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Banking and Capital Markets Balance sheet management benchmark survey Status of balance sheet management practices among international banks – 2009
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Contents Introduction 4 Background 5 Key findings 7 General information 8 Overall governance 9 ALM unit roles and responsibilities 11 Liquidity risk 13 Interest rate risk 19 Capital management 23 Funds transfer pricing 26 Discretionary investment portfolios 28 Systems 29 Contacts 30 3
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Introduction This study covers the four main areas of balance sheet management, namely interest rate risk management, liquidity risk management, capital management and management of discretionary investment portfolios. Many of these functions would be covered by the asset and liability management (ALM) function in banks, but we use the broader term ‘balance sheet management’ because the study covers capital management as well as the more traditional ALM focus areas. The financial crisis has highlighted the need for organisations to take a more holistic view of their balance sheets. The financial view of the organisation has evolved over the past decade or so to one which looks at lines of business, rather than legal entities, as the primary profit centres, and both finance departments and national supervisors have been struggling with the tensions arising from this shift. At the same time the risk view of the organisation has also been equally silo-driven, with risk departments focusing on individual risk classes. Liquidity risk, in particular, has thrown up some challenges to this way of viewing finance and risk. What may look acceptable for each line of business on its own may turn out to be an unacceptable level of risk or product concentration for the organisation as a whole. Likewise certain financial products are not clearly assignable to any one risk class – Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDO) in particular have been shown to present a lethal combination of market, credit and liquidity risks. At the same time, national supervisors, understandably keen to contain the risks to their own financial systems, have sought to impose restrictions around cross-border financing and capital flows within international banking groups. These themes present a number of challenges to the way in which banking groups manage their balance sheets, especially in the area of governance and oversight, which is a major area of focus of this survey. The objective of this survey is to provide the international banking industry with an overview of the state of balance sheet management in banks, to identify areas for improvement and help banks prepare for the future. PricewaterhouseCoopers1 would like to extend our thanks to the many banks who participated in this survey. 1 ‘PricewaterhouseCoopers’ refers to the network of member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. 4
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Background PricewaterhouseCoopers is pleased to present the results of our survey of the balance sheet management practices at 43 leading financial institutions across the world. The breadth of the survey participants gives a good picture of developments internationally. The financial institutions who participated in this survey The participants in the survey will receive an individual were as follows: benchmarking report comparing them with their peers internationally. This report summarises the aggregate responses Americas • Nykredit but does not attribute data to specific individual respondents. • Bank of America • Rabobank • Citigroup • Royal Bank of Scotland Scope of benchmarking survey • Wells Fargo • Santander The survey was designed to cover both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of balance sheet management approaches Europe • SNS REAAL currently being utilised by industry participants, with a strong • ABN Amro • Standard Chartered Bank focus on governance and organisation. The results of the • Svenska Handelsbanken survey are intended to assist participating institutions by • Banesto providing peer benchmarks of industry practices. This report • Bankinter • UBI Banca has been organised around the following balance sheet • Bank of Ireland • UBS management subject matter topics that were posed to each • UniCredit of the survey respondents: • Barclays • BBVA Middle East and Africa • Overall governance • Capital management • BNP Paribas • Absa • ALM unit roles and • Funds transfer pricing • Britannia • FirstRand responsibilities • Discretionary investment • Caixa Catalunya • Nedbank • Liquidity risk portfolios • Caja Madrid • Standard Bank • Interest rate risk • Systems • Credit Suisse Asia • Danske Bank • CIMB • HSBC • DBS Group Holdings • ING • Kasikornbank • Intesa Sanpaolo • Oversea-Chinese • Landesbank Berlin Banking Corporation • Landesbank • Siam Commercial Bank Hessen-Thüringen Australia • Lloyds Banking Group • Commonwealth Bank • Nationwide Building of Australia Society • Nordea 5
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Survey methodology Survey confidentiality Each section of this report includes an analysis of the survey The individual survey results and the survey questionnaire results and a discussion of the underlying issues. Tables and itself are confidential to the responding institutions and charts are presented to help the reader quickly ascertain the PricewaterhouseCoopers. Each institution’s individual results have main issues associated with each topic and to assist in the been kept strictly confidential and peer responses have been benchmarking of his/her respective institution’s practices. presented in a way that will not allow identification of any specific institution based on its submitted data. The results are based In order to display results provided by participating institutions, solely on survey responses as provided by each participant to PricewaterhouseCoopers designed a survey methodology that PricewaterhouseCoopers. PricewaterhouseCoopers has not strived to achieve the appropriate balance between: subjected the data contained herein to audit or review procedures • Promoting maximum participation among institutions by or any other testing to validate the accuracy or reasonableness of using data templates that required firms to report their the data provided by the participating companies. actual practices; • Ensuring soundness, integrity and comparability of the A word of thanks survey to display results based on the actual data reported We acknowledge that the highly detailed nature of the survey by participants; questionnaire required a considerable amount of effort on the • Protecting confidentiality of participating institutions’ part of each participating institution to provide commensurately responses while providing maximum insight into the detailed detailed and meaningful responses. We would like to extend parameters needed for analysing balance sheet management. our thanks to the responding institutions for participating in this study, and providing the breath and depth of qualitative and The survey was carried out from April to June 2009, and the quantitative response within balance sheet management topics. methodology used was a questionnaire supplemented where appropriate with interviews with representatives of participating We trust that you will find the survey results insightful and hope institutions. that they serve as a catalyst for discussion and action within your respective financial institutions. Please note that totals do not always add up to 100 because of rounding, or because respondents could choose more than If you have any comment or question regarding this survey, one answer. or would like to request additional copies, please contact your regional PricewaterhouseCoopers contacts listed in the appendix to this report. 6
