95-18098. Risk-Based Capital Standards: Interest Rate Risk  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 39490-39494]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-18098]
    
    
    
    
    [[Page 39489]]
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    Part II
    
    Department of the Treasury
    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
    
    
    
    12 CFR Part 3
    
    Federal Reserve System
    
    
    
    12 CFR Part 208
    
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
    
    
    
    12 CFR Part 325
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Risk-Based Capital Standards; Interest Rate Risk; Final Rule and 
    Proposed Rule
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 148 / Wednesday, August 2, 1995 / 
    Rules and Regulations
    
    [[Page 39490]]
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
    
    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
    
    12 CFR Part 3
    
    [Docket No. 95-17]
    
    FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
    
    12 CFR Part 208
    
    [Docket No. R-0802]
    
    FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
    
    12 CFR Part 325
    
    RIN 3064-AB22
    
    
    Risk-Based Capital Standards: Interest Rate Risk
    
    agencies: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury; 
    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); and Federal 
    Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
    
    action: Final rule.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    summary: The OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (collectively referred to as 
    the banking agencies) are issuing this final rule to implement the 
    portion of Section 305 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
    Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) that requires the banking agencies to 
    revise their risk-based capital standards to ensure that those 
    standards take adequate account of interest rate risk. This final rule 
    amends the capital standards to specify that the banking agencies will 
    include, in their evaluations of a bank's capital adequacy, an 
    assessment of the exposure to declines in the economic value of the 
    bank's capital due to changes in interest rates.
        Concurrent with the publication of this final rule, the banking 
    agencies are issuing for comment, a joint policy statement that 
    describes the process the banking agencies will use to measure and 
    assess the exposure of a bank's net economic value to changes in 
    interest rates. After the banking agencies and banking industry gain 
    sufficient experience with the proposed measurement process, the 
    banking agencies intend, through a subsequent rulemaking process, to 
    issue a proposed rule that would establish an explicit capital charge 
    for interest rate risk that will be based upon the level of a bank's 
    measured interest rate risk exposure.
    
    effective date: September 1, 1995.
    
    for further information contact:
        OCC: Christina Benson, Capital Markets Specialist, or Lisa 
    Lintecum, National Bank Examiner (202/874-5070), Office of the Chief 
    National Bank Examiner; Michael Carhill, Financial Economist, Risk 
    Analysis Division (202/874-5700); and Ronald Shimabukuro, Senior 
    Attorney, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division (202/874-
    5090), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street SW., 
    Washington, DC 20219.
        Board of Governors: James Houpt, Assistant Director (202/452-3358), 
    William F. Treacy, Supervisory Financial Analyst (202/452-3859), 
    Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation; Gregory Baer, Managing 
    Senior Counsel (202/452-3236), Legal Division, Board of Governors of 
    the Federal Reserve System. For the hearing impaired only, 
    Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), Dorothea Thompson (202/
    452-3544), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C 
    Streets NW., Washington, DC 20551.
        FDIC: William A. Stark, Assistant Director (202/898-6972) or 
    Phillip J. Bond, Senior Capital Markets Specialist (202/898-3519), 
    Division of Supervision, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 
    17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20429.
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Background
    
        Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank's current and future 
    earnings and equity capital arising from adverse movements in interest 
    rates. This risk results from the possibility that changes in interest 
    rates may have an adverse impact on a bank's earnings and its 
    underlying economic value. Changes in interest rates affect a bank's 
    earnings by changing its net interest income and the level of other 
    interest-sensitive income and operating expenses. The underlying 
    economic value of the bank's assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet 
    items also are affected by changes in interest rates. These changes 
    occur because the present value of future cash flows, and in some cases 
    the cash flows themselves, change when interest rates change. The 
    combined effects of the changes in these present values reflect the 
    change in the underlying economic value of the bank's capital as well 
    as provide an indicator of the expected change in the bank's future 
    earnings arising from the change in interest rates.
        Interest rate risk is inherent in the role of banks as financial 
    intermediaries. Interest rate risk, however, introduces volatility to 
    bank earnings and to the economic value of the bank. A bank that has an 
    excessive level of interest rate risk can face diminished future 
    earnings, impaired liquidity and capital positions, and, ultimately, 
    may jeopardize its solvency.
        Section 305 of FDICIA, Pub. L. 102-242 (12 U.S.C. 1828 note), 
    requires the banking agencies to revise their risk-based capital 
    guidelines to take adequate account of interest rate risk. Section 305 
    of FDICIA also requires the banking agencies to publish final 
    implementing regulations by June 19, 1993, and to establish transition 
    rules to facilitate compliance with those regulations.
        The banking agencies have not met the June 19, 1993, statutory date 
    for publishing a final rule for this section of FDICIA. This delay 
    reflects the difficult tradeoffs the banking agencies have faced in 
    developing and implementing a rule that provides a sufficiently 
    accurate basis for estimating banks' interest rate risk exposures and 
    their need for capital, yet maintains enough transparency and 
    simplicity to allow bank management to readily determine their 
    regulatory capital requirements. The banking agencies also are mindful 
    of the need to avoid unnecessary regulatory burdens associated with 
    this rule, consistent with Section 335 of the Reigle Community 
    Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-325 (12 
    U.S.C. 1828 note).
    
