“Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, particularly from the customer’s perspective or for competitive dynamics” he said
Branson emphasized the importance of diversity within Germany’s broader financial landscape, extending beyond just banking institutions Speaking ahead of the “Handelsblatt” Banking Summit in Frankfurt, he argued that a competitive market benefits consumers through lower service costs, in contrast to more oligopolistic systems
The comments come as representatives from the European Central Bank (ECB) and prominent banking figures like UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel, have recently advocated for larger, more robust European banks capable of competing effectively with institutions in the United States and China
UniCredit acquired a stake in Commerzbank in 2024 and has not ruled out seeking a board seat at the Frankfurt-based bank in the future Branson indicated that any such move would be subject to careful scrutiny by the regulatory body “As a matter of principle, the financial regulator always examines potential conflicts of interest and how they are addressed when assessing the suitability of supervisory board members” he stated
