be applied in such a
manner to adjust the level of the MREL due to a difference in the calculation of the total risk
exposure amounts between the EU Member States, but not for the purpose of removing
differences arising from the exposure between the resolution groups.
(7) In the case referred to in paragraph (5) of this Article, the sum of the amount of the additional
requirement for the MREL referred to in paragraph (4) of this Article and the amount related to
the calculation of the amount for G-SI credit institutions with multiple resolution entities on a
consolidated basis in accordance with the Decision on Capital Adequacy, may not be lower for
individual resolution entities than the sum of the amount of the additional requirement for the
MREL referred to in paragraph (4) of this Article and the amount related to the calculation of
the amount for G-SI credit institutions with multiple resolution entities on a consolidated basis
in accordance with the Decision on Capital Adequacy for the EU parent undertaking.
Eligible liabilities of the resolution entity
Article 6
(1) For the purpose of meeting the MREL of a credit institution that is the resolution entity, eligible
liabilities that meet the conditions referred to in the following Articles shall be included:
- Article 65 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy;
- Article 66 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, except for the conditions referred to in
paragraph (2) item 4) of the same Article, and
- Article 67 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy.
(2) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, and in the case of the application of
the requirements referred to in Article 102 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy or the
requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities of the non-EU G-SI credit institutions, eligible
liabilities, for the purposes of meeting those requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities,
shall consist of eligible liabilities referred to in Articles 65 to 67of the Decision on Capital
Adequacy, after deductions determined in accordance with Articles 69 to 75 of that Decision.
(3) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) item 1) of this Article, liabilities arising from debt
instruments with embedded derivatives, which meet the conditions referred to in paragraph (1)
of this Article, shall be included in the sum of own funds and eligible liabilities where:
- the principal amount of the liability arising from the debt instrument is known at the time
of issuance, is fixed or increases and is not affected by the feature of the embedded
derivative, and the total amount of the liability arising from the debt instrument, including
the embedded derivative, may be valued on daily basis in accordance with Articles 105
to 109 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy in relation to an active and liquid two-way
market for a similar instrument without credit risk, or
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 8
2) the debt instrument contains a contractual provision that determines that the value of the
claim in case of bankruptcy or resolution of the issuer is fixed or increases and does not
exceed the originally paid amount of the liability.
(4) Debt instruments referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article, including their embedded
derivatives, shall not be subject to a netting agreement, and Article 100 paragraph (4) of the
Law shall not apply to their valuation.
(5) Liabilities referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article shall be included in the sum of own funds
and eligible liabilities in the part corresponding to the principal amount referred to in paragraph
(3) item 1) of this Article or the amount that is fixed or increases referred to in paragraph (3)
item 2) of this Article.
(6) When a subsidiary undertaking with its head office in the European Union that is a part of the
same resolution group, as well as the resolution entity with its head office in Montenegro,
issues liabilities to an existing shareholder that is not part of that resolution group, the liabilities
issued to the existing shareholder shall be included in the sum of own funds and eligible
liabilities of the resolution entity for the purpose of meeting the MREL, if the following conditions
are met:
- the liabilities have been issued in accordance with Article 7 paragraph (2) of this Decision;
- the exercise of the power to write down and convert own funds and eligible liabilities in
accordance with Article 48 of the Law does not affect the control that the resolution entity
has over the subsidiary undertaking;
- the amount of liabilities of the subsidiary undertaking issued to the existing shareholder
does not exceed the amount of the difference between the amounts of:
- the MREL of a credit institution that is not the resolution entity, determined in
accordance with Article 31 paragraph (1) of the Law; and
- the sum of liabilities of the subsidiary undertaking issued to the resolution entity,
purchased directly or indirectly through other entities of the same resolution group,
and own funds referred to in Article 7 paragraph (3) of this Decision.
(7) Without prejudice to the minimum requirement referred to in Article 3 paragraphs (10) and (12)
of this Decision or Article 5 paragraph (1) item 1) of this Decision, the Central Bank shall order
the resolution entity that is a G-SI credit institution or the resolution entity referred to in to
Article 3 paragraphs (10) and (12) of this Decision, to meet a part of the requirement referred
to in Article 30 paragraph (3) item 1) or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law in the
amount of 8% of total liabilities, including own funds, by using own funds instruments,
subordinated eligible instruments or liabilities referred to in paragraph (6) of this Article issued
by a subsidiary undertaking.
