Pursuant to Article 44 paragraph (2) item 3) of the Central Bank of Montenegro Law (OGM
40/10, 6/13, 70/17, 125/23), and Article 39 paragraph (1) of the of the Law on Financial
Conglomerates (OGM 24/25, 14/26), the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro, at
its meeting held on 27 February 2026, passed the following
DECISION
ON THE GUIDELINES ON THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO PROCEDURE
FOR THE EXERCISE OF SUPPLEMENTARY SUPERVISION OF FINANCIAL
CONGLOMERATES
Article 1
This Decision shall prescribe guidelines on the Central Bank of Montenegro
procedure for the exercise of supplementary supervision of financial conglomerates in
accordance with Article 18 paragraph (1) of the Law on Financial Conglomerates
(hereinafter: the Law), for the purpose of ensuring effective cross-sectoral cooperation,
exchange of information, coordination of supervisory activities, and the consistent
application of requirements regarding capital adequacy, risk concentration, and intragroup transactions.
Article 2
The guidelines referred to in Article 1 of this Decision are provided in the Annex of
this Decision and make an integral part thereof.
Article 3
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
Decision number: 0101-1771-10/2026
Podgorica, 27 February 2026
CHAIRPERSON
G O V E R N O R
Irena Radović, m.p.
ANNEX
GUIDELINES
ON THE CENTRAL BANK OF MONTENEGRO PROCEDURE FOR THE EXERCISE
OF SUPPLEMENTARY SUPERVISION OF FINANCIAL CONGLOMERATES
I. Subject matter and scope
- These Guidelines regulate in detail the procedure of the Central Bank of Montenegro
(hereinafter: the Central Bank) for the exercise of supplementary supervision, i.e. the
supervision of financial conglomerates, in accordance with Article 18 paragraph (1)
of the Law, with respect to a credit institution that is at a head of the group, for the
purpose of ensuring effective cross-sectoral cooperation with the Insurance
Supervision Agency and the Capital Market Authority (hereinafter: other competent
authorities), the exchange and collection of information, coordination of supervisory
activities, and the consistent application of requirements regarding capital adequacy,
risk concentration, and intra-group transactions.
- The objective of these Guidelines is to clearly distinguish the role of the Central Bank
as coordinator and as other competent authority, to enhance legal certainty and
operational practices, and to avoid overlap of competences and duplicate reporting
to the competent authorities.
II. MAPPING PROCEDURE, COOPERATION STRUCTURE AND
COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS
- Within the meaning of these Guidelines, mapping means the process of collecting
and analysing the information necessary to identify those entities constituting a
financial conglomerate in accordance with Article 4 of the Law, on the basis of which
the Central Bank, together with other competent authorities, exercises supplementary
supervision, i.e. supervision through agreements of cooperation concluded in
accordance with Article 36 of the Law.
- Where it acts as coordinator, in accordance with Article 27 paragraph (1) of the Law,
the Central Bank shall carry out the mapping of entities forming the financial
conglomerate referred to in item 3) of these Guidelines, in cooperation with other
competent authorities that have granted licence to the regulated entities forming part
of the financial conglomerate. On the basis of the results of the mapping process, the
Central Bank shall determine the appropriate scope of supplementary supervision,
taking into account the organisation, size and complexity of the financial
conglomerate.
5. The mapping process referred to in item 4) of these Guidelines shall include, in
particular:
- the collection of data on the ownership and organisational structure of the
group;
- the identification of regulated and unregulated entities relevant for
supplementary supervision;
- the classification of entities by financial sector;
- the identification of other competent authorities involved in supplementary
supervision;
- the documentation of the mapping results.
- The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall carry out the mapping process at least
once a year and upon each significant change in the group structure, and shall,
without delay, submit the results of such processes to the other competent authorities.
2.1. Cooperation Structure
- The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall organise and chair meetings of the
college of competent authorities, in accordance with Article 28 paragraph (5) of the
Law, and for that purpose:
- convene regular and extraordinary meetings;
- determine the agenda of meetings;
- define the appropriate number of participants at the meetings;
- ensure minutes and conclusions;
- inform other competent authorities of the results of the meetings.
- Where necessary, the Central Bank may organise thematic or operational meetings
dedicated to specific risks or entities subject to supplementary supervision, i.e.
supervision.
