APRA Decides to Keep Countercyclical Capital Buffer for Banks at 0%
APRA announced its decision to keep the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) for authorized deposit-taking institutions on hold at zero percent. APRA also published an information paper on CCyB, which notes that APRA is giving consideration to introducing a non-zero default level for the CCyB as part of its broader reforms to the authorized deposit-taking institution capital framework. APRA expects to commence the next stage of its authorized deposit-taking institution capital consultation in the first half of next year. The revised capital framework of APRA is scheduled to come into effect from January 01, 2022.
The CCyB is an additional amount of capital that APRA can require authorized deposit-taking institutions to hold at certain points in the economic cycle to bolster the resilience of the banking sector during periods of heightened systemic risk. It has been set at zero percent of risk-weighted assets since it was introduced in 2016. APRA confirmed it considers that a zero percent CCyB remains appropriate at this point in time based on an assessment of the systemic risk environment for authorized deposit-taking institutions. Among the factors APRA considered in making its decision were:
- Low credit growth
- Minimal change in the risk profile of new housing lending
- Movements in residential property prices, particularly recent growth
- Increased entity costs due to operational risk events and misconduct
In conjunction with the other agencies on the Council of Financial Regulators, APRA will continue to closely monitor financial and economic conditions. APRA reviews the buffer quarterly and may adjust it if future circumstances warrant this.
Related Links
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Australia, Banking, CCyB, Systemic Risk, Basel III, Regulatory Capital, APRA
Featured Experts
María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer
Nicolas Degruson
Works with financial institutions, regulatory experts, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers to drive regulatory solutions across the globe.
Patrycja Oleksza
Applies proficiency and knowledge to regulatory capital and reporting analysis and coordinates business and product strategies in the banking technology area
Previous Article
NCUA Approves Delay of Risk-Based Capital Rules Until January 2022Related Articles
EBA Updates List of Validation Rules for Reporting by Banks
EBA issued a revised list of validation rules with respect to the implementing technical standards on supervisory reporting.
EBA Responds to EC Call for Advice to Strengthen AML/CFT Framework
EBA published its response to the call for advice of EC on ways to strengthen the EU legal framework on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT).
NGFS Advocates Environmental Risk Analysis for Financial Sector
NGFS published a paper on the overview of environmental risk analysis by financial institutions and an occasional paper on the case studies on environmental risk analysis methodologies.
MAS Issues Guidelines to Promote Senior Management Accountability
MAS published the guidelines on individual accountability and conduct at financial institutions.
APRA Formalizes Capital Treatment and Reporting of COVID-19 Loans
APRA published final versions of the prudential standard APS 220 on credit quality and the reporting standard ARS 923.2 on repayment deferrals.
SRB Chair Discusses Path to Harmonized Liquidation Regime for Banks
SRB published two articles, with one article discussing the framework in place to safeguard financial stability amid crisis and the other article outlining the path to a harmonized and predictable liquidation regime.
FSB Workshop Discusses Preliminary Findings of Too-Big-To-Fail Reforms
FSB hosted a virtual workshop as part of the consultation process for its evaluation of the too-big-to-fail reforms.
ECB Updates List of Supervised Entities in EU in September 2020
ECB updated the list of supervised entities in EU, with the number of significant supervised entities being 115.
OSFI Identifies Focus Areas to Strengthen Third-Party Risk Management
OSFI published the key findings of a study on third-party risk management.
FSB Extends Implementation Timeline for Framework on SFTs
FSB is extending the implementation timeline, by one year, for the minimum haircut standards for non-centrally cleared securities financing transactions or SFTs.
