Banking (prudential standard) determination No. 10 of 2012
Prudential Standard APS 117 Capital Adequacy: Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (Advanced ADIs)
I, John Francis Laker, delegate of APRA:
(a) under subsection 11AF(3) of the Banking Act 1959 (the Act) REVOKE Banking (prudential standard) determination No. 10 of 2007 including Prudential Standard APS 117 Capital Adequacy: Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (Advanced ADIs) made under that Determination; and
(b) under subsection 11AF(1) of the Act DETERMINE Prudential Standard APS 117 Capital Adequacy: Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (Advanced ADIs) in the form set out in the attached Schedule, which applies to ADIs and authorised NOHCs to the extent provided in paragraphs 2 to 4 of the prudential standard.
This instrument takes effect on 1 January 2013.
Dated 29 November 2012
[Signed]
John Francis Laker
Chair
Interpretation
In this instrument:
ADI is short for authorised deposit-taking institution which has the meaning given in section 5 of the Act.
APRA means the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
authorised NOHC has the meaning given in section 5 of the Act.
Schedule
Prudential Standard APS 117 Capital Adequacy: Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (Advanced ADIs) comprises the 18 pages commencing on the following page.
Prudential Standard APS 117
Capital Adequacy: Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (Advanced ADIs)
Objective and key requirements of this Prudential Standard
This Prudential Standard sets out the requirements that an authorised deposit-taking institution with approval to use an internal model for interest rate risk in the banking book must meet for regulatory capital purposes, both at the time of initial implementation and on an ongoing basis.
The key requirements of this Prudential Standard are that an authorised deposit-taking institution must have:
Table of contents
Adoption of the internal model approach
Interest rate risk in the banking book management framework
Interest rate risk in the banking book measurement system
Attachments
Attachment A - Governance and the interest rate risk in the banking book management framework
Attachment B - Quantitative standards for measuring the capital requirement
2. This Prudential Standard applies to authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) that are seeking or have been given approval to use an internal model approach for interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) for the purpose of determining Regulatory Capital.
3. A reference to an ADI in this Prudential Standard shall be taken as a reference to:
(a) an ADI on a Level 1 basis; and
(b) a group of which an ADI is a member on a Level 2 basis.
4. If an ADI to which the Prudential Standard applies is:
(a) the holding company for a group, the ADI must ensure that the requirements in this Prudential Standard are met on a Level 2 basis, where applicable; or
(b) a subsidiary of an authorised non-operating holding company (authorised NOHC), the authorised NOHC must ensure that the requirements in this Prudential Standard are met on a Level 2 basis, where applicable.
5. Terms that are defined in Prudential Standard APS 001 Definitions appear in bold the first time they are used in this Prudential Standard.
(a) all on-balance sheet items with the exception of:
(i) items that are part of the ADI’s trading book. An ADI’s on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet positions may be allocated to the banking or trading books according to the ADI’s trading book policy statement (refer to Attachment A to Prudential Standard APS 116 Capital Adequacy: Market Risk (APS 116)). APS 116 provides details for the purpose of calculating capital to be held against the interest rate risk in an ADI’s trading book;
(ii) items that are deducted from the ADI’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital under Prudential Standard APS 111 Capital Adequacy: Measurement of Capital (APS 111);
(iii) items included in the ADI’s Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (refer to APS 111); and
(b) all off-balance sheet items that alter the ADI’s exposure to interest rate risk, other than positions that are part of the ADI’s trading book. This includes derivatives transacted with other entities within the group of which an ADI is a member (and not part of the ADI’s Extended Licensed Entity), for the purpose of determining interest rate risk Regulatory Capital on a Level 1 basis, or with other entities within the group of companies of which an ADI is a member that do not form part of the group, for determining such capital on a Level 2 basis.
