IMF Technical Notes Assess Financial Sector in Poland

Technical Note on Stress Testing and Systemic Risk Analysis. For the FSAP, a comprehensive set of stress tests and contagion analysis were conducted to assess resilience of the financial system in Poland. The FSAP risk analysis included solvency stress testing and liquidity stress testing of commercial and cooperative banks as well as interbank, cross-sectoral, and cross-border contagion analysis using both exposure and market data. The FSAP risk analysis also considered the second-round impact of interbank contagion on banks’ solvency positions. The banking system shows resilience to adverse shocks in the aggregate; however, some other systemically important institutions (OSIIs) show weakness. In the adverse case, the solvency ratio for the system (that is, common equity tier one or CET1 ratio) declined from 16.2% to 12.9% of risk-weighted assets, driven by loan-loss provisions, valuation losses on debt securities, and funding interest rate risks. The authorities should sustain supervisory attention toward weaknesses in medium-sized banks and OSIIs, including the affiliating banks of cooperatives networks, given their importance in the banking system.

Technical Note on Macro-Prudential Policy Framework. This technical note evaluates the macro-prudential policy framework in Poland and proposes recommendations. It assesses the institutional framework underpinning macro-prudential policy, the operational capacity of the authorities to pursue such policy effectively, and the experience so far. The note also assesses the present institutional framework and looks at the systemic risk monitoring framework. Finally, it describes the macro-prudential instruments available to the authorities and assesses their application.

Technical Note on Insurance Sector Regulation and Supervision. This technical note assesses and provides an update on regulatory and supervisory developments in the Polish insurance sector since the earlier assessment, which had concluded in 2012. The note focuses on key issues, with reference to international standards but without presenting a detailed assessment of Poland’s observance. As an update to the full assessment of observance of the ICPs of IAIS carried out by the World Bank in 2012, the note focuses on developments such as the implementation of the EU Solvency II framework in Poland from January 01, 2016. The Solvency II changes appear well-embedded, without significant exemptions or transitional arrangements. Requirements for additional reporting and for audit of the key Solvency and Financial Condition Report were added to the Solvency II minimum requirements. Market-wide risk monitoring is conducted (including annual stress testing) and insurance sector issues are considered within the financial sector macro-prudential supervisory framework. The note highlights that most recommendations of the 2012 FSAP insurance assessment have been implemented. The supervision of intermediaries has also been strengthened in line with the 2012 FSAP recommendations and further improvements were expected to take effect in late 2018.

Related Links

• Note on Stress Testing and Systemic Risk Analysis
• Note on Macro-Prudential Policy Framework
• Note on Insurance Sector Regulation and Supervision

Keywords: Europe, Poland, Banking, Insurance, FSAP, Technical Notes, Stress Testing, Systemic Risk, Macro-Prudential Policy, Solvency II, SFCR, EU, IMF