The Government response to the Independent Commission on Banking

The Government response to the Independent Commission on Banking
Author: Great Britain: H.M. Treasury
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2011-12-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780101825221

In its final report the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) recommended a package of measures, consisting of ring-fencing vital banking services and increasing banks' loss-absorbency. The Government strongly supports the ICB's objectives and dual approach. The Government agrees that vital banking services - in particular, the taking of retail deposits - should only be provided by 'ring-fenced' banks', and that these banks should be prohibited from undertaking certain investment banking activities. On increased loss-absorbency, also supported are the ICB recommendations for higher equity requirements for large ring-fenced banks, a minimum leverage ratio, loss-absorbing debt, insured depositor preference and higher levels of loss-absorbing capacity for banks that are difficult to resolve. With regards to the principle that systemically important banks hold a minimum about of loss-absorbing capacity on a group-wide basis, however, the requirement should not apply to non-UK operations where it can be shown that those operations to do not pose a risk to UK financial stability. The Government also believes that depositor preference needs further analysis and consultation. On competition, the Government also strongly supports all the ICB recommendations. The Government estimates the aggregate private costs to UK banks at £3.5bn - £8bn, producing a gross reduction in GDP of £0.8bn - £1.8bn. Against these costs though should be set the potentially much larger benefits with the ICB's recommendations yielding an estimated incremental economic benefit of £9.5bn per annum. Significantly too the Government wants to see relevant legislation completed by the end of this Parliament in May 2015 as opposed to the ICBs recommended 2019

Independent Commission on Banking

Independent Commission on Banking
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Treasury Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2011-07-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780215560902

In this report the Treasury Committee calls on the Independent Commission on Banking to address a number of concerns that have been raised about its proposal to ring-fence retail banking - including its effect on the competitiveness of UK banking and the cost of credit to business. The Commission should also look at how corporate governance in banks could be improved to enhance the stability of the financial system. The MPs urge the major banks to place any objections or concerns they have about the ICB proposals fully in to the public domain. A final ICB report based on private discussion and agreement with the banks rather than rigorous public scrutiny would lack public credibility and acceptability. The Committee is also concerned that the option of full structural separation of retail and investment banking has not received sufficient analysis. The ICB should provide further details as to the costs and benefits of this reform option and why it decided against full separation when proposing ring-fencing as the lead option in its interim report.

Independent Commission on Banking final report

Independent Commission on Banking final report
Author: Independent Commission on Banking
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 364
Release: 2011-09-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780108510984

The Independent Commission on Banking's final recommendations aim to create a more stable and competitive basis for UK banking for the long term. The result would be a banking system that is much less likely to cause, or succumb to, financial crises and the huge costs they bring; is self-reliant, so that the taxpayer does not have to bear the losses that banks make; and is effective and efficient at providing the basic banking services of safeguarding retail deposits, operating secure payments systems, and efficiently channelling savings to productive investments in the economy. Stability is crucial and UK banks should have more equity capital and loss-absorbing debt - beyond what has so far been internationally agreed - and their retail banking activities should be structurally separated, by a ring-fence, from wholesale and investment banking activities. The Commission also address competition, which has not been properly effective in UK retail banking. They recommend a seamless switching system based on redirection for personal and small business current accounts, free of cost and risk, complemented by measures to enhance transparency. The new Financial Conduct Authority should have a clear duty to promote effective competition. Structural reform should be complete by the Basel implementation date of 2019 at the latest. These reforms would result in better-capitalised, less leveraged banking more focused on the needs of savers and borrowers in the domestic economy. At the same time UK banks would be free to flourish in global markets, but without UK taxpayer support.

Independent Commission on Banking Final Report

Independent Commission on Banking Final Report
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Treasury Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2012-11-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780215050649

Incorporating HC 1534, session 2010-12

Banking Reform

Banking Reform
Author: Great Britain. Treasury
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 64
Release: 2013-02-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780101854528

Banking reform is the second key pillar of the Government's programme for reform of the financial sector to address the weaknesses exposed by the financial crisis of 2007-09. The first pillar of this programme, reform of financial services regulation, has been legislated in the Financial Services Act that received Royal Assent in December 2012 (2012 Ch. 21, 9780105421122). The Government is now legislating to reform the structure of the UK banking system, through the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill (HCB 130, session 2012-13, ISBN 9780215053794) which implements key recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking, including ring-fencing retail deposits from wholesale banking activities and depositor preference. This document accompanies introduction of the Bill and includes the Government response to the first report of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards (PCBS), which conducted pre-legislative scrutiny on the draft Bill. The response explains where the Government has amended the Bill and includes and impact assessment for the Bill, along with the opinion of the independent Regulatory Policy Committee