(8) The Central Bank may permit that a resolution entity that is a G-SI credit institution or
resolution entity that is subject to Article 3 paragraphs (10) or (12) of this Decision, meets a
part of the requirements referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2), Article 30 paragraph (3) item
- or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law by using own funds instruments, subordinated
eligible instruments, or liabilities as referred to in paragraph (6) of this Article issued by a
subsidiary entity, in the amount that is lower than 8 % of the total liabilities, including own
funds, but greater than the amount resulting from the application of the formula (1-(X1/X2)) ×
8 % of the total liabilities, including own funds, provided that the conditions set out in Article 66
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 9
paragraph (5) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy are met, where, in light of the reduction
that is possible under Article 66 paragraph (5) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, in the
following manner:
- X1 means 3.5% of the total risk exposure amount calculated in accordance with Article
101 paragraph (3) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, and
- X2 means the sum of 18% of the total risk exposure amount calculated in accordance
with Article 101 paragraph (3) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy and the amount of
the combined buffer requirement.
(9) Where the application of the provisions of paragraph (7) of this Article leads to a requirement
greater than 27 % of the total risk exposure amount, for the resolution entity referred to in
Article 3 paragraph (10) of this Decision, the Central Bank shall limit the part of the MREL
which is to be met using own fund instruments, subordinated eligible instruments, or liabilities
issued by the subsidiary undertaking referred to in paragraph (6) of this Article, to an amount
equal to 27 % of the total risk exposure amount, if it has been assessed that:
- access to the Resolution Fund is not considered to be an option for the resolution of the
resolution entity in the resolution plan, or
- where the resolution plan of the resolution entity foresees the use of the Resolution Fund,
the requirement referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2) or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1)
of the Law allows the resolution entity to meet the requirements referred to in Article 96
paragraph (2) or (4) of the Law, depending on what is applicable.
(10) In carrying out the assessment referred to in paragraph (9) of this Article, the Central Bank
shall also take into account the risk of a disproportionate impact on the business model of
the resolution entity.
(11) The provision of paragraph (9) of this Article shall not apply to a credit institution that is the
resolution entity, which is the subject to Article 3 paragraph (12) of this Decision.
(12) The Central Bank may order that a resolution entity that is neither a G-SI credit institution nor
a resolution entity that is the subject to Article 3 paragraph (10) or (12) of this Decision meets
a part of the MREL referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2) or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of
the Law using own funds instruments, subordinated eligible instruments or liabilities referred
to in paragraph (6) of this Article issued by a subsidiary undertaking, up to the amount of 8%
of total liabilities, including own funds or up to the amount obtained by applying the formula
referred to in paragraph (16) item 2) of this Article, whichever is higher, provided that the
following conditions are met:
- non-subordinated liabilities referred to in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this Article have
the same priority ranking in accordance with the law governing bankruptcy proceedings
of credit institutions as liabilities that are excluded from the application of write down and
conversion powers in accordance with Article 94 paragraph (3) and Article 95 paragraph
(1) of the Law;
- there is a risk that, as a result of a planned application of write-down and conversion
powers to non-subordinated liabilities that are not excluded from the application of write
down and conversion powers in accordance with Article 94 paragraph (3) and Article 95
paragraph (1) of the Law, creditors whose claims arise from those liabilities incur greater
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 10
losses than they would incur if bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against the credit
institution; and
3) the amount of own funds and other subordinated liabilities does not exceed the amount
necessary to ensure that the creditors referred to in item 2) of this paragraph do not incur
losses above the level of losses that they would otherwise have incurred if bankruptcy
proceedings were initiated against the credit institution.
(13) Where the Central Bank determines that within a particular priority ranking for settlement of
claims established by the law governing the bankruptcy proceedings of credit institutions,
which includes claims related to eligible liabilities, the total amount of liabilities that are
excluded or would likely to be excluded from the application of write down and conversion
powers in accordance with Article 94 paragraph (3) and Article 95 paragraph (1) of the Law
exceeds 10% of the total amount of that priority ranking, the Central Bank shall assess the risk
referred to in paragraph (12) item 2) of this Article.