    II. September 1993 Proposal
    
    A. Proposal
    
        In September 1993, the banking agencies issued a proposed rule that 
    solicited comments on a framework for measuring banks' interest rate 
    risk exposures and determining the amount of capital needed by a bank 
    to account for interest rate risk. See 58 FR 48206 (September 14, 
    1993).
        The framework outlined by the banking agencies in the September 
    1993 proposed rule incorporated the use of a three-level measurement 
    process to evaluate banks' interest rate risk exposures. The first 
    measure was a quantitative screen, based on existing Consolidated 
    Report of Condition and Income (Call Report) information, that would 
    exempt potential low risk banks from additional reporting requirements. 
    The exemption screen was based on two criteria: (1) the amount of a 
    bank's off-balance sheet interest rate contracts in relation to its 
    total assets, and (2) the relation between a bank's fixed- and 
    floating-rate loans and securities that mature or reprice beyond five 
    years and its total capital.
        Banks not meeting the proposed exemption test would have been 
    required to calculate their economic exposure by either: (1) a 
    supervisory 
    
    [[Page 39491]]
    model that measured the change in the economic value of the bank for a 
    specified change in interest rates; or (2) the bank's own interest rate 
    risk model, provided that the model was deemed adequate by examiners 
    for the nature and scope of the bank's activities and that it measured 
    the bank's economic exposure using the interest rate scenarios 
    specified by the banking agencies.
        The September 1993 proposed rule also sought comment on two 
    alternative methods for determining the amount of capital a bank may 
    need for interest rate risk. Both approaches proposed to focus 
    supervisory attention and need for capital on those banks whose 
    measured exposure exceeded a proposed supervisory threshold level.\1\ 
    One method (Minimum Capital Standard) proposed to establish an explicit 
    minimum capital standard for interest rate risk. This approach would 
    have relied on the results of either the supervisory model or banks' 
    own models and would have required banks to have capital sufficient to 
    cover the amount by which their measured exposure exceeded a 
    supervisory threshold level. The second approach (Risk Assessment) 
    proposed to use model results as one of several factors that examiners 
    would consider when determining a bank's capital needs for interest 
    rate risk. Under this approach, a bank's need for capital would be 
    determined on a case-by-case basis as part of each banking agency's 
    examination process. In determining the need for capital, examiners 
    would consider the quality of the bank's interest rate risk management, 
    internal controls and the overall financial condition of the bank. 
    Banks that had measured exposures in excess of the supervisory 
    threshold and weak interest rate risk management systems would 
    generally be required to hold additional capital for interest rate 
    risk.
    
