RBI Amends HQLA Requirement for Computing LCR of Banks

At present, the assets allowed as the Level 1 High Quality Liquid Assets (HQLAs) for the purpose of computing the LCR of banks include government securities in excess of the minimum Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) requirement. Within the mandatory SLR requirement, Level 1 HQLA also include (i) government securities to the extent allowed by RBI under Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) [presently 2% of the bank's Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL)] and (ii) under Facility to Avail Liquidity for Liquidity Coverage Ratio (FALLCR) [presently 11% of the bank's NDTL]. It has been decided to permit banks with effect from October 01, 2018, to reckon government securities held by them up to another 2% of their NDTL, under FALLCR within the mandatory SLR requirement, as Level 1 HQLA for the purpose of computing their LCR. Hence, the carve-out from SLR, under FALLCR will now be 13%, taking the total carve out from SLR available to banks to 15% of their NDTL. For the purpose of LCR, banks shall continue to value such government securities reckoned as HQLA at an amount not greater than their current market value (irrespective of the category under which the security is held—that is, Held to Maturity/HTM, Available for Sale/AFS, or Held for Trading/HFT).

Effective Date: October 01, 2018, 2018

Keywords: Asia Pacific, India, Banking, Liquidity Risk, LCR, HQLA, Basel III, Statutory Liquidity Ratio, RBI