(14) Derivative liabilities shall be included, within the meaning of the provisions of paragraphs (7)
to (13) and paragraph (16) of this Article, in total liabilities on the basis that full recognition is
given to counterparty netting rights.
(15) The own funds of a resolution entity that are used to comply with the combined buffer
requirement shall be eligible to comply with the requirements referred to in paragraphs (7), (8),
(9), (12) and (16) of this Article.
(16) By way of derogation from paragraph (7) of this Article, the Central Bank may order that the
resolution entity that is a G-SI credit institution or the resolution entity referred to in to Article 3
paragraph (10) or (12) of this Decision meet the requirement referred to in Article 30 paragraph
(2), Article 30 paragraph (3) item 1) or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law using own
funds instruments, subordinated eligible instruments or liabilities referred to in paragraph (6)
of this Article issued by a subsidiary undertaking to the extent that, taking into account the
obligation of the resolution entity to meet the combined buffer requirements, the requirements
referred to in Article 102 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, Article 3 paragraph (10) of this
Decision and the requirements referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2), Article 30 paragraph (3)
item 1) of the Law or Article 32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law, the sum of own funds, those
instruments and liabilities does not exceed greater of:
- 8% of total liabilities, including own funds, or
- the amount obtained by adding the double amount resulting from the requirement referred
to in Article 101 paragraph (1) item 3) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, the double
amount resulting from the requirement for additional own funds and eligible liabilities in
accordance with the law governing the operations of credit institutions, and the amount
that derives from the combined buffer requirement.
(17) The Central Bank may apply the provisions of paragraph (16) of this Article to a resolution
entity that is a G-SI credit institution or that is subject to Article 3 paragraph (10) or (12) of this
Decision and that meets one of the conditions specified in paragraph (18) of this Article, for a
maximum of 30 % of the total number of all resolution entities that are G-SI credit institutions
or to which Article 3 paragraph (10) or (12) of this Decision applies and for which the
requirement referred to in Article 30 paragraph (2), Article 30 paragraph (3) item 1) or Article
32 paragraph (6) item 1) of the Law is determined.
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 11
(18) In the event referred to in paragraph (16), the Central Bank shall take into consideration:
- substantive impediments to the resolvability have been identified in the preceding
resolvability assessment, for which no remedial actions have been taken by the credit
institution following the imposition of measures referred to in Article 25 paragraph (4) of
the Law within the time limit required by the Central Bank, or the identified substantive
impediments cannot be addressed using any of the measures referred to in Article 25
paragraph (4) of the Law, and the exercise of the power referred to in paragraph (16) of
this Article, would partially or fully compensate for the negative impact of the substantive
impediments on resolvability;
- the Central Bank considers that the feasibility and credibility of the resolution entity’s
preferred resolution strategy is limited, taking into account the size of the resolution entity,
its interconnectedness, the nature, scope, risk and complexity of its activities, its legal
status and shareholding structure, or
- the requirement for additional own funds and eligible liabilities in accordance with the law
governing the operations of credit institutions reflects the fact that the resolution entity
that is a G-SI credit institution or that is subject to Article 3 paragraph (10) or (12) of this
Decision, in terms of riskiness, is among top 20% of the riskiest credit institutions for
which the Central Bank determines the MREL.
(19) For the purposes of determining the percentages referred to in paragraphs (17) and (18) of
this Article, the Central Bank shall round the number resulting from the calculation up to the
closest whole number.
(20) When reaching a decision referred to in paragraphs (12) and (16) of this Article, the Central
Bank shall also take into account:
- the depth of the market for own funds instruments of the resolution entity and
subordinated eligible instruments, the pricing of such instruments, where they exist, and
the time needed to execute all transactions necessary to comply with the Decision;
- the amount of eligible liabilities instruments that meet the conditions referred to in Article
65 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy that have a residual maturity below one year as
of the effective date of the Decision, with view to making quantitative adjustments to the
requirements referred to in paragraphs (12) and (16) of this Article;
- the availability and the amount of instruments that meet the conditions referred to in
Article 66 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy other than the conditions referred to in
paragraph (2) item 4) of that Article;
- whether the amount of liabilities that are excluded from the application of write down and
conversion powers in accordance with Article 94 paragraph (3) or Article 95 paragraph
(1) of the Law and that, in accordance with the law governing the bankruptcy proceedings
of credit institutions, rank equally with or below the highest ranking of eligible liabilities, is
significant in comparison to the own funds and eligible liabilities of the resolution entity;
- the business model of the resolution entity, funding model and risk profile, as well as its
stability and ability to contribute to the economy, and
- the effect of possible restructuring costs on the recapitalisation of the resolution entity.