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Key findings The scope of balance sheet management has expanded to embrace capital management as well as a more ‘holistic’ view of the balance sheet, although this remains a work in progress. Overall governance: There is still a trend for banks to measures are still quite crude, with many banks using either the measure, manage and monitor the different risks separately, standard 200 bp shock or Net Interest Income (NII) simulation. but an encouraging trend is the establishment of either capital management committees, or a broader mandate for the Capital management: This includes capital planning, stress existing Asset-Liability Committee (ALCO) to focus on capital. testing, capital allocation and economic capital calculation, and The vast majority of banks operate a centralised ALM model, tends to sit broadly in the CFO function, although economic which enables oversight of the entire group balance sheet, capital and stress testing at a number of banks resides within usually supplemented with lower-level ALM units focusing the CRO’s area. With capital planning sitting in Finance, either on business units or legal entities. having capital stress tests conducted in Risk can give rise to issues around the consistency and coordination of linkages. ALM unit roles and responsibilities: The responsibility for The common horizon for capital planning is usually three years the ALM unit is almost evenly divided between the Treasury or longer; however, capital stress testing typically contemplates and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) functions (see Figure 3.1). a shorter time horizon. Only a small minority of respondents Only 51% of ALM units look at capital management (see conduct a single stress test scenario, with the vast majority Figure 3.2), but in certain cases capital management lies using three or more scenarios. with other departments, such as the Chief Risk Officer (CRO). Most banks have benchmarked their ALM framework to the Funds transfer pricing (FTP): Despite the havoc which Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) guidance, the financial crisis played with liquidity and other financing ‘Principles for the Management and Supervision of Interest assumptions, banks seem generally quite satisfied with Rate Risk’, and half of the respondents have conducted an their FTP framework and we have not noted any significant independent third party review of the ALM framework within shifts in trends since our 2006 survey. the last 12 months. Discretionary investment portfolios: Other than standard Liquidity risk: Not surprisingly, many banks have undertaken liquidity portfolios, there does not seem to be any industry an extensive review of liquidity risk management, and a very consensus on the best way to manage discretionary encouraging 88% now have a formal risk appetite for liquidity investments, and one is left with the distinct impression that risk. An ongoing problem area is collateral management, these investment decisions are made on a very ad hoc basis, as banks’ systems do not easily allow for identification of without much in the way of formal policies and processes liquid assets that are encumbered (and thus not available to around them. support liquidity needs). All respondents now conduct regular Systems: Banks still tend to operate with a patchwork of liquidity stress tests (vs. 75% in our 2006 ALM survey), and legacy systems set up to manage different aspects of the respondents report that their Boards are well informed with balance sheet (liquidity risk, interest rate risk, etc.), but respect to this risk class. significant changes are planned. With different systems, any Interest rate risk: Governance remains an area of potential kind of integrated balance sheet management simulation and weakness for interest rate risk management, with the ALM unit stress testing is virtually impossible. We anticipate that, over responsible for both management and measurement in around the coming years, banks will upgrade to a more integrated half of respondents (emerging best practice is for measurement approach, allowing planning and stress scenarios to be carried to be done by an independent unit, such as Finance). However, out across all aspects of the balance sheet. We expect that we do see that a significant minority of banks now have the these integrated systems will cover: Risk function in a monitoring role, but there is clearly still • IRRBB and funds transfer pricing; a long way to go before this is general practice. • Liquidity risk; There has been further progress towards development of • Capital planning and stress testing; and economic value measurement (as recommended by the BCBS), • Credit portfolio management. and 80% of respondents now assign capital to Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (IRRBB) under Basel II Pillar 2 (in Australia it is part of Pillar 1). However, these capital 7
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey General information A total of 43 banks from around the world responded to the survey; participants provided a reasonable mix of large and medium/small banks (see Figure 1.1). Figure 1.1: Breakdown of participants by asset size The participants primarily operate in the global market (see Figure 1.3), and are generally active in retail and commercial 0% 5% banking segments (see Figure 1.4). 18% Figure 1.3: Participants’ market presence. 37% 26% 18% 0 – 10 $bn 43% 10 – 50 $bn 50 – 100 $bn 100 – 200 $bn 200 – 500 $bn 22% > 500 $bn % of participants Local market 31% Regional market Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Global market % of participants The survey was conducted at the group head office level for all Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers participants, who represent a good geographical cross-section of domiciles (see Figure 1.2). Figure 1.4: Activities engaged in by participants Figure 1.2: Breakdown of participants by region 0% Consumer banking 88 7% 12% 9% Branch-based retail banking 95 2% Wholesale banking 84 Investment banking 77 70% Private banking 86 Asia Australia/ New Zealand Wealth management 74 Europe South Africa Insurance 58 America Other 28 % of participants % of participants Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 8
