MAS Guidelines on Risk Management Practices and Islamic Banking Rules
MAS published Notices 1108 and 1001 for merchant banks, revised guidelines on the risk management practices of Board of Directors and senior management of financial institutions, and updated guidelines on the application of banking regulations to Islamic banking. Both the guidelines will take effect on July 01, 2021. The guidelines on risk management practices set out corporate governance roles of the Board of Directors and senior management of a financial institution in ensuring a sound risk management culture and environment. These guidelines cover roles and responsibilities of the Board and senior management pertaining to risk management, risk culture and risk appetite, risk management systems and framework, and reporting to MAS.
The guidelines on corporate governance practices highlight that the Board should ensure that senior management maintains a sound system of risk management and internal controls to safeguard stakeholders’ interests and the institution’s assets, and should determine the nature and extent of the significant risks which the Board is willing to take in achieving its strategic objectives. The Board and senior management should understand the institution’s business strategy, nature of the business activities, new products, material modifications to existing products, and major management initiatives and their associated risks. Senior management should provide the Board with information on all potentially material risks facing the institution, including those relevant to the institution’s risk profile, capital and liquidity needs. The guidelines further mention that the Board and senior management should notify MAS in advance of any substantive changes in the institution’s business activities, structure and overall condition, or as soon as they become aware of any material adverse developments, including breach of legal or prudential requirements. MAS should also be notified of material information that may negatively affect the suitability of a relevant shareholder, and the fitness and propriety of a Board member or a member of the senior management.
The guidelines on application of banking regulations to Islamic banking cover general approach of MAS to the regulation of Islamic banking, providing guidance on the admission framework for financial institutions intending to offer Islamic financial services and the regulatory treatment for Islamic banking products, including the capital treatment of such products. These guidelines only cover the application of the Banking Act (Cap 19), Banking Regulations and written directions issued pursuant to the Banking Act, and do not cover the application of other legislation, such as the Securities and Futures Act and Financial Advisers Act. These guidelines apply to all financial institutions offering Islamic banking in Singapore.
In addition, MAS published Notices 1108 and 1001 for merchant banks, which will take effect from July 01, 2021. MAS Notice 1108 sets out requirements for merchant banks on protecting the confidentiality of customer information in all outsourcing arrangements. This notice applies to all merchant banks. It sets out the conditions for outsourcing operational functions when such functions involve disclosure of customer information, and which will be performed outside Singapore. MAS Notice 1001 sets out definitions for the terms "capital funds" and "net head office funds" for merchant banks. MAS also announced that it will be cancelling guidelines for operation of merchant banks with effect from July 01, 2021.
Effective Date: July 01, 2021 (Guidelines)
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Singapore, Banking, Merchant Banks, Islamic Banking, Governance, Regulatory Capital, Banking Act, ESG, MAS
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.
Trevor Howes
IFRS 17 technical advisor; AXIS actuarial modeling system expert; extensive experience in life insurance and life reinsurance, with focus on modeling, valuation, and financial reporting
Previous Article
IOSCO Publishes Report on Sustainability-Related Issuer DisclosuresRelated Articles
EBA Publishes Final Regulatory Standards on STS Securitizations
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published the final draft regulatory technical standards specifying and, where relevant, calibrating the minimum performance-related triggers for simple.
ECB Further Reviews Costs and Benefits Associated with IReF
The European Central Bank (ECB) is undertaking the integrated reporting framework (IReF) project to integrate statistical requirements for banks into a standardized reporting framework that would be applicable across the euro area and adopted by authorities in other EU member states.
EBA Publishes Funding Plans Report, Receives EMAS Certification
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been awarded the top European Standard for its environmental performance under the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
MAS Launches SaaS Solution to Simplify Listed Entity ESG Disclosures
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) set out the Financial Services Industry Transformation Map 2025 and, in collaboration with the SGX Group, launched ESGenome.
BCBS to Finalize Crypto Rules by End-2022; US to Propose Basel 3 Rules
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision met, shortly after a gathering of the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision (GHOS), the oversight body of BCBS.
IOSCO Welcomes Work on Sustainability-Related Corporate Reporting
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) welcomed the work of the international audit and assurance standard setters—the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
BoE Allows One-Day Delay in Statistical Data Submissions by Banks
The Bank of England (BoE) published a Statistical Notice (2022/18), which informs that due to the Bank Holiday granted for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral on Monday September 19, 2022.
ACPR Amends Reporting Module Timelines Under EBA Framework 3.2
The French Prudential Control and Resolution Authority (ACPR) announced that the European Banking Authority (EBA) has updated its filing rules and the implementation dates for certain modules of the EBA reporting framework 3.2.
ECB Paper Discusses Disclosure of Climate Risks by Credit Agencies
The European Central Bank (ECB) published a paper that examines how credit rating agencies accepted by the Eurosystem, as part of the Eurosystem Credit Assessment Framework (ECAF)
APRA to Modernize Prudential Architecture, Reduces Liquidity Facility
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced reduction in the aggregate Committed Liquidity Facility (CLF) for authorized deposit-taking entities to ~USD 33 billion on September 01, 2022.