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report
Author: Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
Publisher: Cosimo, Inc.
Total Pages: 692
Release: 2011-05-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1616405414

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report, published by the U.S. Government and the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in early 2011, is the official government report on the United States financial collapse and the review of major financial institutions that bankrupted and failed, or would have without help from the government. The commission and the report were implemented after Congress passed an act in 2009 to review and prevent fraudulent activity. The report details, among other things, the periods before, during, and after the crisis, what led up to it, and analyses of subprime mortgage lending, credit expansion and banking policies, the collapse of companies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the federal bailouts of Lehman and AIG. It also discusses the aftermath of the fallout and our current state. This report should be of interest to anyone concerned about the financial situation in the U.S. and around the world.THE FINANCIAL CRISIS INQUIRY COMMISSION is an independent, bi-partisan, government-appointed panel of 10 people that was created to "examine the causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis in the United States." It was established as part of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009. The commission consisted of private citizens with expertise in economics and finance, banking, housing, market regulation, and consumer protection. They examined and reported on "the collapse of major financial institutions that failed or would have failed if not for exceptional assistance from the government."News Dissector DANNY SCHECHTER is a journalist, blogger and filmmaker. He has been reporting on economic crises since the 1980's when he was with ABC News. His film In Debt We Trust warned of the economic meltdown in 2006. He has since written three books on the subject including Plunder: Investigating Our Economic Calamity (Cosimo Books, 2008), and The Crime Of Our Time: Why Wall Street Is Not Too Big to Jail (Disinfo Books, 2011), a companion to his latest film Plunder The Crime Of Our Time. He can be reached online at www.newsdissector.com.

Economic Consequences of the Vickers Commission

Economic Consequences of the Vickers Commission
Author: Laurence J. Kotlikoff
Publisher: Civitas Book Publisher
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2012
Genre: Banks and banking
ISBN: 9781906837426

Argues that the Vickers Commission's banking reforms will not protect Britain from another financial crisis and proposes Limited Purpose Banking as an effective alternative approach to regulating the financial system.

The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions

The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions
Author: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002
Genre: Banks and Banking
ISBN: 9780894991967

Provides an in-depth overview of the Federal Reserve System, including information about monetary policy and the economy, the Federal Reserve in the international sphere, supervision and regulation, consumer and community affairs and services offered by Reserve Banks. Contains several appendixes, including a brief explanation of Federal Reserve regulations, a glossary of terms, and a list of additional publications.

The Foundations and Future of Financial Regulation

The Foundations and Future of Financial Regulation
Author: Mads Andenas
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 556
Release: 2013-11-20
Genre: Law
ISBN: 113504337X

Financial regulation has entered into a new era, as many foundational economic theories and policies supporting the existing infrastructure have been and are being questioned following the financial crisis. Goodhart et al’s seminal monograph "Financial Regulation: Why, How and Where Now?" (Routledge:1998) took stock of the extent of financial innovation and the maturity of the financial services industry at that time, and mapped out a new regulatory roadmap. This book offers a timely exploration of the "Why, How and Where Now" of financial regulation in the aftermath of the crisis in order to map out the future trajectory of financial regulation in an age where financial stability is being emphasised as a key regulatory objective. The book is split into four sections: the objectives and regulatory landscape of financial regulation; the regulatory regime for investor protection; the regulatory regime for financial institutional safety and soundness; and macro-prudential regulation. The discussion ranges from theoretical and policy perspectives to comprehensive and critical consideration of financial regulation in the specifics. The focus of the book is on the substantive regulation of the UK and the EU, as critical examination is made of the unravelling and the future of financial regulation with comparative insights offered where relevant especially from the US. Running throughout the book is consideration of the relationship between financial regulation, financial stability and the responsibility of various actors in governance. This book offers an important contribution to continuing reflections on the role of financial regulation, market discipline and corporate responsibility in the financial sector, and upon the roles of regulatory authorities, markets and firms in ensuring the financial health and security of all in the future.