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Overall governance We found that the ALCO remains the key executive governance body with the responsibility for overseeing balance sheet management activities (see Figure 2.1). It is interesting to note that some banks have started to integrate a centralised balance sheet model also supplement the central overall balance sheet and risk oversight into an overarching executive unit with decentralised (subordinate) units, which are primarily risk committee. This is a trend that is expected to continue within organised along legal entity, business unit or regional basis. institutions that are taking the steps to promote a holistic view of, Most respondents noted that the subordinate units all operate and governance over the full spectrum of risks and capital. under a consistently applied group framework and generally report into the central balance sheet management function. Figure 2.1: Body with primary oversight over balance sheet management Figure 2.3: Organisation 0% ALCO 88 0% Is this ALM responsible body 91 9 centralised or decentralised? Balance Sheet Management 7 Committee Centralised Executive Management Decentralised 7 Committee Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Group/Executive Risk Committee 16 Board 19 Figure 2.4: Reporting lines and supplemental balance sheet management units Board Risk Committee 12 0% Board Audit Committee 0 By region 43 57 Other 16 By legal entity 31 56 13 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers By business unit 40 53 7 The ALCO maintains a key focus on the traditional areas of To regional head 100 interest rate risk and liquidity risk. In many cases the ALCO To Group body with ALM responsibility Other has broadened its scope across capital management and also includes the oversight of traded market risk. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 2.2: Areas covered by body with primary oversight The amount of time devoted by the primary body with group 0% oversight over balance sheet management matters is mainly around Interest rate risk 100 a one- to two-hour meeting on a monthly basis (see Figure 2.5). Liquidity risk 100 Figure 2.5: Frequency/length of primary oversight body meetings Structural FX risk 79 0% Daily 2 Capital management 74 Weekly 2 5 Funds transfer pricing 77 Bi-weekly 2 5 Discretionary investment portfolios 44 Monthly 2 49 26 Other 23 Bi-monthly 2 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Quarterly 5 Centralised balance sheet management < 1 hour 1 – 2 hours > 2 hours Balance sheet management is largely centralised, with 91% of respondents managing these activities on a consolidated or Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers group basis (see Figure 2.3). However, many banks that do run 9
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey The composition of the primary oversight body (see Figure 2.6) For the decentralised subordinate oversight bodies the meeting includes the most senior bank representatives, with the chair frequency is at least monthly (see Figure 2.7). The sub- generally held by the most senior person, being either the committees that meet on a monthly basis tend to be subsidiary, Board Chairman or CEO. Major business unit heads are key business unit or regional ALCOs, while those meeting more participants and voting members. Other voting members frequently will more actively focus on market movements and include heads of market and credit risks, the chief economist comprise participants that are more closely aligned with the and head of compliance. specific activities related to execution of ALCO mandates or strategies. Figure 2.6: Composition of primary oversight body Figure 2.7: Frequency/length of subordinate oversight body meetings 0% Board chairman 58 21 21 0% Daily 38 Non-executive director 16 20 64 Weekly 5 3 CEO 44 56 Bi-weekly 2.5 2.5 CFO 38 62 Monthly 10 29 10 CRO 21 68 11 Bi-monthly 0 Treasurer 10 75 15 Quarterly 0 BU heads 85 15 < 1 hour ALM unit head 6 47 47 1 - 2 hours > 2 hours Financial controller 6 56 38 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Other 63 38 Chair Voting member Non-voting member Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 10
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey ALM unit roles and responsibilities All of the participating banks have a dedicated ALM support unit, which typically reports to either the CFO or the Treasurer (see Figure 3.1). However, there is also a growing percentage that have aligned Figure 3.3: Size of ALM unit (including subordinate units below the reporting to the risk management function, under the CRO group level) or the head of market risk. Breakdown of staff by asset size 160 3.0 Figure 3.1: ALM unit reporting lines 140 2.5 0% CEO 2 120 2.0 100 CFO 40 80 1.5 CRO 7 60 1.0 Treasurer 35 40 0.5 Other 16 20 0 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers $10 – 50b $50 – 100b $100 – 200b $200 – 500b > $500b Assets (USD billions) The typical areas of focus of this unit remain the core Average ALM activities of interest rate and liquidity risk management, Minimum including funds transfer pricing (see Figure 3.2). Several Maximum Staff per 10b of Assets (RHS) respondents noted that there is more focus on the overall balance sheet structure and optimisation of the funding and Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers capital mix, along with oversight of impact of IAS39 and hedge effectiveness. The primary objective of the ALM unit is to operate as a support unit (see Figure 3.4). However, within this category Figure 3.2: Areas of focus for ALM unit some responses would indicate that there is some overlap of cost and profit performance objectives. This is the case where 0% Interest rate risk 100 the unit may undertake hedging activities or positioning strategies, but has no clear performance metric related to profit Liquidity risk 93 or value add. This is one area that banks need to pay attention Structural FX risk 70 to, with respect to segregation of duties, separating risk measurement and monitoring from the management and Capital management 51 decision making related to transaction execution. Funds transfer pricing 77 Figure 3.4: Primary objective of ALM unit Discretionary investment portfolios 40 0% Profit centre 12 Other 26 Cost centre 5 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Support unit 57 The size of the ALM department is generally related to the Other 26 size of the institution, although the size of the unit can vary greatly. Regarding the size of the ALM department, economies Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers of scale appear to realised for banks with assets between 50-100 $billion and 100-200 $billion as indicated by the downward slope and the ‘staff per 10 $billion of assets’ trend line (see Figure 3.3). 11
