APRA Publishes Policy and Supervisory Priorities for 2020
APRA has set out its policy and supervision priorities for the next 12 to 18 months, with an emphasis on fulfilling the strategic goals of its Corporate Plan. These goals are maintaining financial system resilience, improving outcomes for superannuation members, improving cyber-resilience in the financial sector, and transforming governance, culture, remuneration, and accountability (GCRA) across all APRA-regulated institutions. Additionally, while speaking at the Chair Forum of the Investment Magazine, the APRA Deputy Chair Helen Rowell presented the policy and supervisory agenda for superannuation sector in 2020.
Consistent with the previous years, the policy priorities of APRA offer a forward view of planned changes to the prudential framework. Among the key cross-industry policy priorities for 2020 are initiatives aimed at driving improvements in GCRA, including finalizing a more robust prudential standard on remuneration, and updating prudential standards on governance and risk management. Additionally, as flagged in the APRA Insight last month, APRA intends to roll out a new prudential risk rating system to replace its long-standing Probability and Impact Rating System and Supervisory Oversight and Response System (also known as PAIRS and SOARS models) mid-year. APRA will also work closely with the Treasury and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in expanding the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) to the insurance and superannuation sectors. The other key policy priorities include the following:
- Strengthening crisis preparedness, including the development of a new prudential standard on resolution and recovery planning
- Completing the current review of the capital framework for authorized deposit-taking institutions to implement unquestionably strong capital ratios and the Basel III reforms
- Progressing a range of enhancements recommended by the post-implementation review of the original superannuation prudential framework introduced in 2013
- Continuing work on strengthening the capital framework for private health insurers
Accompanying the policy priorities are the supervision priorities of APRA, which outline how the supervision function will be directed toward significant risks in the financial system and actions to ensure that these risks are well-managed and mitigated. In the supervision arena, the following are the key priorities for 2020:
- Maintaining financial resilience, including through increased focus on recovery and resolution planning and stress testing
- Conducting a range of GCRA-related supervisory reviews and deep dives and using entity self-assessments to drive greater accountability
- Encouraging under-performing superannuation funds to urgently improve member outcomes or exit the industry
- More closely assessing institutions’ capability to deal with emerging and accelerating risks, such as cyber-security and climate change
Related Links
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Australia, Banking, Insurance, Pensions, Superannuation, Policy Priorities 2020, Supervision Priorities 2020, GCRA, Corporate Plan, Basel III, BEAR, Resolution Framework, Operational Risk, APRA
Featured Experts
María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer
Pierre-Etienne Chabanel
Brings expertise in technology and software solutions around banking regulation, whether deployed on-premises or in the cloud.
Nicolas Degruson
Works with financial institutions, regulatory experts, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers to drive regulatory solutions across the globe.
Previous Article
UK Authorities Update on Transition to Post-Exit Rules and StandardsNext Article
ISDA Publishes First Issue of ISDA Quarterly in 2020Related Articles
EBA Publishes Phase 2 of Technical Package on Reporting Framework 2.10
EBA published phase 2 of the technical package on the reporting framework 2.10, providing the technical tools and specifications for implementation of EBA reporting requirements.
FASB Proposes to Delay Implementation of Insurance Contracts Standard
FASB issued a proposed Accounting Standards Update that would grant insurance companies, adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, an additional year to implement the Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-12 on targeted improvements to accounting for long-duration insurance contracts, or LDTI (Topic 944).
APRA Updates Regulatory Approach to Loan Deferrals Amid COVID Crisis
APRA updated the regulatory approach for loans subject to repayment deferrals amid the COVID-19 crisis.
BCBS and FSB Set Out Recommendations for Benchmark Transition
BCBS and FSB published a report on supervisory issues associated with benchmark transition.
IAIS Sets Out Recommendations for Benchmark Transition for Insurers
IAIS published a report on supervisory issues associated with benchmark transition from an insurance perspective.
ESMA Updates Reporting Manual on European Single Electronic Format
ESMA updated the reporting manual on the European Single Electronic Format (ESEF).
EBA Calls on Resolution Authorities to Consider Impact of COVID Crisis
EBA published a statement on resolution planning in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BCBS Finalizes Revisions to Credit Valuation Adjustment Risk Framework
BCBS Finalizes Revisions to Credit Valuation Adjustment Risk Framework
ECB Guideline on Materiality Threshold for Credit Obligations Past Due
ECB published a guideline (2020/97), in the Official Journal of European Union, on the definition of materiality threshold for credit obligations past due for less significant institutions.
FED Temporarily Revises FR Y-14 With Respect to PPP and CARES Act
FED temporarily revised the capital assessments and stress testing reports (FR Y-14A/Q/M) to implement the changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