7. The following definitions are used in this Prudential Standard:
(a) basis risk - the risk of loss in earnings or economic value arising from differences between the actual and expected interest margins on banking book items, where ‘margin’ means the difference between the interest rate on the items and the implied cost of funds for those items;
(b) earnings at risk - the potential impact of interest rate changes on the net interest income and non-interest income (and expense) earned on the ADI’s banking book;
(c) economic value sensitivity - the potential impact of interest rate changes on the present value of all future cashflows arising from the ADI’s banking book items, including the economic value of non-interest cashflows;
(e) IRRBB capital requirement - the Regulatory Capital that an ADI is required to hold against its exposure to IRRBB in accordance with this Prudential Standard;
(f) IRRBB management framework - the organisational structures, processes and systems used in identifying, assessing, measuring, monitoring, controlling and mitigating IRRBB;
(g) IRRBB measurement system - the systems and data of the IRRBB management framework used to measure IRRBB;
(h) optionality risk - the risk of loss in earnings or economic value due to the existence of stand-alone or embedded options[1], to the extent that the potential for those losses is not included in the measurement of repricing, yield curve or basis risks;[2]
(i) repricing risk - the risk of loss in earnings or economic value caused by a change in the overall level of interest rates. This risk arises from mismatches in the repricing dates[3] of an ADI’s banking book items; and
(j) yield curve risk - the risk of loss in earnings or economic value caused by a change in the relative levels of interest rates for different tenors (that is, a change in the slope or shape of the yield curve). Yield curve risk arises from repricing mismatches between assets and liabilities[4].
8. An ADI that has received model approval from APRA for IRRBB must:
(a) have in place a robust IRRBB framework and a conceptually sound IRRBB measurement system; and
(b) hold regulatory capital commensurate with its exposure to IRRBB.
10. Any model approval granted may specify how the internal model is to apply in relation to the ADI, including approvals under other paragraphs of this Prudential Standard. APRA’s prior written approval is required for any material changes to the internal model. Prior notification to APRA is required for material changes to other components of the IRRBB management framework. APRA may impose conditions on a model approval.
11. Once an ADI has obtained model approval, it must continue to employ that internal model unless APRA revokes the approval. Revocation at the request of the ADI may only occur in exceptional circumstances.
(a) the ADI does not comply with this Prudential Standard; or
(b) it is appropriate, having regard to the particular circumstances of the ADI, to impose the conditions or make the variation or revocation.
13. Where an ADI’s model approval has been revoked or the ADI does not receive model approval from APRA for determining its IRRBB capital requirement, the ADI must determine that requirement based on an alternative approach that APRA specifies, in writing, taking into account the nature of the ADI’s interest rate risk.
14. An ADI that has received model approval may rely on its own internal estimate based on the approved model of IRRBB for determining its IRRBB capital requirement. That estimate must be fundamentally sound and consistent with the scope of IRRBB defined in paragraph 7(d) of this Prudential Standard.
15. APRA may, in writing, require an ADI with model approval to reduce its level of IRRBB or increase its capital if APRA considers that the ADI’s capital for IRRBB is not commensurate with the ADI’s risk profile.
17. An ADI must provide APRA with appropriate written information, both at the time of the initial application for use of the internal model approach and subsequent to the ADI obtaining model approval, on the business activities for which the ADI proposes not to use its internal model approach.
18. Approval for partial use of an internal model approach will, at a minimum, require that:
(a) all sources of IRRBB across the ADI are captured within its total amount of IRRBB capital requirement; and
(b) a substantial majority of an ADI’s IRRBB is captured by its measurement system.
In the case of partial use of an internal model, diversification benefits for any part of the ADI’s operations that is excluded from the IRRBB measurement system will not be recognised.
22. An ADI with internal model approval must have in place an IRRBB management framework that is sufficiently robust to facilitate quantitative estimates of its IRRBB capital requirement that are sound, relevant and verifiable. APRA must be satisfied that the ADI’s IRRBB management framework is suitably rigorous and consistent with the complexity of its business. Where industry risk modelling practices evolve and improve over time, the ADI must consider these developments in assessing its own practices. Furthermore, the IRRBB measurement system must play an integral role in the ADI’s risk management and decision-making processes and meet the requirements detailed in Attachment A. An ADI must also comply with the requirements relating to the Board of directors (Board) and senior management responsibilities in that Attachment.
23. An ADI’s IRRBB measurement system must:
(a) be conceptually sound, comprehensive, consistently implemented, transparent and capable of independent review and validation;
(b) be sufficiently comprehensive to capture all material sources of IRRBB across the ADI, including those events that can lead to rare and severe losses; and
(c) monitor the ADI’s IRRBB risk profile in terms of earnings at risk and economic value sensitivity.