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Just over 83% of participants have benchmarked their ALM Figure 3.6: Reference point for ALM framework benchmarking unit to a specific external reference point (see Figure 3.5). 0% Figure 3.5: Benchmarking of ALM framework Basel Committee 71 IIF 43 16.28% CEBS 40 Local regulator 69 Other 33 83.72% Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Yes Figure 3.7: Period since last independent review of ALM framework No 0% Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Within last 12 months 51 Within last 1 – 2 years Of the organisations which have conducted external reviews, 30 the primary reference point has been the Basel ‘Principles for Within last 2 – 3 years 0 the Management and Supervision of Interest Rate Risk’ (see Figure 3.6). In addition to the guidelines and standards in the Within last 3 – 5 years 5 public domain, many of these respondents noted that they Not at all in last 5 years 14 have also used the last PwC ALM Survey published in 2006 as a reference point. Over 50% of respondents who have Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted external benchmarking have done so within the last 12 months (see Figure 3.7). 12
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Liquidity risk Liquidity risk has moved up the agenda to be one of the most important areas of focus within the ALM framework. Certainly the painful experiences and lessons throughout the Figure 4.1: Responsibility for managing liquidity risk financial crisis have highlighted the dimensions and severity of consequences from liquidity problems. The Bank for 0% Within trading desk/front office – 23 International Settlements (BIS) and Institute of International reporting to head of BU Finance (IIF) have upgraded their guidelines for the management Dedicated treasury unit – 12 reporting to CEO of liquidity risk to incorporate and reiterate what constitutes Dedicated treasury unit – 28 sound practice. reporting to CFO ALM unit – reporting 28 Many banks have undertaken extensive reviews and upgrades as under 3.1 above of their liquidity risk frameworks. Now just over 88% of Other 9 participants have set a formal risk appetite for liquidity risk at Board level compared with 72% in 2006. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 4.2: Responsibility for measuring liquidity risk Management, measurement and monitoring liquidity risk 0% Within trading desk/front office – 2 In risk management, we distinguish between those reporting to head of BU responsible for managing the risk (making day-to-day Dedicated treasury unit – 2 reporting to CEO decisions and executing these (see Figure 4.1)), those Dedicated treasury unit – 14 responsible for measuring the risk (producing metrics and reporting to CFO reports (see Figure 4.2)), and those monitoring the risks ALM unit – reporting 42 as under 3.1 above (ensuring adherence with policies and limits, and reviewing Within CFO area the overall risk profile (see Figure 4.3)). In the world of traded 9 market risk, these would be the front office, middle office and Within CRO area 16 risk management functions, respectively. Other 14 However, for liquidity risk it seems that such segregation of duties is not widely applied. The measurement and management Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers of liquidity risk still generally resides within the same unit, as does, in some cases, the monitoring of liquidity risk. Figure 4.3: Responsibility for monitoring liquidity risk This is an area where we would expect to see growing 0% Within trading desk/front involvement from the risk management function, particularly office – reporting to head of BU 0 with respect to the measurement of liquidity risk being Dedicated treasury 2 separated from the management of liquidity risk. unit – reporting to CEO Dedicated treasury 14 unit – reporting to CFO ALM unit – reporting 33 as under 3.1 above Within CFO area 12 Within CRO area 30 Other 9 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 13
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Governance and oversight The committee or body with primary oversight for liquidity risk Figure 4.6: Board awareness of liquidity risk is typically the ALCO (see Figure 4.4). 0% Very high understanding with full grasp of 16 Figure 4.4: Body with primary oversight over liquidity risk the technical details Broad understanding of the concepts with 74 some understanding of the technical details 0% ALCO 70 Broad understanding of the concepts but little 2 or no understanding of the technical details Balance Sheet 5 Limited understanding of the concepts 5 Management Committee Executive Management Committee 7 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Group Risk Committee 7 Over 65% of respondents indicated that there is regular reporting Board of liquidity risk to the full Board and/or Board Risk Committee. 0 Around 30% do so on an ad hoc basis (see Figure 4.7). Board Risk Committee 5 Figure 4.7: Liquidity risk reporting to the Board Board Audit Committee 0 0% At every full Board meeting 68 Other 9 At every Board Risk 65 Committee meeting Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers On request/ad hoc to the full Board 35 Most banks feel that their liquidity risk policies are complete, On request/ad hoc to the 30 up to date and fully implemented (58%), or there are only minor Board Risk Committee gaps in policy or implementation (37%) (see Figure 4.5). Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 4.5: Status of liquidity risk management policy 0% Liquidity risk measurement Policy is complete, up to date and fully implemented 58 The primary measure of liquidity risk is the static maturity gap Policy is broadly complete and up to date, but there are 37 using a combination of contractual and expected term data minor gaps in either the policy itself or its implementation (see Figure 4.8). However, it seems that the use of cash flow Policy is work in progress 54 forecasts using stressed or expected cash flows is gaining greater prominence as the primary measure of liquidity risk. We do not have a group liquidity risk policy 0 Figure 4.8: Liquidity risk measures Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 0% Maturity gap based on 26 Board awareness of liquidity risk has undoubtedly been contractual maturity heightened over the past three years, either by experience Maturity gap based on a mixture of 65 contractual and expected maturity or observation. 90% of respondents feel that their Boards Maturity gap based on have good understanding of the concepts and technical expected maturity 26 details or better (see Figure 4.6). Loan/deposit ratio 33 Liquid assets ratio 49 Cash flow forecast based 51 on expected cash flows Cash flow forecast based 53 on stress scenarios Sources of quick liquidity 30 as % of funds at risk Other 28 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 14
