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Press Release
June 26, 2008

Board proposes rule to implement certain
approaches for calculating risk-based capital
requirements included in Basel II capital accord
For immediate release
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The Federal Reserve Board on Thursday proposed a rule for public
comment that would implement certain of the less-complex approaches
for calculating risk-based capital requirements that are included in the
international Basel II capital accord.
The proposal, known as the standardized framework, would be available
for banks, bank holding companies, and savings associations not
subject to the advanced approaches of Basel II. Under the advanced
approaches rule, which took effect April 1 and is mandatory only for
large, internationally active banking organizations, banking organizations
are required to develop rigorous risk-measurement and riskmanagement techniques as part of a new risk-sensitive capital
framework. The standardized framework also seeks to more closely
align regulatory capital requirements with institutions' risk and should
further encourage improvements in their risk-management practices.
"The increased risk sensitivity of the standardized framework is aimed
at both enhancing safety and soundness for the wide range of
institutions that will not be adopting the advanced approaches of Basel II
and fostering competitive equity for these institutions," said Federal
Reserve Board Governor Randall S. Kroszner. "Recognizing the
diversity of banking organizations in the United States, we want to
provide these banks the option of using a more updated capital

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framework without unduly increasing regulatory burden."
The proposed standardized framework addresses a number of areas
including:
Expanding the number of risk-weight categories to which credit
exposures may be assigned.
Using loan-to-value ratios to risk weight most residential
mortgages to enhance the risk sensitivity of the capital
requirement.
Providing a capital charge for operational risk using the Basic
Indicator Approach under the international Basel II capital accord.
Emphasizing the importance of a bank’s assessment of its overall
risk profile and capital adequacy.
Providing for comprehensive disclosure requirements to
complement the minimum capital requirements and supervisory
process through market discipline.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has voted to issue the
interagency notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) on the Basel II
standardized framework for public comment. The Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Office of Thrift Supervision
(OTS) also are considering the NPR. The Board authorized the staff to
publish the NPR 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.
Comments will be accepted for 90 days from the date of publication in
the Federal Register. The draft Federal Register notice is attached.
Federal Register notice: 479 KB PDF | HTML
Statement by Chairman Ben S. Bernanke
Statement by Governor Randall S. Kroszner
Board meeting materials

Last Update: June 26, 2008

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