2.2. Cooperation Arrangements with Other Competent Authorities
- The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall initiate and coordinate the conclusion
of cooperation arrangements with other competent authorities in accordance with
Article 36 of the Law.
- The agreements referred to in item 9) of these Guidelines shall contain at least the
following information:
- the scope and frequency of information exchange;
- the delegation of tasks;
- timelines and communication channels;
- arrangements for emergency situations;
- confidentiality provisions.
- The Central Bank shall regularly review and initiate updates of the cooperation
arrangements referred to in item 9) of these Guidelines.
2.3. Cooperation Arrangements with Competent Authorities of Third
Countries
- Where a financial conglomerate has significant entities in third countries, the Central
Bank, acting as coordinator, shall involve the competent authorities of those third
countries in the cooperation arrangements for a financial conglomerate, subject to
Article 38 of the Law and sectoral rules relating to the assessment of equivalence of
supervisory frameworks and the protection of confidential data.
III. COORDINATION OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN GOING CONCERN
AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
3.1. Scope and Frequency
13.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall coordinate the exchange of relevant
information between competent authorities necessary for the performance of tasks
laid down in Article 27 of the Law, and for that purpose in particular:
- determine the requirements for the submission of information at the level of
the conglomerate;
- aggregate the information received;
- distribute relevant information to other competent authorities;
- ensure, to the greatest extent possible, the use of existing reporting systems;
- take necessary actions to prevent duplication of reporting;
- determine deadlines, form and content of templates for the submission of
information, in particular for the purposes of collecting information on risk
concentrations and intra-group transactions.
14.Where applicable, the Central Bank may include in the request for the submission of
information all information relevant for the stress testing of financial conglomerates,
in accordance with Article 25 of the Law.
3.2. Communication Channels
15.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall determine communication channels for
the collection and distribution of information relating to the financial conglomerate,
which may include college meetings, official letters, emails, phone/video
calls/conferences and website platforms.
16.The Central Bank shall ensure that all confidential and sensitive information is
transmitted through secure communication channels.
3.3. Communication with the Financial Conglomerate
17.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall be responsible for communication with
the credit institution or other entity which is the parent undertaking at the head of the
group or, in the absence of a parent undertaking, with the regulated entity with the
largest total balance sheet in the largest financial sector in the group.
3.4. Communication in Emergency Situations
18.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, after identifying emergency situation
affecting regulated entities in a financial conglomerate, shall alert other competent
authorities whose supervised entities may be affected by that situation and coordinate
the exchange of relevant information.
IV. SUPERVISORY ASSESSMENT OF FINANCIAL CONGLOMERATES
4.1. Assessment of the Financial Situation of the Financial
Conglomerate
19. The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall carry out a consolidated assessment
of the risk profile of the conglomerate and initiate dialogue with other relevant
competent authorities for the purpose of supervision and assessment of the financial
position of the financial conglomerate.
20.The Central Bank shall identify:
- the main vulnerabilities and deficiencies of entities within the financial
conglomerate, taking into account their cross-sectoral links; and
- risk management and control issues with regard to compliance with capital
requirements and requirements relating to risk concentrations and intra-group
transactions.
4.2. Assessment of Capital Adequacy
21.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall carry out an assessment of the capital
planning policy of regulated entities in the financial conglomerate. The assessment
shall be carried out at the level of the entire group and shall build upon similar
analyses carried out at sectoral level and on the basis of individual entities.
- The assessments of the Central Bank referred to in item 21) of these Guidelines shall
not affect compliance with capital adequacy requirements laid down in sectoral
regulations.
23.For the purpose of preparing the assessment, the Central Bank shall take into
account the assessments carried out by other competent authorities and shall consult
the relevant competent authorities regarding the exclusion of an entity from that
calculation.
4.3. Assessment of Risk Concentration
24.For the purposes of performing supplementary supervision, i.e. supervision of risk
concentration of regulated entities within a financial conglomerate, the Central Bank,
acting as coordinator, shall carry out an assessment of how risk concentrations may
create potential adverse effects within the financial conglomerate, conflicts of interest
and the circumvention of sectoral regulations. For that purpose, taking into account
the structure of the financial conglomerate, the Central Bank shall require the
submission of information from regulated entities within the financial conglomerate in
order to complement information obtained through established reporting systems.
