OSFI Sets Domestic Stability Buffer Level at 2.25%
OSFI has set the Domestic Stability Buffer, or DSB, at 2.25% of total risk-weighted assets, with effect from April 30, 2020. The buffer is applicable to domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) and is calculated as specified under the Capital Adequacy Requirements (CAR) Guideline. As of December 2019, six federally regulated financial institutions have been designated as D-SIBs—namely, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toronto-Dominion Bank.
This reflects the view of OSFI that key vulnerabilities to D-SIBs in Canada remain elevated and show signs of increasing in some cases. In addition, global vulnerabilities related to ongoing trade tensions and rising leverage are growing, which could increase the chance of a spillover of external risks into the Canadian financial system. The specific vulnerabilities covered by the buffer continue to include:
- Canadian consumer indebtedness
- Asset imbalances in the Canadian market
- Canadian institutional indebtedness
Against a backdrop of accommodative low interest rates and stable economic conditions, it is prudent to build additional resilience against potential shocks to the financial system. An effective capital regime ensures that banks are holding adequate capital to protect against risks to the financial system, while encouraging them to use their buffers during times of stress to avoid asset-sales or drastic reductions in lending. This announcement is consistent with recent statements from FSB, which caution that “given rising global vulnerabilities, authorities should continue to assess whether existing buffers are adequate to support resilience, taking into account their domestic conditions and cyclical position.”
OSFI reviews and sets the level of the Domestic Stability Buffer on a semi-annual basis (June and December), based on its ongoing monitoring of federally regulated financial institutions as well as system-wide and sectoral developments. D-SIBs must publicly disclose the level of the Domestic Stability Buffer and include a brief narrative on the buffer. Disclosures are expected quarterly and when OSFI publicly announces decisions to change the buffer level. Breaches of the buffer by an individual bank will require public disclosure pursuant to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Related Links
Keywords: Americas, Canada, Banking, Domestic Stability Buffer, D-SIBs, Systemic Risk, Capital Adequacy Requirements, Financial Stability, Basel III, OSFI
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
US Agencies Update Rule on Derivative Contracts Exposure CalculationRelated Articles
ECB Amends Guideline on Temporary Collateral Easing Measures
ECB published Guideline 2021/975, which amends Guideline ECB/2014/31, on the additional temporary measures relating to Eurosystem refinancing operations and eligibility of collateral.
EIOPA Releases Report on Artificial Intelligence Governance Principles
EIOPA published a report, from the Consultative Expert Group on Digital Ethics, that sets out artificial intelligence governance principles for an ethical and trustworthy artificial intelligence in the insurance sector in EU.
HKMA to Increase Focus on Suptech and Regtech Cloud Adoption
HKMA published the seventh and final issue of the Regtech Watch series, which outlines the three-year roadmap of HKMA to integrate supervisory technology, or suptech, into its processes.
EC Consults on Improving Transparency in Secondary Markets for NPLs
EC launched a targeted consultation to improve transparency and efficiency in the secondary markets for nonperforming loans (NPLs).
BIS and Nordic Central Banks Launch Innovation Hub in Stockholm
BIS, Danmarks Nationalbank, Central Bank of Iceland, Norges Bank, and Sveriges Riksbank launched an Innovation Hub in Stockholm, making this the fifth BIS Innovation Hub Center to be opened in the past two years.
FDIC Tech Sprint Aims to Explore Technologies to Reach Unbanked
FDITECH, the technology lab of FDIC, announced a tech sprint that is designed to explore new technologies and techniques that would help expand the capabilities of community banks to meet the needs of unbanked individuals and households.
EC Releases Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Compass
EC released the EU Taxonomy Compass, which visually represents the contents of the EU Taxonomy starting with the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act.
FDIC Proposes Amendments to Real Estate Lending Standards
FDIC is seeking comments on a rule to amend the interagency guidelines for real estate lending policies—also known as the Real Estate Lending Standards.
EIOPA to Consider Liquidity Risk in Stress Test for 2021
EIOPA published its annual report, which sets out the work done in 2020 and indicates the planned work areas for the coming months.
ESRB Paper Discusses Measurement of Impact of Bank Failure via Lending
The ESRB paper that presents an analytical framework that assesses and quantifies the potential impact of a bank failure on the real economy through the lending function.