(21) Within the meaning of the provisions of paragraph (20) item 4) of this Article, the amount of
excluded liabilities that does not exceed 5% of the amount of own funds and eligible liabilities
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 12
of the resolution entity shall not be deemed to be significant, and if that amount exceeds 5%,
the Central Bank shall assess whether it is significant for that credit institution.
Eligible liabilities of a subsidiary undertaking with head office in Montenegro that
is not a resolution entity
Article 7
(1) A credit institution that is a subsidiary undertaking of the resolution entity or a credit institution
or a legal person referred to in Article 3 items 2), 3), and 4) of the Law from a third country,
and is not itself a resolution entity, shall meet the MREL using the liabilities referred to in
paragraph (2) of this Article or the own funds referred to in paragraph (3) of this Article.
(2) A credit institution referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article shall meet the MREL by eligible
liabilities that meet the following conditions:
- they are issued to and bought by the resolution entity, either directly or indirectly through
other members of the same resolution group that bought the liabilities, or are issued to
and bought by an existing shareholder that is not part of the same resolution group as
long as the exercise of powers to write down or convert own funds instruments and
eligible liabilities in accordance with Articles 48 to 52 of the Law does not affect the control
of the subsidiary undertaking by the resolution entity;
- they fulfil the eligibility criteria referred to in Article 65 of the Decision on Capital
Adequacy, except for Article 66 paragraph (2) items 2), 3), 11), 12), and 13) of the
Decision on Capital Adequacy, and Article 66 paragraph (5) and (6) of the Decision on
Capital Adequacy;
- claims related to those liabilities rank, in the bankruptcy proceedings, in accordance with
the law governing the bankruptcy proceedings of credit institutions, below claims related
to liabilities that do not meet the condition referred to in item (1) of this paragraph and
that are not eligible for own funds requirements in accordance with the Decision on
Capital Adequacy;
- they are subject to the exercise of powers to write down or convert own funds instruments
and eligible liabilities in accordance with Articles 48 to 52 of the Law in a manner that is
consistent with the resolution strategy of the resolution group, primarily so that the
execution of such powers does not affect the control that the resolution entity has over
the subsidiary undertaking;
- their acquisition was not directly or indirectly financed by the credit institution;
- in the contractual terms governing those liabilities, it is not explicitly or indirectly stated
that the credit institution will have the option to call, redeem, repay, repurchase, or repay
those liabilities early, other than in the case of the bankruptcy proceedings of the credit
institution;
- the contractual terms governing those liabilities do not give the holder the right to
accelerate the future scheduled payment of interest or principal, other than in the case of
the bankruptcy or winding-up proceedings of the credit institution, and
- the amount of interest or dividends does not change depending on the creditworthiness
of the credit institution or its parent company.
(3) Own funds, within the meaning of paragraph (1) of this Article, shall be:
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 13
- Common Equity Tier 1 capital, and
- other own funds issued by the credit institution and bought by members of the same
resolution group or not bought by members of the same resolution group, provided that
exercising the powers to write down and convert own funds instruments and eligible
liabilities in accordance with Articles 48 to 52 of the Law does not affect the control that
the resolution entity has over that credit institution.
MREL reporting and disclosing
Article 8
(1) A credit institution shall report to the Central Bank on the following:
- the amount of own funds which, with regard to an institution that is not a resolution entity,
meets the conditions referred to in Article 7 paragraph (3) of this Decision and the amount
of eligible liabilities as well as the calculation of those amounts in accordance with Article
29 paragraph (4) of the Law after applicable reductions in accordance with Articles 69 to
74 of the Decision on capital adequacy, and
- the amount of other bail-inable liabilities.
