Banks are facing mounting challenges in implementing the European Central Bank’s (EBC’s) new intraday liquidity guidelines, according to industry feedback gathered by Planixs, the leader in real-time liquidity management solutions.

The ECB’s requirements, introduced at the end of 2024, set a new benchmark for best practices in liquidity management, requiring real-time monitoring, granular data analysis, and robust governance structures. With 76 individual requirements to address, banks are under pressure to enhance their intraday liquidity strategies or risk regulatory scrutiny, financial penalties, and the need to hold larger, costly liquidity buffers

This is the first time a regulator has been so explicit as to the intraday capabilities they expect a bank to have, and the ECB document provides a clear description of what a bank should do to meet regulatory expectations.  Given that the ECB consulted widely with their regulator peers around the world in developing this regime, banks in all territories and under different regulatory bodies should use the ECB sound practices as a valuable checklist to benchmark their own capabilities.

Yet despite the clarity of the ECB’s expectations, many institutions remain uncertain about execution—how to bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and practical implementation.

Recognising these challenges, Planixs conducted an in-depth industry assessment, gathering insights on the biggest obstacles to compliance. The result is a comprehensive report — Mastering Intraday Liquidity: ECB Guidelines as a Catalyst for Change — designed to help banks benchmark their capabilities and build a structured plan for compliance and operational excellence.

"The ECB’s guidelines are not just another compliance exercise; they’re a wake-up call for banks to modernise their intraday liquidity capabilities," said Pete McIntyre, Director at Planixs. 

"But awareness alone isn’t enough. The real question for banks isn’t ‘what does the ECB expect?’—that part is clear. The challenge is execution: identifying capability gaps, closing them efficiently, and ensuring continuous compliance as the regulatory environment evolves."

In a real-time financial ecosystem, institutions must move beyond meeting minimum regulatory thresholds. They need to ensure operational agility, absolute data integrity, and predictive insight into liquidity risks.

Planixs advocates for a holistic approach to intraday liquidity management, integrating data across departments, enhancing real-time visibility, and leveraging predictive analytics to mitigate liquidity shocks. However, many institutions are still struggling with fragmented data, legacy infrastructure, and evolving liquidity risks—barriers that make compliance both complex and costly.

"We encourage banks not to wait for a regulator review but to act now. This is about more than passing an inspection — it’s about future-proofing operations and thriving in an increasingly real-time financial world,” said Pete.

“Institutions that take a proactive approach to intraday liquidity management can reduce funding costs, improve operational agility, and strengthen their market position. Many forward-thinking banks are already using this regulatory shift as an opportunity to enhance efficiency and profitability.”

With intraday liquidity now firmly in the regulatory spotlight, Planixs continues to support banks at all stages of their journey—whether assessing current capabilities, identifying practical steps for compliance, or embedding long-term resilience.