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey These measures are typically produced on a daily basis and it Collateral management is often the case that this is a regulatory requirement. Collateral management is seen as material for 86% of respondents Figure 4.9: Frequency of liquidity risk measurement (see Figure 4.11). 0% Figure 4.11: Relevance of collateral management Maturity gap based on 40 20 36 4 contractual maturity 14% Maturity gap based on a mixture of 32 22 46 contractual and expected maturity Maturity gap based on 25 43 29 4 expected maturity Loan/deposit ratio 26 6 65 3 Liquid assets ratio 69 6 22 3 86% Cash flow forecast based 59 16 22 3 on expected cash flows Cash flow forecast based 29 21 47 3 Material on stress scenarios Immaterial Other (please specify) 29 18 47 6 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Daily Weekly Monthly It is essential to have clear, accurate and timely information Other regarding collateral in order to be able to deal effectively with Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers liquidity events that may require the use of such assets. It is an area where banks need to improve and apply greater rigour in In measuring funding risk limits and concentration, the factors knowing precisely which assets can be quickly liquidated and typically taken into account are the types of products and the at what price. spread of maturities. Other factors such as currencies and Figure 4.12: Collateral management monitoring geographies are commonly used as well (see Figure 4.10). Figure 4.10: Factors included in liquidity risk measurement 0% We monitor the legal entity where 60 29 collateral is held in a timely manner 0% Contractual maturities 70 We monitor the physical location where 52 33 2 collateral is held in a timely manner Effective maturities 51 Agree Partially agree Types of products Disagree 77 Types of customers 67 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Currencies 67 Figure 4.13: Collateral management infrastructure Geographies/countries/regions 53 0% MI systems that differentiate encumbered 40 45 2 Other 9 /unencumbered assets MI systems that identify assets that 45 45 2 can be posted at the central bank Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers No work needed Some improvement required Requires major upgrade Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 15
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Liquidity stress tests Figure 4.16: Number and frequency of multiple scenarios 0% All responding banks perform some form of liquidity stress 1 2 testing. This is an improvement from our 2006 survey which 0 revealed that liquidity stress testing was only conducted 0 by 75% of the banks surveyed. The most common type of 0 scenario is a pre-defined scenario based on expert judgement 2 5 (see Figure 4.14). 10 Figure 4.14: Liquidity stress test scenarios 19 0 0% Pre-defined scenario 3 0 44 based on historical experience 7 Pre-defined scenario 77 10 based on expert judgement 2 Dynamic scenario 35 based on expert judgement 4–5 2 Reverse stress test 21 2 (or ‘stress to fail’) 10 Multiple scenarios 70 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers >5 2 5 The one-month time horizon for such stress tests is the most 14 common; however, there is growing use of longer time frames 2 out to one year (see Figure 4.15). Daily Weekly Figure 4.15: Liquidity stress test time horizons Monthly Other (please specify) 0% One day 21 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Two days 14 Within the scenarios 63% of banks assume that central bank Up to one week 40 funding will be available as part of their stress tests. More than Up to one month 53 90% of banks distinguish between firm-specific (single name Up to three months 42 crisis scenarios) and market-wide stresses in their scenarios. Up to six months 19 Supervisory authorities have reviewed around three quarters of Up to twelve months 40 the responding banks’ liquidity stress testing scenarios with 51% Other 9 being ‘fully satisfactory’ (see Figure 4.17). This is an area that is expected to continue to be of high priority with supervisors. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 4.17: Supervisory review of liquidity stress scenarios For those banks using multiple scenarios (see Figure 4.16), the 0% number and frequency of scenarios are mostly performed on a Yes, and authority was fully satisfied 51 monthly basis using two to five or more scenarios. Yes, but authority requires further 23 minor enhancements Yes, but authority was dissatisfied 0 No, but authority has notified us that they 7 intend to review this in the next 12 months Authority has not notified us that they plan 2 to review liquidity risk in the next 12 months Other 14 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 16
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey In performing stress tests, multiple factors are taken into All of the survey participants have done a comprehensive account to modify contractual cash flows (see Figure 4.18). review of all of the modelling assumptions (see Figure 4.20). Most emphasis is placed upon making assumptions on the Nearly all have done so within the last 12 months, further value of liquid assets with ‘haircuts’ and behavioural factors highlighting the close attention being paid to liquidity risk. that may have a significant impact on the estimated cash Figure 4.20: Period of last review of liquidity risk flows, such as a rapid withdrawal of funds. modelling assumptions Figure 4.18: Modifications to contractual cash flows in liquidity risk modelling 0% Within last 12 months 95 0% Within last 1 – 2 years 5 Prepayments 70 Within last 2 – 3 years 0 Pipeline 51 Within last 2 – 5 years 0 Drawdowns 74 Not at all in last 5 years 0 Non-maturing product profiles 72 Replicating portfolios Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 19 Credit events 42 Contingency funding plan Withdrawal of funding 74 Only 65% of participants have conducted a simulation of Contingent liabilities 72 their contingency funding plans. Where simulations have been completed, it was typically within the last 12 months Haircuts 84 (see Figure 4.21). Other 14 Figure 4.21: Period of last simulation of contingency funding plans Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 2% 2% 5% Oversight over modelling assumptions 7% 93% of participants have had their modelling assumptions reviewed and approved by ALCO or the equivalent body with 51% primary oversight of liquidity risk. This is typically done on an annual basis (see Figure 4.19). Within last 12 months Within last 1 – 2 years Figure 4.19: Frequency of ALCO review of liquidity risk Within last 2 – 3 years Within last 2 – 5 years modelling assumptions Not at all in last 5 years 0 - 10 bn 0% 7% 5% Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 5% 7% The bodies involved in the contingency funding plan are 19% primarily the ALCO and Treasury. It is worth noting the low responses for the board and risk functions (see Figure 4.22). Weekly Monthly Quarterly Semi-annually Annually 51% Ad-hoc Other Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 17
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Figure 4.22 : Parties involved in contingency funding plans 86% of participants are expecting changes in the liquidity risk regime set by their local supervisor, and over 90% believe their 0% supervisor is adequately skilled to supervise liquidity risk. Board 0 Senior management The challenges for the supervisors are to have policies that 16 are up to date with industry practices and to find the right CFO 5 balance, the form and the substance of the bank’s liquidity management practices (see Figure 4.24). ALCO 40 Figure 4.24: Challenges in supervising liquidity risk Treasury 26 Risk Control 0% 5 Policies that are out of date 33 compared to industry practice Communication department 5 Focus on regulatory reporting 42 as opposed to interpretation IT department of ALM risk management 0 Poor relationship with 12 host supervisors Central banks 0 Ivory tower approach as 16 opposed to pragmatism Other official sector parties 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Other banks 0 Other 23 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Disclosure Figure 4.23: Liquidity risk disclosures 0% Liquidity reserve 14 Liquidity gap 19 Funding diversification 19 Asset diversification 2 Regulator-required 23 ratios and measures Other quantitative measures 12 (please specify) Organisational issues 2 Methodologies of 19 measures (qualitatively) Limit framework (qualitatively) 7 Other qualitative issues 14 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 18
