TITLE: Netherlands' De Nederlandsche Bank Introduces Simplified Penalty Settlement Procedure
BODY:
On March 2, 2026, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) announced it can now offer parties the opportunity to resolve penalty cases through a simplified procedure. When an undertaking or individual acknowledges the facts of the breach and accepts the penalty, DNB can reduce the fine by 15 percent and issue a shortened penalty decision.
The simplified settlement procedure enables faster and more definitive resolution of penalty cases, eliminating the need for lengthy and costly legal proceedings. This approach benefits both the violating party, which can resolve the matter quickly, and DNB, which can deploy its enforcement capacity more effectively. DNB will assess each penalty case individually to determine whether simplified settlement is appropriate, considering various factors specific to each situation.
DNB has aligned this approach with the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which previously operated its own simplified settlement procedure. The two authorities have now established a single, unified simplified penalty procedure applicable to both organisations. The joint procedure is detailed in the "Procedure vereenvoudigde afdoening boetezaken AFM en DNB" (Simplified Settlement Procedure for Penalty Cases AFM and DNB).
This procedure applies to all entities under DNB supervision, including banks, investment firms, payment institutions, insurance companies, pension funds, trust offices, cryptocurrency service providers, and other regulated entities. The simplified settlement option represents a shift toward more efficient enforcement mechanisms within the Dutch financial regulatory framework.
**Reference:**
De Nederlandsche Bank. "Boetezaken eenvoudiger af te handelen" (Penalty Cases Easier to Resolve). Published March 2, 2026. Available at: www.dnb.nl