This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis of the European banking sector, focusing on its major markets, i.e. the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Benelux region, Italy, and Spain, treating the resilience of the sector amid the economic shift caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The work begins by exploring the role of retail, investment, private and public banking, and the role of the European Central Bank (ECB) in the sector, e.g. monetary policy decision making, banking supervision, or its interactions with national banking systems. The study then investigates the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on European banking, addressing its economic effects across the European continent, including disruptions in international trade and supply chain, inflationary pressures, and financial market volatility.