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Interest rate risk Interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB), as it is referred to in the various documents produced by the Basel Committee, is the area that has probably had the most attention within banks’ ALM functions over the years. Nearly all banks have been performing some form of interest Figure 5.2: Management of IRRBB rate risk management activities and have well-established processes. However, with the heightened focus on the overall 0% Within trading desk/front office – 19 Basel II application, both regulators and banks are reviewing reporting to head of BU and updating their approach to IRRBB. Dedicated treasury unit – 9 reporting to CEO While measures such as repricing gap and net interest income Dedicated treasury unit – 16 reporting to CFO (NII) analysis are widely used, more attention is now paid to ALM unit – reporting 47 measures of economic value and capital for IRRBB. Of equal as under 3.1 above focus is the governance around the IRRBB framework, Other 9 including the Board-approved risk appetite, ALCO investment and oversight, policies, limits, models and organisation structure. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 5.3: Measurement of IRRBB Governance Nearly all banks in the survey report having a formal risk 0% Within trading desk/front office – appetite for IRRBB. The primary oversight body was identified reporting to head of BU 0 by 70% of respondents as the ALCO (see Figure 5.1). Dedicated treasury unit – 2 reporting to CEO Figure 5.1 Oversight of interest rate risk Dedicated treasury unit – 5 reporting to CFO 0% ALM unit – reporting 53 ALCO 70 as under 3.1 above Within CFO area 2 Balance Sheet Management 5 Committee Within CRO area 26 Executive Management 2 Committee Other 12 Group Risk Committee 9 Board 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Board Risk Committee 2 Figure 5.4: Monitoring of IRRBB Board Audit Committee 0 0% Other Within trading desk/front office – 0 14 reporting to head of BU Dedicated treasury unit – 0 reporting to CEO Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Dedicated treasury unit – 2 reporting to CFO The main departments that support the ALCO framework ALM unit – reporting 35 are Treasury, Finance, ALM and Risk Management. This is as under 3.1 above an approach that reflects the general concept of segregation Within CFO area 0 of duties in relation to the governance of interest rate Within CRO area risk management. 44 Other 19 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 19
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey The results show that a large percentage of respondents Figure 5.7: Board reporting that have a structure that combines many of these activities within an ALM unit. There is, however, some attention as to 0% At every full Board meeting 47 how the traditional ALM unit may evolve, mainly in relation to separating the management of IRRBB positions from the At every Board Risk 60 Committee meeting unit that is measuring and/or monitoring the positions (see On request/ad hoc to the full Board 33 Figure 5.2-5.4). Some banks have adopted a model akin to the market risk function to handle the measurement and On request/ad hoc to the 21 monitoring, while the management aspect is conducted Board Risk Committee within the Treasury or Finance division. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Nearly 80% have complete, up to date and fully implemented policies for IRRBB (see Figure 5.5). Investment term of equity Figure 5.5: Policy One of the key performance metrics for managing IRRBB is the use of a benchmark for the investment term, or duration, 0% Policy is complete, up to date and fully implemented 79 of equity. 58% of participants use this benchmark within their interest rate risk frameworks. The most common period Policy is broadly complete and up to date, but there are minor gaps in either the policy itself or its implementation 19 targeted is the medium term of between one and five years Policy is work in progress 2 for 42% of respondents (see Figure 5.8). This benchmark is generally reviewed and/or changed on an ad hoc basis over We do not have a group interest rate risk policy 0 the course of the year, indicating that many respondents will change this target in accordance with their strategy and Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers outlook for the interest rate market (see Figure 5.9). 79% of respondents say their Board’s have a broad level of Figure 5.8: Target duration of equity knowledge of the concepts and technical details for interest rate risk management and 12% say that they have an even 0% higher level (see Figure 5.6). Short term (i.e. less than 1 year) 9 Figure 5.6: Board understanding of IRRBB Medium term (i.e. between 42 1 and 5 years) Long term (i.e. more than 5 years) 5 0% Very high understanding with full grasp of 12 the technical details Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Broad understanding of the concepts with 79 some understanding of the technical details Figure 5.9: Frequency of review of equity duration benchmark Broad understanding of the concepts but little 2 or no understanding of the technical details Limited understanding of the concepts 7 0% Quarterly 9 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Annually 21 Most participants provide regular reports to the full Board Greater than annually/ad hoc 28 (47%) or the Board’s Risk Committee (60%) (see Figure 5.7). This is one of the principles in the Basel ‘Sound Practices for Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers the Management and Supervision of Interest Rate Risk’. 20
