Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR)

Basic Information

The Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) is an independent administrative authority under the Banque de France, responsible for supervising the banking and insurance sectors in France. Established in 2010, it operates to ensure financial stability, protect clients, and enforce anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) regulations. While ACPR oversees key financial institutions, it does not directly regulate forex trading, which falls under the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). Its official website (https://acpr.banque-france.fr) provides regulatory updates, publications, and tools for supervised entities.

Historical Background

ACPR originated from the merger of three regulatory bodies in 2010: the Banking Commission, the Insurance and Mutuals Supervisory Authority (ACAM), and the Committee for Credit Institutions and Investment Firms (CECEI). In 2013, it gained resolution powers under the European Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), adopting its current name. A 2017 reform integrated ACPR more closely into the Banque de France, enhancing its operational alignment with national monetary policy.

Legal Authority and Regulatory Framework

ACPR derives its authority from the French Monetary and Financial Code and EU regulations, including the European Banking Supervision framework. Key mandates include issuing licenses, conducting risk assessments, and enforcing compliance with prudential standards. It collaborates with the AMF and TRACFIN (France’s financial intelligence unit) to combat financial crimes, leveraging powers to impose sanctions, revoke licenses, or mandate corrective measures.

Key Responsibilities and Scope

ACPR’s primary focus is on:

• Prudential Supervision: Monitoring solvency, liquidity, and governance of ~657 banks and ~660 insurers.
• Resolution Planning: Managing crises to prevent systemic risks, including restructuring or winding down failing institutions.
• AML/CFT Enforcement: Mandating risk-based controls, transaction monitoring, and reporting suspicious activities to TRACFIN.
• Consumer Protection: Ensuring transparency and fair practices for clients of supervised entities.

Notably, ACPR does not oversee forex brokers; such entities are regulated by the AMF under MiFID II guidelines.

Contact Information

Headquarters Address:
Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution (ACPR)
Banque de France
31 rue Croix des Petits Champs
75001 Paris, France

General Inquiries: Contact via the official website’s dedicated portal or regulatory query tools.

Verification of Regulated Entities

To confirm if an institution is supervised by ACPR:

1. Visit the REGAFI portal (https://www.regafi.fr).
2. Search by entity name or registration number.
3. Review the “Activities based in France” section to validate authorized services.

For disputes, ACPR does not resolve individual complaints but directs consumers to relevant resolution channels.