To anchor banks and help them weather the financial storms of a crisis, the EU has developed a number of measures including a 55 billion-euros piggy bank.

Shoring up banks in trouble

Before 2007, banks happily lent money  to consumers

From 2004 to 2007,  the percentage of loans

on the banks' balance sheets  multiplied by 5.

But these loans were risky  and when they couldn't be paid back,

banks got into trouble  with estimated losses

EU governments committed  around 5 trillion euros

of taxpayer money  to shore up the banks.

To make sure history wouldn't be repeated,

the EU stepped in  with a set of three measures

and to protect taxpayers'  and depositors money.

First, to limit bankers playing fast and loose  with other people's money.

so that their appetite  for approving risky deals is downsized.

Next, the banks must  shore up their reserves,

with more capital,  they can absorb the losses better.

Eurozone banks will have to pay into  a 55 billion-euros pot over the next 8 years.

which, despite the tougher rules,  still run into trouble.

Banks in big trouble  will be closed down more easily.

Now it's the banks' owners  who will take the first hit.

The European Central Bank  will keep a watchful eye

over 130 of the Eurozone's largest banks.

The aim is to ensure  that problems are spotted early.

The remaining banks will be watched over  by national regulators,

but the ECB can still come in  if it feels it's necessary.

When a bank's coffers run thin, they may  be unable to pay back their depositors.

Instead, the new rules require banks  to finance a fund in each country

which will be used to give depositors  their money back up to 100,000 euros.

In this way, it's not the taxpayers  who protect depositors.