25.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, may request from other competent
authorities the following information, where available:
- how regulated entities within the financial conglomerate manage risk exposures
which interact across different risk categories;
- analysis and assessment of internal reporting and limit systems of sub-groups or
individual entities within the financial conglomerate;
- sectoral risk concentrations, other than those already assessed at cross-border
level within each sector.
26.The Central Bank shall inform other competent authorities about any supervisory
activity or measures taken towards the entities within the financial conglomerate in
relation to risk concentrations.
4.4. Assessment of Intra-group Transactions
27.In order to perform supplementary supervision, i.e. supervision of intra-group
transactions of regulated entities in a financial conglomerate, the Central Bank, acting
as coordinator, shall monitor how intra-group transactions may create potential
adverse effects within the financial conglomerate, conflicts of interest and the
circumvention of sectoral regulations.
28.For the purpose of carrying out the assessment referred to in item 27) of these
Guidelines, the Central Bank may request further information from regulated entities
within the financial conglomerate, as a supplement to information already collected
through existing reporting systems across different jurisdictions and sectors, taking
into account the structure of the financial conglomerate.
29.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall consult with other competent
authorities for the purpose of determining:
-
the types of intra-group transactions to be monitored, taking into account the
structure of the financial conglomerate, as well as the definition of intra-group
transactions under Article 3 paragraph (25) of the Law; and
-
the reporting thresholds for intra-group transactions, based on regulatory capital
and/or technical provisions.
30.The Central Bank shall inform other competent authorities of any supervisory activity
or measures taken in relation to entities within the financial conglomerate regarding
intra-group transactions.
4.5. Assessment of Internal Control Mechanisms and Risk Management
Procedures
31.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall cooperate with the relevant competent
authorities for the purpose of carrying out the assessment of risk management
procedures and internal control mechanisms. For that purpose, the Central Bank shall
collect relevant information from other competent authorities regarding the
assessment of risk management procedures and internal control mechanisms of
regulated entities (whether at individual or sub-consolidated level), material
deficiencies identified, and the methodologies used in performing their assessments.
32.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall inform the other competent authorities
of individual assessments, as well as of the overall assessment, in order to enable
those competent authorities to assess the adequacy of sectoral risk management and
control mechanisms for mitigating the impact of significant risks of the financial
conglomerate, to identify potential channels that may have adverse effects, and to
reach a common position.
V. SUPERVISORY PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF SUPERVISORY
ACTIVITIES IN GOING CONCERN AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
5.1. Planning and Coordination of Supervisory Activities
33.Following the analysis performed in accordance with Chapter IV of these Guidelines,
the Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall plan and coordinate supervisory
activities for the purpose of implementing supplementary supervision of the financial
conglomerate and shall incorporate them into the already established college
framework. For that purpose, it shall prepare an annual supplementary supervision
plan, which shall in particular include:
-
planned supervisory activities;
-
timelines;
-
allocation of tasks;
-
assessment of required resources.
34.Where only one sectoral college has been established, the Central Bank shall include
supervisory activities related to the supervision of the financial conglomerate in the
coordinated action plan of that college.
5.2. Emergency Planning
35.The Central Bank, acting as coordinator, shall be required to establish and implement
emergency plans, based on plans developed at sectoral level, for cooperation
between authorities in emergency situations at the level of the financial conglomerate.
36.In the event of an emergency situation, the Central Bank shall:
-
inform other competent authorities without delay;
-
organise urgent meetings;
-
increase the frequency of information exchange;
-
coordinate supervisory measures.
37.Where an emergency plan exists only in relation to one sector, the Central Bank shall
provide that plan to the supervisory authorities responsible for other sectors and
include the contact details of those supervisory authorities in the contingency plan.
VI. ACTION OF THE CENTRAL BANK WHEN IT IS NOT THE COORDINATOR
38.Where it is not the coordinator, the Central Bank shall cooperate with the coordinator
designated for a given financial conglomerate and with other competent authorities
for the purpose of carrying out supplementary supervision of financial conglomerates.
39.In relation to cooperation referred to in item 38) of these Guidelines, the Central Bank
shall:
− provide information without delay upon request of the coordinator;
− inform the coordinator of all significant developments that may affect the financial
position of the conglomerate;
− participate in joint reporting processes;
− participate in joint risk assessments;
− provide opinions and proposals for supervisory measures;
− carry out agreed supervisory activities towards entities within its competence;
− act in accordance with cooperation arrangements concluded with the coordinator
and other competent authorities.