Central Bank of Russia with new capital and liquidity requirements for banks

Central Bank of Russia will impose new requirements on capital and liquidity of banks. The new rules are related to the regulatory framework Basel III, and will have special requirements to 10 systemically important banks. From October 1, 2015 ten banks, which hold 60% of assets in the banking system will need to maintain liquidity coverage ratio of over 60%, according to an announcement of the central bank published on its website. From 1 January 2016 the minimum level of the indicator should be 70% to reach 100% from January 1, 2019. Systemically important banks are UniCredit Bank, Gazprombank, VTB, Sberbank, Alfa Bank, Otkrыtie, Rosbank, Promsvyazybank, Raiffeisenbank and Rosselyhozbank.

Moreover, the central bank will require all banks to hold additional capital buffer of 0.625% of risk-weighted assets at January 1, 2016 rate will increase to 2.5% by 2019. 10 systemically important banks will be subject to a separate rule that will require them from 1 January to maintain additional capital buffer of 0.15% of risk-weighted assets. The capital buffer will increase to 1% by 2019. Although new rules for capital buffers will be part of the obligations of the Central Bank of Russia banks have to cover will be limited to the ways in which distribute their profits and paying its management.