(2) When reporting referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, the credit institution shall state the
following data on the items of bail-inable liabilities:
- composition of liabilities, including maturity profile;
- priority ranking in bankruptcy proceedings in accordance with the law governing the
bankruptcy proceedings of credit institutions, and
- whether the third country regulations are applicable to them and, if so, which third
countries, and whether they contain contractual terms referred to in Article 108 paragraph
(1) of the Law and Article 42 paragraph (1) items 16) to 18) and Article 55 paragraph (1)
items 13) to 15) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Article, the credit institution shall not be required to
submit reports to the Central Bank on the amount of other bail-inable liabilities if, on the
reporting date, its own funds and eligible liabilities amount to at least 150% of the requirements
referred to in Articles 30 to 32 of the Law, after applicable deductions referred to in Articles 69
to 74 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, and it shall notify the Central Bank thereof.
(4) The credit institution shall submit reports referred to in paragraph (1) item 1) of this Article on
a quarterly basis, and the reports referred to in paragraph (1) item 2) of this Article on a semiannual basis.
(5) A credit institution shall submit to the Central Bank reports referred to in paragraph (4) of this
Article within 20 days following the expiry of the quarter or half of the year of the respective
report.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of this Article, the credit institution shall submit the reports
referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article without delay at the request of the Central
Bank.
(7) The credit institution shall publish on its website once a year, within 20 days following the
expiry of the calendar year, the following:
- the amount of own funds that meet the conditions referred to in Article 7 paragraph (3) of
this Decision and eligible liabilities;
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 14
2) the structure of the items referred to in item 1) of this paragraph, including their maturity
profile and the priority ranking in bankruptcy proceedings, in accordance with the law
governing the bankruptcy proceedings of credit institutions;
3) the requirement referred to in Articles 30 to 32 of the Law, whichever is aplicable,
expressed in accordance with Article 29 paragraph (4) of the Law.
(8) Where a resolution action was applied to a credit institution or a write down and conversion
power was exercised in accordance with Article 48 of the Law, the obligation referred to in
paragraph (7) of this Article shall be applied after the transition period referred to in Articles 9,
10 and 11 of this Decision to comply with the requirements referred to in Articles 30 to 32 of
the Law.
(9) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (7) of this Article, for a credit institution for which the
resolution plan provides that, if the conditions from Article 35 paragraph (1) items 1) and 2) of
the Law are met, the resolution proceedings shall not be initiated, but the bankruptcy
proceedings shall be opened against it, it shall not be required to submit reports or disclose
information.
(10) A legal person referred to in Article 3 items 2), 3) or 4) of the Law to which the Central Bank
has ordered the application of the MREL in accordance with Article 33 of the Law shall submit
reports and disclose information in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
(11) The Central Bank shall notify the European Banking Authority of the minimum requirement
for own funds and eligible liabilities determined in accordance with Article 30 paragraph (7)
and Article 32 paragraph (14) of the Law.
Criteria for determining subordinated eligible liabilities for
selling to retail investors
Article 9
Subordinated eligible liabilities for selling to small investors shall be instruments that meet
all of the requirements referred to in Article 65 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy, except the
conditions referred to in Article 66 paragraphs (5) to (7) of the Decision on Capital Adequacy,
where the nominal value of those eligible liabilities is not lower that EUR 100,000.
Periods for reaching the MREL
Article 10
(1) When determining the periods for reaching the MREL in accordance with Articles 29 to 33 of
the Law, the Central Bank shall take into consideration:
- the share of deposits and lack of debt instruments in financing;
- the access to the capital markets for eligible liabilities, and
- the action in which the resolution entity relies on Common Equity Tier 1 capital for
meeting the requirements referred to in Articles 30, 31, or 32 of the Law.
(2) The period for reaching the MREL referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article may be determined
for the period up to three years.
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 15
Time limits for complying with the MREL for G-SI credit institutions and for
reaching the MREL after application of resolution actions
Article 11
(1) The provision of Article 3 paragraph (12) of this Decision shall not apply to the resolution entity
referred to in that paragraph within the two-year period following the date:
- on which the Central Bank has applied the bail-in tool to that resolution entity; or
- on which the resolution entity has put in place an alternative measure referred to in Article
35 paragraph (1) item 2) of the Law, by which capital instruments and other liabilities
have been written down or converted into Common Equity Tier 1 instruments or on which
the Central Bank has exercised write down or conversion powers in accordance with
Article 48 of the Law in respect of that resolution entity, in order to recapitalise the
resolution entity without applying resolution tools.
