MAS Amends Notices and Guide on Debt-Servicing Ratio on Property Loans
MAS amended Notices 645, 1115, 831, 128, 632, 115, and 825, along with the guidelines on the application of total debt-servicing ratio (TDSR) for property loans under Notices 645, 1115, 831, and 128 (TDSR Guidelines). MAS Notices 632, 115, and 825 are related to residential property loans and apply to banks, direct insurers, and finance companies, respectively. The amendments to the relevant notices and guideline will take effect on July 06, 2018.
MAS Notices 645, 1115, 831, and 128 require financial institutions to compute TDSR of a borrower applying for any credit facility set out in paragraph 3 of the Notices 645, 1115, 831, and 128. The TDSR will facilitate financial institutions’ assessment of the borrower’s repayment ability. It will also encourage financial prudence, as it will help to ensure that borrowers are not over leveraged in their property purchases. MAS expects financial institutions to have internal policies and procedures in place to implement the Notices. The TDSR Guidelines set out further expectations of MAS regarding a financial institution's application of the TDSR.
Financial institutions should incorporate the TDSR in their credit assessment frameworks for property loans. Financial institutions should set appropriate and prudent TDSR thresholds in credit assessment, to ensure that property loans granted are commensurate with the institutions’ risk appetite. Financial institutions should also set out clearly the rationale behind any differentiated TDSR thresholds applied, taking into consideration factors such as the risk profile of the borrower and purpose of the property loan. TDSR thresholds should be reviewed periodically to ensure their continued relevance.
Effective Date: July 06, 2018
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Singapore, Banking, Insurance, Residential Property Loans, TDSR Guidelines, Notice 632, Notice 115, Notice 825, Debt Service Ratio, MAS
Related Articles
BIS and Central Banks Experiment with GenAI to Assess Climate Risks
A recent report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub details Project Gaia, a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub Eurosystem Center and certain central banks in Europe
Nearly 25% G-SIBs Commit to Adopting TNFD Nature-Related Disclosures
Nature-related risks are increasing in severity and frequency, affecting businesses, capital providers, financial systems, and economies.
Singapore to Mandate Climate Disclosures from FY2025
Singapore recently took a significant step toward turning climate ambition into action, with the introduction of mandatory climate-related disclosures for listed and large non-listed companies
SEC Finalizes Climate-Related Disclosures Rule
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized the long-awaited rule that mandates climate-related disclosures for domestic and foreign publicly listed companies in the U.S.
EBA Proposes Standards Related to Standardized Credit Risk Approach
The European Banking Authority (EBA) has been taking significant steps toward implementing the Basel III framework and strengthening the regulatory framework for credit institutions in the EU
US Regulators Release Stress Test Scenarios for Banks
The U.S. regulators recently released baseline and severely adverse scenarios, along with other details, for stress testing the banks in 2024. The relevant U.S. banking regulators are the Federal Reserve Bank (FED), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Asian Governments Aim for Interoperability in AI Governance Frameworks
The regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence (AI), including the generative kind, is evolving rapidly, with governments and regulators aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology.
EBA Proposes Operational Risk Standards Under Final Basel III Package
The European Union (EU) has been working on the final elements of Basel III standards, with endorsement of the Banking Package and the publication of the European Banking Authority (EBA) roadmap on Basel III implementation in December 2023.
EFRAG Proposes XBRL Taxonomy and Standard for Listed SMEs Under ESRS
The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which plays a crucial role in shaping corporate reporting standards in European Union (EU), is seeking comments, until May 21, 2024, on the Exposure Draft ESRS for listed SMEs.
ECB to Expand Climate Change Work in 2024-2025
Banking regulators worldwide are increasingly focusing on addressing, monitoring, and supervising the institutions' exposure to climate and environmental risks.