        \1\ A threshold level representing a decline in economic value 
    equal to 1.0 percent of assets was proposed by the banking agencies.
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    B. Comments
        The banking agencies collectively received a total of 133 comments 
    on the September 1993 proposed rule. The majority of commenters were 
    banks. Thrifts, trade associations, bank consultants, other government-
    sponsored agencies and other regulators also commented. The majority of 
    commenters responded favorably to modifications that the banking 
    agencies made from the earlier advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
    published in the Federal Register on August 10, 1992. See 57 FR 35507 
    (August 10, 1992). In particular, most commenters expressed strong 
    support for using the results of banks' own interest rate risk models 
    to determine their levels of exposure and corresponding need for 
    capital. Commenters noted the potential inaccuracies of standardized 
    regulatory models, such as the proposed supervisory model, as one 
    reason for allowing the use of internal models. Internal models, they 
    believed, would better capture the unique characteristics of individual 
    bank portfolios. Many commenters also stated that permitting the use of 
    internal models would provide banks with incentives to improve their 
    internal risk measurement systems.
        The vast majority of commenters also urged the banking agencies to 
    adopt a ``Risk Assessment'' approach for determining capital adequacy. 
    Among the reasons cited for this approach were concerns about the 
    accuracy of the proposed supervisory model and the need to consider 
    qualitative factors, such as the quality of a bank's risk management 
    process and its ability to respond to changing market conditions, in 
    evaluating capital. Many commenters believed that by considering such 
    factors, the banking agencies would reward banks that have superior 
    risk management capabilities.
        Some commenters believed that the banking agencies' primary focus 
    when evaluating the level of a bank's interest rate risk exposure 
    should be on the exposure of the bank's near-term (one- to two-year) 
    reported earnings, rather than on its exposure to economic value. While 
    recognizing the importance of understanding the degree to which a 
    bank's reported earnings are vulnerable to changing interest rates, the 
    banking agencies have concluded that the economic value perspective 
    more effectively identifies the risks that the bank's current business 
    activities pose to its financial condition, its longer-term earnings 
    and solvency, and hence the adequacy of its capital levels. Economic 
    value measures the effect of a change in interest rates on the value of 
    all future cash flows generated by a bank's current financial 
    instruments, not just those that affect earnings over the next few 
    months or quarters. Indeed, an earnings analysis provides information 
    only on positions repricing within the forecast horizon, and thus would 
    not take account of the full magnitude of risk. As a result, the effect 
    of embedded and explicit options can be significantly understated by 
    such an analysis. In contrast, an economic value perspective captures 
    the effect of changing interest rates for all time periods, and offers 
    a superior vehicle for assessing the effect of those rate changes on 
    positions that have option characteristics. In addition, an economic 
    value perspective offers important insights into the effect of changing 
    interest rates on the liquidity of a bank's assets.
        Many commenters also raised common concerns about various elements 
    of the measurement process outlined in the September 1993 proposed 
    rule. Most commenters believe that the proposed treatment of non-
    maturity deposits understate their effective maturity. Others raised 
    concerns about the accuracy of the proposed supervisory model and the 
    appropriateness of the proposed exemption test criteria. The 
    measurement system, proposed in today's joint policy statement, 
    includes a discussion of these comments and incorporates a number of 
    changes to the September 1993 proposed rule in response to commenters' 
    concerns.
    
    III. Final Rule and Two-Step Process for Establishing Minimum Capital 
    Standards
    
        After careful consideration of all the comments, the banking 
    agencies have decided to implement minimum capital standards for 
    interest rate risk exposures in a two-step process.
        This final rule implements the first step of that process by 
    revising the capital standards of the banking agencies to explicitly 
    include a bank's exposure to declines in the economic value of its 
    capital due to changes in interest rates as a factor that the banking 
    agencies will consider in evaluating a bank's capital adequacy.\2\ This 
    final rule does not codify a measurement framework for assessing the 
    level of a bank's interest rate risk exposure. The information and 
    exposure estimates collected through a new proposed supervisory 
    measurement process, described in the banking agencies' joint policy 
    statement on interest rate risk, would be one quantitative factor used 
    by examiners to determine the adequacy of an individual bank's capital 
    for interest rate risk. The focus of that proposed process is on a 
    bank's economic value exposure. Other quantitative factors that 
    examiners will consider include the bank's historical financial 
    performance and its earnings exposure to interest rate movements. 
    Examiners also will consider qualitative 
    
    [[Page 39492]]
    factors, including the adequacy of the bank's internal interest rate 
    risk management. Consistent with each banking agency's safety and 
    soundness guidelines, the banking agencies expect a bank to properly 
    manage all of its risks, including its interest rate risk, in a manner 
    commensurate with its risk profile. Nothing in this rule is intended to 
    diminish the importance or need for a bank to have an effective risk 
    management system.
    