24. The IRRBB capital requirement under the internal model approach must cover repricing and yield curve risks and, unless APRA approves an exemption in writing (refer to paragraphs 25 and 26 of this Prudential Standard), basis risk and optionality risk.
25. Where an ADI is able to demonstrate to APRA that the potential loss from its exposure to basis and/or optionality risks is not significant when compared to the potential loss arising from repricing and yield curve risks, APRA may approve (at the time of approving the ADI’s proposed internal model, or subsequently in writing) the exclusion of basis and/or optionality risks, as relevant, from the ADI’s IRRBB regulatory capital.
26. An ADI with approval from APRA to exclude basis and/or optionality risks from its IRRBB regulatory capital must, at a minimum:
(a) review the level of its exposure to basis and/or optionality risks, as relevant, at least annually and provide the results of that review to APRA; and
(b) assess the impact of new products and changes to existing products, on its exposure to basis and/or optionality risks, as relevant, and report the details of that assessment to APRA where a significant change in its total exposure to basis risk and/or optionality risk is indicated.
27. For the purpose of determining the IRRBB capital requirement under the internal model approach, an ADI must use the economic value sensitivity approach to measure repricing and yield curve risks. For basis and optionality risks, APRA recognises that ADIs’ measurement approaches are evolving. Accordingly, where an ADI is required to hold regulatory capital for these risks, no particular measurement technique is prescribed (although APRA may do so under paragraph 19 of Attachment B in certain cases).
28. An ADI’s IRRBB measurement system must take into account the impact that past interest rate movements may have on its future earnings. In particular, the ADI must give consideration to embedded gains or losses[5] in banking book items that are not accounted for on a marked-to-market basis. The IRRBB regulatory capital must include the effect of embedded gains or losses.
29. As part of the model approval process, an ADI must be able to demonstrate the appropriateness of the IRRBB capital requirement as determined by its internal model and commensurate with its IRRBB profile. An ADI must justify to APRA any changes in the calculated capital requirement as part of its ongoing use of an internal model.
30. An ADI must be able to demonstrate that its IRRBB capital requirement, as determined by its internal model, meets a soundness standard based on a 99 per cent confidence level and a one-year holding period (the soundness standard). This soundness standard provides significant flexibility for an ADI to develop an IRRBB measurement system that best suits the nature and complexity of its activities.
(a) specify one or more repricing dates and the principal amounts assumed to reprice on each of those dates; and
(b) be clearly documented and supported by appropriate analysis.
APRA will review the appropriateness of an ADI’s repricing assumptions and may, in writing, determine that an ADI must use different assumptions for the purpose of determining its IRRBB capital requirement.
33. An ADI with model approval must meet the quantitative standards for measuring the capital requirement for IRRBB as detailed in Attachment B.
8. An ADI must have sufficient numbers of personnel skilled in the management and measurement of IRRBB to ensure that its IRRBB management framework continues to operate effectively.
9. An ADI must have an independent specialist IRRBB management function (function) that complies with the requirements set out in this Attachment. This function must:
(a) have reporting lines and responsibilities that are independent of the activities that contribute to the ADI’s IRRBB profile;
(b) have all roles and responsibilities of people and functions involved in the management of IRRBB clearly defined and documented;
(d) continuously monitor the ADI’s compliance with the framework and produce and analyse regular reports on the output of the internal model.
10. An ADI’s IRRBB management framework must be clearly documented.
11. Documentation relating to the IRRBB measurement system must be comprehensive and provide a level of detail sufficient to ensure that an ADI’s approach to determining its IRRBB capital requirement is transparent and capable of independent review and validation.
12. An ADI’s technical documentation relating to its IRRBB measurement system must include the following information:
(a) the rationale for all assumptions and specifications underpinning the IRRBB measurement system;
(b) the analytics and relevant theory behind all calculations;
(c) details of interest rate model parameters and assumptions, and any other assumptions made, whether implicitly within the model or explicitly as inputs to it, when modelling each component of IRRBB, including the ADI’s justification for their use and the processes undertaken for checking and validating those assumptions;
(d) an explanation of how the ADI ensures that the required soundness standard (refer to paragraph 30 of this Prudential Standard) is achieved; and
(e) details of dependence structures used in the measurement system, including evidence supporting their use.
