RBI Consults on Liquidity Risk Management Framework for NBFCs

The existing guidelines on liquidity risk management for NBFCs are being revised to strengthen and raise the standard of Asset Liability Management (ALM) framework applicable to NBFCs. While some of the regulatory prescriptions applicable to NBFCs on ALM framework have been updated, a few additional features, including disclosure standards, have also been introduced. While the detailed guidelines on the liquidity risk management framework are given in Annex A to the draft circular, the important changes are related to the following:

• Granular maturity buckets and tolerance limits
• Liquidity risk monitoring tools
• Adoption of “stock” approach to liquidity
• Extension of liquidity risk management principles

The draft circular proposes that all non-deposit-taking NBFCs with asset size of INR 50 billion and above and all deposit-taking NBFCs irrespective of their asset size shall maintain a liquidity buffer in terms of LCR. This will promote resilience of NBFCs to potential liquidity disruptions by ensuring that they have sufficient High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLAs) to survive any acute liquidity stress scenario lasting for 30 days. The HQLA stock to be maintained by NBFCs shall be minimum of 100% of total net cash outflows over the next 30 calendar days. The LCR requirement shall be binding on NBFCs from April 01, 2020, with the minimum HQLAs to be held being 60% of the LCR, progressively increasing in equal steps reaching up to the required level of 100% by April 01, 2024, as per the time-line given in the draft circular. Annex B to the draft circular contains detailed draft guidelines on LCR, including disclosure standards.

Comment Due Date: June 14, 2019

Keywords: Asia Pacific, India, Banking, Securities, LCR, HQLA, ALM, Liquidity Risk, NBFC, RBI