        \2\ The exposure of a bank's economic value is generally the 
    change in the present value of its assets, less the change in the 
    present value of its liabilities, plus the change in the value of 
    its interest rate off-balance-sheet contracts. It represents the 
    change in the underlying economic value of the bank's capital.
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        This final rule represents the banking agencies' adoption of the 
    Risk Assessment approach described in the September 1993 proposed rule 
    with the exception that, unlike that proposed rule, this final rule 
    does not establish an explicit supervisory threshold that defines 
    whether a bank had an above ``normal'' level of interest rate risk 
    exposure. The banking agencies have concluded that it is appropriate to 
    first collect industry data and to evaluate the level of interest rate 
    risk exposure in the banking industry before establishing an explicit 
    supervisory threshold above which capital would be required. It is 
    important to note, however, that the banking agencies intend for this 
    case-by-case approach for assessing a bank's capital adequacy for 
    interest rate risk to be a transitional arrangement.
        The second step of the banking agencies' process will be to issue a 
    proposed rule that would establish an explicit minimum capital charge 
    for interest rate risk, based on the level of bank's measured interest 
    rate risk exposure. The banking agencies anticipate that the proposed 
    policy statement on the supervisory assessment of interest rate risk 
    will provide the foundation for the proposed rule that would propose 
    the establishment of an explicit minimum capital requirement. The 
    banking agencies will implement this second step at some future date, 
    through a subsequent and separate proposed rule after the banking 
    agencies and the banking industry have gained more experience with the 
    proposed supervisory measurement and assessment process.
        During the transitional period before the second rulemaking process 
    is initiated, the banking agencies will work with the industry to 
    determine what, if any, further modifications to the proposed 
    measurement process are warranted. Such modifications may include 
    further refinements to the supervisory model and to other criteria used 
    by examiners to evaluate the adequacy of banks' internal models. The 
    transition period also allows the banking agencies to collect and 
    monitor more rigorous and consistent information on the level of banks' 
    interest rate risk exposures. This experience and information will 
    assist the banking agencies in formulating a proposed rule for explicit 
    minimum capital standards for interest rate risk.
        Second 305(b)(2) of FDICIA requires the banking agencies to discuss 
    the development of comparable standards with members of the supervisory 
    committee of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The Basle 
    Committee on Banking Supervision, under the auspices of the BIS, has 
    been working on ways to incorporate interest rate risk into the Basle 
    Accord on risk-based capital standards. See International Convergence 
    of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards (July 1988). The banking 
    agencies are participating actively in that international effort. 
    However, the timing of any international standard for monitoring and 
    assessing capital for interest rate risk is uncertain. Given the 
    importance of interest rate risk to the safety and soundness of the 
    banking industry and the mandate of section 305 of FDICIA, the banking 
    agencies have concluded that they should not delay the implementation 
    of this rule and measurement process until an international standard is 
    achieved. The banking agencies will continue to work with international 
    organizations to develop consistent international capital standards. At 
    the time that an international agreement emerges on either a 
    measurement system or explicit minimum capital standard, the banking 
    agencies will revisit their rules in light of the international 
    standard.
    
    IV. Regulatory Flexibility Act Statement
    
        Each banking agency has concluded after reviewing the final 
    regulations that the regulations, if adopted, will not impose a 
    significant economic hardship on small institutions. The final rules do 
    not necessitate the development of sophisticated recordkeeping or 
    reporting systems by small institutions nor will small institutions 
    need to seek out the expertise of specialized accountants, lawyers, or 
    managers in order to comply with the regulation. Each banking agency 
    therefore hereby certifies pursuant to section 605b of the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605b) that the final rule will not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
    within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
    seq.).
    
    V. Executive Order 12866
    
        The Comptroller of the Currency has determined that this final rule 
    is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
    
    VI. OCC Response to Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995
    
        Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 (Unfunded Mandates 
    Act) (signed into law on March 22, 1995) requires that an agency 
    prepare a budgetary impact statement before promulgating a rule that 
    includes a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by state, 
    local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private 
    sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. If a budgetary impact 
    statement is required, section 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Act also 
    requires an agency to identify and consider a reasonable number of 
    regulatory alternatives before promulgating a rule. Because the OCC has 
    determined that this final rule will not result in expenditures by 
    state, local and tribal governments, or by the private sector, of more 
    than $100 million in any one year, the OCC has not prepared a budgetary 
    impact statement or specifically addressed the regulatory alternatives 
    considered. As discussed in the preamble, this final rule will clarify 
    the authority of the OCC to require additional capital for any 
    significant exposure to declines in the economic value due to changes 
    in interest rates. Under the proposed joint policy statement, the 
    supervisory model and internal bank models will serve as supervisory 
    tools to assist examiners in assessing capital adequacy. Any decision 
    to require additional capital will be made on a case-by-case basis as 
    prescribed under the current capital procedures.
    