(2) The requirements referred to in Article 3 paragraphs (10) and (12) of this Decision, and Article
6 paragraphs (7), (8), (9), and (16) of this Decision, whichever is applicable, shall not apply to
the resolution entity within the three-year period following the date on which the resolution
entity or the group of which the resolution entity is a part has been identified as a G-SI
institution, or as of the date on which the resolution entity starts to be in the situation referred
to in Article 3 paragraph (10) or (12) of this Decision.
(3) After applying the resolution tool or exercising the write down and conversion power in
accordance with Article 48 of the Law, the Central Bank shall, depending on the individual
case, determine a transitional period within which the credit institution to which the resolution
tool has been applied or the write down and conversion power has been exercised in
accordance with Article 48 of the Law shall comply with the minimum requirement established
by the administrative decision referred to in Articles 30 to 33 of the Law, or the requirements
referred to in Article 6 paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (12), and (16) of this Decision, whichever is
applicable.
(4) In the case referred to in paragraphs (1) to (3) of this Article, the Central Bank shall notify the
credit institution on the planned MREL for each 12-month period during the period for reaching
the MREL referred to in Article 10 of this Decision in such a way that at the end of the period
for reaching the MREL, the MREL is equal to the amount determined in accordance with the
administrative decision referred to in Articles 30 to 33 of the Law, whichever is applicable.
Transitional periods for reaching the MREL
Article 12
(1) A credit institution shall meet, by 31 December 2028, the MREL that the Central Bank has
determined for the first time following the effective date of this Decision as follows:
- at least 20% of the MREL amount to be reached by 31 December 2026;
- at least 50% of the lacking amount of MREL to be reached by 31 December 2027;
- total lacking amount to be reached by 31 December 2028.
(2) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, the Central Bank may set longer time
limit than the time limit referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article, if, based on the criteria
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 16
referred to in paragraph (5) of this Article, it assesses so appropriate, taking into consideration
the following:
- the development of the financial situation of the credit institution;
- the probability that the credit institution will be able, in a reasonable period, to ensure
the compliance with the requirements laid down in accordance with Articles 30, 31 or
32 of the Law, and
- the possibility of credit institution to replace the liabilities that cease to meet the eligibility
criteria or maturity for eligible liabilities in accordance with the Decision on Capital
Adequacy and Article 29 of the Law, or such inability results from the disruptions in the
market or is related to that credit institution.
(3) By way of derogation from paragraph (1) of this Article, the Central Bank may determine that
the resolution entity that is not a G-Si credit institution, but it is a part of resolution group
whose total assets exceeds EUR 100 billion, and the resolution entity that is not a G-SI credit
institution which total assets is below EUR 100 billion, is required to meet the MREL referred
to in paragraph (1) of this Article by 31 December 2025, if it assesses that the failure of such
resolution entities would pose systemic risk.
(4) In the cases referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2)o of this Article, the Central bank shall pass
an administrative decision for a credit institution on the amount of the MREL for each year
during the transitional period for reaching the MREL so that the MREL is fully reached at the
end of the period for reaching the MREL within the time limit referred to in paragraph (1) of this
Article.
Transitional period for publishing the MREL
Article 13
Notwithstanding Article 8 paragraph (7) of this Decision, the credit institution shall publish
the data referred to in that Article for the first time after the time limit for reaching the MREL
referred to in Article 12 paragraph (1) of this Decision, or after the expiration of the period for
reaching the MREL referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article.
Transitional period from the Decision on Capital Adequacy
Article 14
For the purpose of calculating the MREL in accordance with Articles 3, 4 and 5 of this
Decision, the transitional periods referred to in Article 504 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy
shall be taken into consideration in relation to the applicable period.
Deferred application
Article 15
The provisions of Article 5, Article 6 paragraph (6) and Article 8 paragraph (11) of this Law
shall apply as from the day of Montenegro's accession to the European Union.
Decision on MREL (OGM, 29/25) 17
Repealed regulation
Article 16
On the day this Decision enters into force, the Decision on Detailed Criteria for
Determining Minimum Requirements for Own Funds and Eligible Liabilities of Credit Institutions
(OGM 126/20) shall be repealed.
Entry into force
Article 17
This Decision shall enter into force on the eighth day following that of its publication in the
“Official Gazette of Montenegro”.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO
CHAIRPERSON
Decision number: 0101- 2161-6/2025 G O V E R N O R,
Podgorica, 17 March 2025
Irena Radović, m.p.