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Measurement Figure 5.11: Secondary measurement tool for IRRBB All participants use a variety of measures, generally in 0% combination, to assess IRRBB (see Figure 5.10 and 5.11). Dynamic repricing gap based on 12 contractual repricing These range from repricing gaps to earnings and economic Dynamic repricing gap based on a mixture 9 value simulations. The challenge for the measurement and of contractual and modelled repricing management of IRRBB has been to strike the appropriate Dynamic repricing gap based on 9 modelled repricing balance between the short-term (i.e. less than one year) Static repricing gap based on impact on earnings and the longer term impact on economic contractual repricing 16 value. Respondents have indicated that they have been able Static repricing gap based on a mixture 14 to establish a reasonable balance between short-term and of contractual and modelled repricing long-term measures. It is also worth noting that around 70% Static repricing gap based on 7 modelled repricing of the banks isolate the mismatch earnings to separate P&L Dynamic balance simulation of earnings 14 units and forecast these specific amounts. This is an area where there are divergent opinions over the appropriate Static balance simulation of earnings 9 performance measures for the unit managing IRRBB when Dynamic balance simulation of 12 comparing accrual-type earnings with economic value economic value risk measures. Static balance simulation of 14 economic value Figure 5.10: Primary measurement tool for IRRBB Other 12 0% Dynamic repricing gap based on 16 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers contractual repricing Dynamic repricing gap based on a mixture 28 This can also be seen in the split between the limits applied to of contractual and modelled repricing the respective measures. The two key identified limits are on Dynamic repricing gap based on 7 modelled repricing the static economic value simulation and the dynamic earning Static repricing gap based on 14 simulation (see Figure 5.12). The slightly higher figure for a limit contractual repricing on the static economic value measure may be related to the Static repricing gap based on a mixture of contractual and modelled repricing 40 fact that this is the measure that was promulgated within the Static repricing gap based on 9 Basel papers as being the approach that regulators are advised modelled repricing to use to determine the level of capital for IRRBB. Dynamic balance simulation of earnings 42 Over 80% of respondents measure the capital required to Static balance simulation of earnings 26 support IRRBB and the link to the Basel approach is supported Dynamic balance simulation of by the use of an economic value approach. 19 economic value Static balance simulation of 37 economic value Other 21 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 21
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Figure 5.12: Limits for IRRBB Nearly all banks generate their IRRBB measures on at least a monthly basis (see Figure 5.14). Most of the banks that perform 0% this on a daily basis are based in Europe. Dynamic repricing gap based on 12 contractual repricing Figure 5.14: Frequency of IRRBB measurement Dynamic repricing gap based on a mixture 16 of contractual and modelled repricing Dynamic repricing gap based on 0% 5 modelled repricing Dynamic repricing gap based 16 2 14 on contractual repricing Static repricing gap based on 9 contractual repricing Dynamic repricing gap based on a 12 2 23 mixture of contractual and modelled Static repricing gap based on a mixture 21 repricing of contractual and modelled repricing Dynamic repricing gap based 7 16 on modelled repricing Static repricing gap based on 5 modelled repricing Static repricing gap based 5 5 21 on contractual repricing Dynamic balance simulation of earnings 35 Static repricing gap based on a 12 2 37 mixture of contractual and modelled Static balance simulation of earnings repricing 21 Static repricing gap based 2 2 19 on modelled repricing Dynamic balance simulation of 14 economic value Dynamic balance simulation 7 42 7 of earnings Static balance simulation of 40 economic value Static balance simulation 2 5 30 5 of earnings Other 16 Dynamic balance simulation 5 21 of economic value Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Static balance simulation 7 2 47 of economic value Other (please specify) 12 5 12 2 Figure 5.13: Capital for IRRBB Daily 0% Weekly Using the standard 28 Monthly 200 bps on economic 0 Other value of capital shock 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Using NII simulation 0 14 Just over 80% of respondents have had their IRRBB framework 51 reviewed by their regulatory supervisors, and the results have been generally satisfactory (see Figure 5.15). Using economic 0 value simulation 26 Figure 5.15: Supervisory review of IRRBB 0 Other (please specify) 7 0% Yes, and authority was fully satisfied 65 0 0 Yes, but authority requires further 16 minor enhancements We do not measure 19 Yes, but authority was dissatisfied 0 capital for interest rate risk in the banking book 0 0 No, but authority has notified us that they 7 intend to review this in the next 12 months Static Authority has not notified us that they plan 2 1 year period to review IRRBB in the next 12 months Another period Other 7 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 22
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Capital management For this survey, we have included a section on capital management for the first time. This is in response to the increased attention being paid to capital management in a Basel II world and in response to many questions from our clients regarding some of the issues covered. One of the biggest challenges for banks is to establish an Figure 6.1: Which senior executive has responsibility for the effective, integrated operating model to bring all of the following activities within his/her area components together and thus enable consistency and clarity 0% within the application of the whole and related sub-components, Setting cost of capital 2 67 16 2 9 2 particularly when related to the ICAAP. It has drawn greater Capital stress testing attention within the ALM or Balance Sheet Management function 53 49 9 2 under the governance of ALCOs in many cases. Capital planning 5 67 12 21 2 Return on (risk-adjusted) 70 21 2 9 5 Structure capital calculations Capital allocation within 5 70 19 12 7 As we can see from figure 6.2, most of the key capital the organisation management activities are split between the CFO and CRO Economic capital calculation 35 56 9 5 functions. Traditionally, the CFO has had responsibility for Capital adequacy reporting regulatory risk reporting and capital planning with a general 72 21 9 7 ‘top down’ approach. The calculation of economic capital has Regulatory 2 70 16 9 12 tended to evolve under the CRO on a ‘bottom’ up basis. Some of the challenges that arise with this approach are, for example: RWA calculation 67 28 25 9 • Consistency with economic capital and capital allocation. CEO CFO • Using a ‘top down’ holistic economic capital model that can CRO integrate the ‘bottom up’ measured risks and perform robust COO/head of operations intra-risk diversification measurement. Treasurer Other • Using this model for stress testing and then linking to capital planning. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers • Reconciling regulatory risk-weighted assets (RWAs) to 90% of respondents have a dedicated capital management economic capital. unit, with the majority reporting to the CFO. • Effectively harnessing the capital adequacy measure for Figure 6.2: Capital management unit reporting line stress testing and capital planning to properly capture both risk measures and accounting components, particularly with 0% credit risk and loan loss provisioning. CEO 2 • Consistency of balances used for capital allocation and funds CFO 60 transfer pricing (FTP) that drive key components that feed into economic value and risk-adjusted return on capital CRO 12 (RAROC) measures. COO 0 Treasury 19 Other 2 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers The average headcount of these units is approximately 15, with a maximum of 60 people. 23