    List of Subjects
    
    OCC
    
    12 CFR Part 3
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Capital risk, National 
    banks, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    Board
    12 CFR Part 208
    
        Accounting, Agriculture, Banks, banking, Confidential business 
    information, Crime, Federal Reserve System, Mortgages, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements, Securities.
    
    FDIC
    
    12 CFR Part 325
    
        Bank deposit insurance, Banks, banking, Capital adequacy, Reporting 
    and recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations, State nonmember 
    banks.
    
    [[Page 39493]]
    
    
    Comptroller of the Currency
    
    12 CFR Chapter I
    
    Authority and Issuance
    
        For the reasons set forth in the joint preamble, part 3 of chapter 
    I of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set 
    forth below.
    
    PART 3--MINIMUM CAPITAL RATIOS; ISSUANCE OF DIRECTIVES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 93a, 161, 1818, 1828(n), 1828 note, 1831n 
    note, 1835, 3907, and 3909.
    
        2. Section 3.10 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.10  Applicability.
    
        The OCC may require higher minimum capital ratios for an individual 
    bank in view of its circumstances. For example, higher capital ratios 
    may be appropriate for:
        (a) A newly chartered bank;
        (b) A bank receiving special supervisory attention;
        (c) A bank that has, or is expected to have, losses resulting in 
    capital inadequacy;
        (d) A bank with significant exposure due to the risks from 
    concentrations of credit, certain risks arising from nontraditional 
    activities, or management's overall inability to monitor and control 
    financial and operating risks presented by concentrations of credit and 
    nontraditional activities;
        (e) A bank with significant exposure to declines in the economic 
    value of its capital due to changes in interest rates;
        (f) A bank with significant exposure due to fiduciary or 
    operational risk;
        (g) A bank exposed to a high degree of asset depreciation, or a low 
    level of liquid assets in relation to short term liabilities;
        (h) A bank exposed to a high volume or, or particularly severe, 
    problem loans;
        (i) A bank that is growing rapidly, either internally or through 
    acquisitions; or
        (j) A bank that may be adversely affected by the activities or 
    condition of its holding company, affiliate(s), or other persons or 
    institutions including chain banking organizations, with which it has 
    significant business relationships.
        3. In appendix A to part 3, section 1, paragraph (b)(1) is revised 
    to read as follows:
    
    Appendix A to Part 3--Risk-Based Capital Guidelines
    
    * * * * *
        Section 1 * * * (b) * * * (1) The risk-based capital ratio 
    derived from these guidelines is an important factor in the OCC's 
    evaluation of a bank's capital adequacy. However, since this measure 
    addresses only credit risk, the 8% minimum ratio should not be 
    viewed as the level to be targeted, but rather as a floor. The final 
    supervisory judgment on a bank's capital adequacy is based on an 
    individualized assessment of numerous factors, including those 
    listed in 12 CFR 3.10. With respect to the consideration of these 
    factors, the OCC will give particular attention to any bank with 
    significant exposure to declines in the economic value of its 
    capital due to changes in interest rates. As a result, it may differ 
    from the conclusion drawn from an isolated comparison of a bank's 
    risk-based capital ration to the 8% minimum specified in these 
    guidelines. In addition to the standards established by these risk-
    based capital guidelines, all national banks must maintain a minimum 
    capital-to-total assets ratio in accordance with the provisions of 
    12 CFR part 3.
    * * * * *
    
    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
    
        Dated: June 29, 1995.
    Eugene A. Ludwig,
    Comptroller of the Currency.
    Federal Reserve System
    
    12 CFR Chapter II
    
    Authority and Issuance
    
        For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 208 of chapter II 
    of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth 
    below:
    
    PART 208--MEMBERSHIP OF STATE BANKING INSTITUTIONS IN THE FEDERAL 
    RESERVE SYSTEM (REGULATION H)
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 208 revised to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 36, 248(a), 248(c), 321-338a, 371d, 461, 
    481-486, 601, 611, 1814, 1823(j), 1828)(o), 1831o, 1831p-1, 3105, 
    3310, 3331-3351, and 3906-3909; 15 U.S.C. 78b, 781(b), 781(g), 
    781(i), 78o-4(c)(5), 78q, 78q-1, and 78w; 31 U.S.C. 5318.
    
