BaFinRichtlinien

BaFinRichtlinien are guidelines issued by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin to interpret and implement supervisory requirements for financial institutions operating in Germany. They provide practical guidance on how to meet statutory obligations under the Kreditwesengesetz (KWG), the Versicherungsaufsichtsgesetz (VAG), and related laws, as well as applicable EU directives.

They cover areas such as governance and risk management (including MaRisk and other guidelines), internal control systems, liquidity risk, IT risk and outsourcing, anti-money laundering and compliance, investor protection, and reporting to authorities. They help banks, insurers, and other supervised entities align with supervisory expectations and implement sound compliance practices.

Regarding legal status: Guidelines are not themselves binding laws, but BaFin regards them as reflective of the standard of due care expected of supervised entities. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement actions, supervisory measures, or penalties if it indicates regulatory breach; firms use guidelines to design processes to avoid sanctions and to demonstrate compliance.

Publication and update: BaFin publishes guidelines on its website, often accompanied by explanations and deadlines; they are updated periodically to reflect new EU directives and market developments. Some guidelines are issued jointly with the Deutsche Bundesbank (for example MaRisk) or follow public consultations, ensuring alignment with evolving supervisory practice and market conditions.