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Release Date: December 5, 2006 For immediate release The Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday released a draft interagency notice of proposed rulemaking that would revise the existing risk-based capital framework by giving the vast majority of banks, bank holding companies, and savings associations the option of either continuing to use the existing Basel I-based capital rule or adopting a more risk sensitive rule, known as Basel IA. However, as proposed, Basel IA would not be available to large, complex international banking organizations subject to the proposed Basel II advanced capital framework. "Basel IA is intended as an option for the wide range of institutions that will not be adopting the advanced approaches of Basel II," said Governor Susan S. Bies. "The goal is to improve the Basel I standards by making them somewhat more risk sensitive while at the same time retaining a relatively simple and straightforward approach suitable for all but the largest and most complex institutions." The proposed Basel IA modifications represent the latest of more than twenty modifications to the original U.S. risk-based capital standards adopted under the Basel I Accord of 1988. They would: Allow banking organizations other than the advanced Basel II organizations to elect to adopt Basel IA or remain subject to the existing risk-based capital rules Use loan-to-value ratios to determine risk-weights for most residential mortgages Increase the number of risk weight categories to which credit exposures may be assigned Expand the use of external credit ratings for certain externally-rated exposures Expand the range of collateral and guarantors that may qualify an exposure for lower risk weights Increase the credit conversion factors for certain commitments with an original maturity of less than one year Assess a risk-based capital charge to reflect the risks in securitizations with early amortization provisions that are backed by revolving exposures Remove the 50 percent limit on the risk weight that applies to certain derivative contracts "A goal of Basel IA is to foster competitive equity for banks that do not adopt the advanced approaches of Basel II," said Governor Randall S. Kroszner. "Perhaps the most significant of the Basel IA proposals in that regard is a more risk-sensitive treatment of home mortgages." The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) also are considering the notice of proposed rulemaking. The Board authorized the staff to publish the notice in the Federal Register for public comment after the other agencies complete their approval processes. For the OCC and OTS, that includes review by the Office of Management and Budget, which may result in changes to the notice of proposed rulemaking. The draft Federal Register notice is attached. Preamble (272 KB PDF) Draft Notice (311 KB PDF) 2006 Banking and consumer regulatory policy Home | News and events Accessibility Last update: December 5, 2006