13. An ADI must implement a process to regularly monitor its IRRBB profile. To support the proactive management of this risk, there must be regular reporting of relevant information to the Board, or Board committee, and senior management.
14. In developing an appropriate reporting framework, an ADI must consider the nature of its IRRBB exposure and the strategy adopted for managing and measuring it. Management reports must be produced and reviewed regularly and include information on the output of the ADI’s internal model, limit utilisation and the performance of risk management strategies. The reviews must be conducted by a level of management with sufficient seniority and authority to enforce, where necessary, mitigation of the ADI’s exposure to IRRBB.
16. An ADI’s IRRBB measurement system must be closely integrated into the ADI’s risk management processes. This requires that the inputs and outputs of the ADI’s measurement system, as relevant, play an integral role in the ADI’s decision-making, corporate governance, risk management and internal capital allocation processes.
17. IRRBB exposure limits must be related to the ADI’s internal model in a manner that is consistent over time and well understood by senior management.
18. An ADI’s IRRBB management framework (including the IRRBB measurement system) must be subject to effective and comprehensive independent review both initially (that is, at the time the model approval is sought) and then on an ongoing basis, to ensure the continued integrity of the framework. Such reviews must be conducted by functionally independent, appropriately trained and competent personnel, must cover both the activities of relevant business units and of the IRRBB management function and must take place at least once every three years or when a material change is made to the framework.
19. For the purpose of paragraph 18 of this Attachment, ‘functionally independent’ means that:
(a) the party or parties conducting the reviews do not contribute to the ADI’s IRRBB profile through the origination or alteration of risk; and
(b) the party or parties conducting the reviews must not be involved in the development, implementation or operation of the IRRBB measurement system, or be part of, or report to the risk management function referred to in paragraph 6 of this Attachment.
It is not necessary that the same party undertake all aspects of the review[6].
3. An ADI's IRRBB exposure data must be comprehensive in capturing all material exposures from all appropriate business activities, banking book items and geographic locations. The ADI must be able to justify that any excluded exposures, both individually and in aggregate, would not have a material impact on the overall estimate of its IRRBB capital requirement.
4. For the purpose of determining the IRRBB capital requirement, the interest rates used and modelled by an ADI must include at least one yield curve in each material currency. Immaterial currencies may be combined into one or more groups and modelled using a single yield curve for each group based on a currency, or composite of currencies, broadly reflective of the interest rate characteristics of the group.
5. An ADI’s IRRBB measurement approach must model each yield curve using a model that appropriately captures variation in the volatility of interest rates along the curve.
6. Regardless of the type of model used, interest rate assumptions will depend to a significant degree on the ADI’s observation history of interest rates. The observation period must be at least six years, except where the ADI provides evidence that the use of a shorter observation period would provide a more appropriate distribution of future interest rates. Interest rate assumptions are not required to directly or exactly reflect the characteristics of the observation period but, where they do not, the basis for the difference must be explained and justified.
7. An ADI must update its interest rate data sets regularly and reassess its data sets whenever the interest rate environment is subject to major change.
9. An ADI must document the source of the interest rates used. If a derived or modified yield curve is used, the basis of derivation or modification must be documented.
10. An ADI must document its IRRBB data management policies and procedures. These policies and procedures must cover:
(a) the collection of data;
(b) processes for ensuring integrity, completeness, consistency and accuracy;
(c) data storage;
(d) application purposes; and
(e) an outline of all data flows between systems, including whether any manual processes are involved in such flows.
(a) EV0 is EVBB minus an earnings offset (refer to paragraph 17 of this Attachment). In this case, EV0 and EVBB are both calculated using the discount rates prevailing at the beginning of the holding period; and
(b) EV1 is EVBB minus an earnings offset (refer to paragraph 17 of this Attachment). In this case, EV1 and EVBB are both calculated using the discount rates simulated as prevailing at the end of the holding period.
