The book is structured into four parts. The first part introduces fundamental concepts relating to banks, the banking system, and the architecture of the European financial system and the remaining three parts address the three main pillars of the financial safety net. The second part focuses on prudential regulation, covering issues such as capital adequacy, corporate governance, liquidity, digital finance, sustainable finance and ESG risks. The third part examines the regulatory intervention in crisis management, including resolution of non-viable banks and the management of distressed portfolios. The fourth part addresses conduct regulation, aimed at protecting retail customers, investors, and consumers from unfair practices.

Overall, the book serves as a valuable resource for academic research and teaching in banking, while also for supporting banking professionals in strengthening their understanding of the regulatory environment and fulfilling their professional obligations more effectively. It further offers insights for legally trained readers by highlighting the economic rationale underlying regulatory interventions and may also function as a reference handbook for initiatives related to financial literacy.