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Figure 6.3: Capital management unit headcount Figure 6.5: Activities of the capital management unit 3% 0% Calculation of regulatory 30 13% capital RWAs Regulatory capital 40 adequacy reporting Economic capital calculation 44 55% Capital allocation 67 29% Return on (risk-adjusted) 51 capital calculation 50 Capital stress testing 72 Setting cost of capital 65 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers As mentioned in the introduction, the ALCO has been the main executive body that has oversight of capital management with With regards to capital planning, the time horizon used by 49% of respondents (see Figure 6.4). nearly half of the respondents is three years (see Figure 6.6). Figure 6.4: Oversight of capital management Figure 6.6: Time horizon for capital planning 0% 0% ALCO 49 One year 14 Balance Sheet Management 12 Two years 12 Committee Finance Committee 2 Three years 49 Group Risk Committee 12 More than three years 19 Executive Management Committee 26 Ad hoc 5 None – we do not 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers do capital planning Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Activities This time horizon is broadly consistent with the period looked The main activities performed by the capital management unit at for capital stress testing, although there appears to be a shift are capital planning, capital stress testing, capital allocation in focus to shorter time frames for stress testing compared to and setting the cost of capital (see Figure 6.5). capital planning (see Figure 6.7). Other related activities are more fragmented and it would Figure 6.7: Time horizon for capital stress testing appear that for most respondents, the capital management unit is a receiver of economic capital information and that it is 0% unlikely to be involved in the calculation of regulatory capital One year 21 adequacy and risk-weighted assets. Two years 16 Three years 37 More than three years 9 Ad hoc 7 None – we do not do 2 capital stress testing Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 24
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Most respondents (63%) have reported that they conduct at Figure 6.10: Board awareness of capital management least three or more scenarios for their capital stress testing (see Figure 6.8). 0% Very high understanding with full grasp of 26 Figure 6.8: Number of scenarios for capital stress testing the technical details Broad understanding of the concepts with 63 some understanding of the technical details 0% None Broad understanding of the concepts but little 7 5 or no understanding of the technical details 1 Limited understanding of the concepts 0 12 2 14 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 3 26 It would be expected that there is regular reporting of capital 4–5 14 adequacy to the Board, its Risk Committee, or both. What is surprising is that over a quarter of respondents (i.e. ‘other’ 5 – 10 23 category) do not regularly report this information to the Board, >10 0 but instead generally provide capital adequacy updates to some form of executive committee (see Figure 6.11). Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Figure 6.11: Board reporting of capital adequacy Governance At every full Board meeting 0% 72 All respondents have a capital management policy in place, At every Board Risk 42 with nearly half asserting that it is complete, up to date and Committee meeting fully implemented (see Figure 6.9). On request/ad hoc to the full Board 28 Figure 6.9: Capital management policy On request/ad hoc to the 16 Board Risk Committee 0% Other 26 Policy is complete, up to date and fully implemented 47 Policy is broadly complete and up to date, but there are 44 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers minor gaps in either the policy itself or its implementation Policy is work in progress 5 We do not have a group capital management policy 0 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Most Boards have a reasonable understanding of capital management and the associated technical concepts, with 26% reporting to have a very high level of understanding (see Figure 6.10). 25
Pricewaterhousecoopers Balance sheet management benchmark survey Funds transfer pricing Funds transfer pricing has been a key component of most banks’ ALM frameworks for many years. It has often been sitting in the background and seen as a process function and not necessarily well understood or appreciated beyond the units administering it. However, over the past year many banks have been revisiting The responsibility for managing the FTP process is primarily their practices and paying significant attention to ensuring that with the ALM unit (44%), or with the Finance or Treasury it is functioning properly and is supported by robust, units (see Figure 7.2). A key governance point regarding the appropriate methodologies. management of FTP and the setting of policy is to consider the aspect of segregation of duties. This aspect of managing The importance of FTP has been highlighted as it underpins FTP is of higher importance for units that are considered the interest margin and profitability results and, thus, has a profit centres. significant impact on business unit performance measurement and business behaviour. It has been recognised that aspects Figure 7.2: Management of FTP process like pricing for liquidity, optionality, customer behaviour and 0% trading portfolios require more attention to ensure that Finance 37 underlying risks are properly reflected within pricing and performance measurement practices. Risk 5 It is important that FTP is well understood throughout the bank ALM 44 and that the implications of it are understood beyond the Treasury 40 specialised functions administering it. Methods must be sound and transparent and an appropriate level of governance Other 16 undertaken to avoid potential conflict of interest. Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers Governance While 90% of respondents have an FTP policy in place, it is Around half of the participating banks have their FTP policy as notable that around half feel that they have some gaps in the a part of the ALCO responsibilities (see Figure 7.1). In some policy or its implementation (see Figure 7.3). banks it resides with the Finance or Treasury function (as noted Figure 7.3: Status of FTP policy within the ‘other’ category). 0% Figure 7.1: Responsibility for FTP policy Policy is complete, up to date and fully implemented 44 0% Policy is broadly complete and up to date, but there are 47 ALCO 47 minor gaps in either the policy itself or its implementation Policy is work in progress 5 Executive Management Committee 14 We do not have a FTP policy 5 Board 2 Board Risk Committee 2 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers CEO 2 CFO 12 CRO 2 Other 19 Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers 26
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