Reserve Bank's reviewer signals support for proposed in Capital Review

The experts were asked to take into account the objectives of the Capital Review as well as the domestic context, the available literature, the international debate, and global policy developments relating to the role of bank capital.

The Reserve Bank has today released three independent international experts’ assessments of its Capital Review.

The proposals aim to protect the public from the personal, social, and economic impacts of a potential bank failure. The independent experts were commissioned to consider the analysis and advice underpinning the proposals.

“Each independent reviewer signaled their support with the direction proposed in the Capital Review,” says Geoff Bascand, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank.

“They all acknowledged the quality of analysis underpinning our proposals, the transparency of our process, and the care we have taken to consider the points raised by submitters during the consultation process to date.”

The experts were asked to take into account the objectives of the Capital Review as well as the domestic context, the available literature, the international debate, and global policy developments relating to the role of bank capital.

“We are continuing our work on some technical suggestions made by the experts, as well as finalizing our decisions and ultimate review,” Mr. Bascand says.

The Reserve Bank is continuing its stakeholder outreach programme, which includes general public focus groups and engagement with wider industry groups on the potential costs and benefits.

“Along with the external expert reports and submissions received, these inputs will help us to make robust, well-calibrated policies and decisions that best represent society’s interests.”

Responses to the reports and the submissions on the fourth consultation paper will be published alongside final decisions, expected in the first week of December 2019.

Implementation of any new capital rules is proposed to start from April 2020, with a transition period of a number of years before banks would need to meet the new requirements.