APRA Welcomes Finalization of Basel III Capital Framework for Banks
APRA welcomed the announcement that BCBS has finalized the Basel III bank capital framework. The announcement confirms that the final set of measures designed to address deficiencies in the internationally agreed capital framework, following the global financial crisis, and are primarily focused on addressing undue variability in risk-weighted assets, and therefore capital requirements, across banks.
The Basel Committee has agreed to an implementation timetable commencing in 2022 for the final Basel III reforms. APRA will consider the appropriate effective date for revisions to the Authorized Depository Institution prudential standards in light of the Basel Committee’s announcement and expects to commence consultation on revisions to the Authorized Depository Institution capital framework in early 2018. However, consistent with its July 2017 announcement, APRA reaffirms its expectation that Authorized Depository Institutions should be following strategies to increase their capital strength to exceed the unquestionably strong benchmarks by January 01, 2020. The 2018 consultation will be based on the final Basel III framework but with appropriate adjustments to reflect APRA’s approach and Australian conditions, most notably adjustments to capital requirements for higher risk residential mortgage lending, consistent with the achievement of unquestionably strong capital ratios.
Key elements of the final framework include changes to the standardized approach to credit risk capital for real estate, restrictions on modeled risk estimates by banks using the internal ratings-based (IRB) approach to credit risk capital, and the removal of provisions for banks to use internal models to determine their operational risk capital requirements. The Basel Committee has also agreed to introduce a ”floor” to limit the reduction in capital requirements available to banks, using capital models relative to those using the standardized approaches. APRA Chairman Wayne Byres said APRA's Authorized Depository Institution capital framework, including the adjustments made to IRB risk-weights in 2016, is well-equipped to accommodate the final Basel III framework. APRA has been involved in the international work to agree on the final Basel III reforms.
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Keywords: Asia Pacific, Australia, Banking, Basel III, Final Basel III Reforms, Capital Framework, APRA
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