PRESS RELEASE
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2005
Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992 or
dbarr@fdic.gov
Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's
banking system. It promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing
risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its
operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information
Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-101-2005
FDIC Board Approves Start of Rulemaking Process on Basel 1-A
Initiative Will Address Competitive Issues Posed by Basel II
The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today
approved an interagency advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit
comments on the way that the vast majority of banks and thrifts in the U.S. calculate
their minimum capital requirements. This framework is sometimes referred to as Basel I-
A because it is anticipated to apply to banks that do not adopt the international Basel II
Capital Accord. That standard, which is expected to only cover the largest and most
complex banks and thrifts in the U.S., is moving through a separate rulemaking process,
with a proposed rule targeted to become available the 1st quarter of 2006.
The Basel II standard is intended to strengthen the regulation of large, complex banking
companies by making their capital requirements more sensitive to changes in risk. The
prospect of reductions in risk-based capital requirements under the Basel II standard
has given rise to competitive equity concerns among smaller banks and thrifts. The
ANPR that the Board approved today is intended, in part, to provide these institutions
an opportunity to comment formally about these competitive issues, and what the
federal banking regulators should do about them.
"Working Basel II and 1-A through the system on parallel tracks gives us a great
opportunity to modernize the way all banks and savings associations calculate their
minimum capital requirements -- not just for the largest ones," said FDIC Chairman Don
Powell. "We do not want to create a competitive advantage for one group over another,
and by considering changes to capital standards for all U.S. banks and thrifts at the
same time, we can best monitor the impact that the new systems will have on the entire
banking industry. Good, solid capital is near and dear to the FDIC since it is the cushion
that banks fall back on when facing the unexpected or weathering financial storms."
In considering revisions to the risk-based capital rules, the federal banking and thrift
regulatory agencies were guided by five principles: promote safe and sound banking
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2005
Media Contact:
David Barr (202) 898-6992 or
dbarr@fdic.gov
Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's
banking system. It promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing
risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its
operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information
Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-101-2005
FDIC Board Approves Start of Rulemaking Process on Basel 1-A
Initiative Will Address Competitive Issues Posed by Basel II
The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today
approved an interagency advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit
comments on the way that the vast majority of banks and thrifts in the U.S. calculate
their minimum capital requirements. This framework is sometimes referred to as Basel I-
A because it is anticipated to apply to banks that do not adopt the international Basel II
Capital Accord. That standard, which is expected to only cover the largest and most
complex banks and thrifts in the U.S., is moving through a separate rulemaking process,
with a proposed rule targeted to become available the 1st quarter of 2006.
The Basel II standard is intended to strengthen the regulation of large, complex banking
companies by making their capital requirements more sensitive to changes in risk. The
prospect of reductions in risk-based capital requirements under the Basel II standard
has given rise to competitive equity concerns among smaller banks and thrifts. The
ANPR that the Board approved today is intended, in part, to provide these institutions
an opportunity to comment formally about these competitive issues, and what the
federal banking regulators should do about them.
"Working Basel II and 1-A through the system on parallel tracks gives us a great
opportunity to modernize the way all banks and savings associations calculate their
minimum capital requirements -- not just for the largest ones," said FDIC Chairman Don
Powell. "We do not want to create a competitive advantage for one group over another,
and by considering changes to capital standards for all U.S. banks and thrifts at the
same time, we can best monitor the impact that the new systems will have on the entire
banking industry. Good, solid capital is near and dear to the FDIC since it is the cushion
that banks fall back on when facing the unexpected or weathering financial storms."
In considering revisions to the risk-based capital rules, the federal banking and thrift
regulatory agencies were guided by five principles: promote safe and sound banking
practices and a prudent level of regulatory capital; maintain a balance between risk
sensitivity and operational feasibility; avoid undue regulatory burden; create appropriate
incentives for banking organizations; and mitigate material distortions in the amount of
regulatory risk-based capital requirements for large and small institutions that may arise
from the pending Basel II rulemaking.
The agencies are seeking comments on modifications that include revisions to the
treatment of residential mortgages and a greater recognition of credit risk mitigants and
external credit ratings. Also under consideration are revisions to the existing treatment
of unused commitments, defaulted assets, and securitizations backed by revolving retail
exposures with early amortization provisions.
Comments will be accepted for 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. The
ANPR is available on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov.
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Risk-Based Capital Guidelines;
Capital Maintenance: Domestic Capital Modifications
sensitivity and operational feasibility; avoid undue regulatory burden; create appropriate
incentives for banking organizations; and mitigate material distortions in the amount of
regulatory risk-based capital requirements for large and small institutions that may arise
from the pending Basel II rulemaking.
The agencies are seeking comments on modifications that include revisions to the
treatment of residential mortgages and a greater recognition of credit risk mitigants and
external credit ratings. Also under consideration are revisions to the existing treatment
of unused commitments, defaulted assets, and securitizations backed by revolving retail
exposures with early amortization provisions.
Comments will be accepted for 90 days after publication in the Federal Register. The
ANPR is available on the FDIC's Web site at www.fdic.gov.
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Risk-Based Capital Guidelines;
Capital Maintenance: Domestic Capital Modifications