New rule changes under discussion by European Union regulators could allow EU banks to invest more in software, allowing them to better fight against cyber attacks, as well as to keep pace with fintech firms.

EU regulators are presently considering changes to banking laws that classify software as a cost, rather than an investment.

If regulators flip that rule by treating software expense as a digital investment, similar to the way it is dealt with in the U.S., it could free more than €20 billion (about $24 billion) in capital, according to a report by Reuters U.K.

Aside from the increase in capital, more digital investment on the part of EU banks would appear to allow them to keep pace with fintechs and other financial startups in the region.

Read more at Reuters UK, Fortune, and Finextra.