1. This Directive concerns the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions. This Directive shall apply to all credit institutions.
2. Articles 25 and 52 to 56 shall also apply to financial holding companies and mixed-activity holding companies which have their head offices in the Community.
The institutions permanently excluded by paragraph 3, with the exception, however, of the Member States' central banks, shall be treated as financial institutions for the purposes of Articles 25 and 52 to 56.
3. This Directive shall not apply to:
- the central banks of Member States,
- post office giro institutions,
- in Belgium, the 'Institut de Réescompte et de Garantie/Herdisconteringen Waarborginstituut',
- in Denmark, the "Dansk Eksportfinansieringsfond", the "Danmarks Skibskreditfond", the "Dansk Landbrugs Realkreditfond", and the "KommuneKredit",
- in Germany, the 'Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau', undertakings which are recognised under the 'Wohnungsgemeinnützigkeitsg