EV0 and EV1 are calculated on the same items using the same outstanding balances and repricing dates.[7]
14. The principal component of the notional cash flows must be derived using an ADI’s repricing assumptions. The interest components relating to a principal payment must be calculated using historical wholesale rates (refer to paragraphs 15 and 16 of this Attachment).[8]
15. For banking book items with defined inception and principal payment dates, the historical wholesale rate applicable to a principal payment is the wholesale market rate applicable to a payment on the repricing date, taken from the yield curve applicable on the inception date of the instrument incorporating the principal payment. APRA will review the appropriateness of an ADI’s choice of wholesale rates for the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 12 of this Attachment and may, in writing, determine that the ADI must use different rates for the purpose of determining its IRRBB capital requirement.
18. The above approach to the measurement of repricing and yield curve risks is based on the use of value-at-risk techniques on a static balance sheet. An ADI that develops new methodologies, such as the use of dynamic simulation, is encouraged to approach APRA to discuss the use of such methodologies within the capital adequacy framework. If APRA has already approved the ADI’s internal model, it may be necessary for APRA to vary its approval to permit the use of a new methodology by the ADI.
19. An ADI that does not have APRA’s written approval to exclude basis and/or optionality risks from its IRRBB capital requirement and does not have a risk measurement model for these risks, must use a method approved by APRA, in writing, for determining an appropriate amount of regulatory capital for those risks.
21. An ADI’s internal model for basis risk must explain the historical variation of margins between product interest rates and the implied cost of funds. In addition, the requirements regarding correlation assumptions detailed in paragraph 8 of this Attachment must be met.
24. An ADI’s IRRBB capital requirement, as determined by its internal model, must be calculated as:
(a) the amount estimated for repricing and yield curve risks which is the estimated 99th percentile of EV0 minus EV1 (refer to paragraph 13 of this Attachment); plus
(b) the amounts estimated for basis and optionality risks as detailed in paragraphs 19 to 23 of this Attachment, except where the ADI has written approval from APRA to exclude basis and/or optionality risks; less
(c) any amount resulting from assumed diversification benefits between repricing and yield curve risks, basis risk and optionality risk; plus
(d) the embedded loss (or embedded gain if this amount is negative) which is defined as the sum of the book value of all banking book items minus EV0
subject to the capital requirement not being less than zero.
25. An ADI may only incorporate diversification benefit estimates if the ADI can demonstrate to APRA, using robust quantitative and qualitative analysis, that its correlation estimates are appropriate and take into account the uncertainty surrounding any such estimates (particularly in periods of stress).
26. An ADI must have in place a comprehensive and rigorous program of stress testing its internal model. Stress testing must include:
(a) consideration of a breakdown in the ADI’s key modelling assumptions, such as its repricing assumptions; and
27. An ADI’s policies and limits must reflect the results of stress-testing exercises and these results must be communicated to relevant senior management and the ADI’s Board, or Board committee, on a regular basis.
29. An ADI must have in place a robust process for validating changes to its internal model (including information that flows into that model). This would include a systematic process for reviewing the appropriateness of modelling assumptions and for making changes to those assumptions.
[1] An option provides the holder with the right but not the obligation to buy, sell, or in some manner alter the cash flow of an instrument or financial contract.
[2] In the case of options embedded in customer products, losses from optionality risk will arise from customers exercising choices that cause the actual product repricing dates to deviate from those specified by the repricing assumptions.
[3] The repricing date of an ADI’s asset, liability or other banking book item is the date on which the principal of that item is repaid (in whole or part) to, or by the ADI or on which the interest rate on that principal is reset, if earlier. The repricing profile of an asset, liability or other banking book item, or portfolio of items, is the set of all repricing dates and amounts repricing on those dates.
[4] For most purposes under this Prudential Standard, repricing risk and yield curve risk (refer to paragraphs 7(i) and 7(j)) are grouped together and, except where specifically required, need not be disaggregated for measurement purposes.
[5] The total book value of a banking book item less the total economic value of that item is the item’s embedded loss (if positive) or embedded gain (if negative).
[6] In most cases, the independent reviews could be facilitated by an ADI’s internal audit function but may require the engagement of independent parties outside of this function.
[7] EV0 is a constant while EV1 is a random variable that is a function of the interest rates at the end of the holding period.
[8] Repricing or principal repayments of assets must be interpreted as positive cash flows and repricing or principal repayments of liabilities interpreted as negative cash flows.