        2. Appendix A to part 208 is amended by revising the fifth and 
    sixth paragraphs under ``I. Overview'' to read as follows:
    
    Appendix A to Part 1208--Capital Adequacy Guidelines for State 
    Member Banks: Risk-Based Measure
    
    I. Overview
    
    * * * * *
        The risk-based capital ratio focuses principally on broad 
    categories of credit risk, although the framework for assigning 
    assets and off-balance-sheet items to risk categories does 
    incorporate elements of transfer risk, as well as limited instances 
    of interest rate and market risk. The framework incorporates risks 
    arising from traditional banking activities as well as risks arising 
    from nontraditional activities. The risk-based ratio does not, 
    however, incorporate other factors that can affect an institution's 
    financial condition. These factors include overall interest-rate 
    exposure; liquidity, funding and market risks; the quality and level 
    of earnings; investment, loan portfolio, and other concentrations of 
    credit; certain risks arising from nontraditional activities; the 
    quality of loans and investments; the effectiveness of loan and 
    investment policies; and management's overall ability to monitor and 
    control financial and operating risks, including the risks presented 
    by concentrations of credit and nontraditional activities.
        In addition to evaluating capital ratios, an overall assessment 
    of capital adequacy must take account of those factors, including, 
    in particular, the level and severity of problem and classified 
    assets as well as a bank's exposure to declines in the economic 
    value of its capital due to changes in interest rates. For this 
    reason, the final supervisory judgment on a bank's capital adequacy 
    may differ significantly from conclusions that might be drawn solely 
    from the level of its risk-based capital ratio.
    * * * * *
        By Order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
    System.
    
        Dated: July 7, 1995.
    William W. Wiles,
    Secretary of Board.
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
    
    12 CFR Chapter III
    
    Authority and Issuance
    
        For the reasons set forth in the joint preamble, part 325 of 
    chapter III of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended 
    as set forth below:
    
    PART 325--CAPITAL MAINTENANCE
    
        1. The authority citation for part 325 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1815(a), 1815(b), 1816, 1818(a), 1818(b), 
    1818(c), 1818(t), 1819(Tenth), 1828(c), 1828(d), 1828(i), 1828(n), 
    1828(o), 1831o, 3907, 3909, 4808; Pub. L. 102-233, 105 Stat. 1761, 
    1789, 1790 (12 U.S.C. 1831n note); Pub. L. 102-242, 105 Stat. 2236, 
    2355, 2386 (12 U.S.C. 1828 note).
    
        2. In appendix A to part 325, the fifth undesignated paragraph of 
    the introductory text is revised to read as follows:
    
    Appendix A to Part 325--Statement of Policy on Risk-Based Capital
    
    * * * * *
        The risk-based capital ratio focuses principally on broad 
    categories of credit risk, however, the ratio does not take account 
    of many other factors that can affect a bank's financial condition. 
    These factors include 
    
    [[Page 39494]]
    overall interest rate risk exposure, liquidity, funding and market 
    risks; the quality and level of earnings; investment, loan 
    portfolio, and other concentrations of credit risk, certain risks 
    arising from nontraditional activities; the quality of loans and 
    investments; the effectiveness of loan and investment policies; and 
    management's overall ability to monitor and control financial and 
    operating risks, including the risk presented by concentrations of 
    credit and nontraditional activities. In addition to evaluating 
    capital ratios, an overall assessment of capital adequacy must take 
    account of each of these other factors, including, in particular, 
    the level and severity of problem and adversely classified assets as 
    well as a bank's interest rate risk as measured by the bank's 
    exposure to declines in the economic value of its capital due to 
    changes in interest rates. For this reason, the final supervisory 
    judgment on a bank's capital adequacy may differ significantly from 
    the conclusions that might be drawn solely from the absolute level 
    of the bank's risk-based capital ratio.
    
        By order of the Board of Directors.
    
        Dated at Washington, D.C. this 27th day of June, 1995.
    
    Federal deposit Insurance Corporation.
    Jerry L. Langley,
    Executive Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 95-18098 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODES 4810-33-M, 6210-01-M, 6714-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/1/1995
Published:
08/02/1995
Department:
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
95-18098
Dates:
September 1, 1995.
Pages:
39490-39494 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 95-17, Docket No. R-0802
RINs:
3064-AB22
PDF File:
95-18098.pdf
CFR: (1)
12 CFR 3.10