Stress testing reg burdens made “proportional” at World Council’s urging
MADISON, WI (October 22, 2018) — The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) on October 17th issued a revised Stress Testing Principles standard that will significantly reduce the regulatory burdens of stress tests on credit unions and other community-based financial cooperatives. World Council of Credit Unions (World Council) earlier this year urged the “proportional” approach to stress testing adopted by the Basel Committee. Stress tests of credit unions and other community-based cooperative depository institutions are based on this Basel Committee standard and will now be implemented by regulators on a more proportionate basis, based on the size, complexity, resources and risk profile of the institution.
“World Council members have often reported ‘gold-plating’ and excessive supervision involving stress testing and the Basel Committee’s updated stress testing principles should help end those excessive compliance burdens on credit unions,” said Michael Edwards, World Council’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
The Basel Committee’s new standard also found that national-level stress testing frameworks have evolved well beyond what the Committee envisaged when it issued its original stress testing standard after the global financial crisis. World Council applauds the Committee’s new approach that will help right-size the compliance burdens of stress tests for credit unions and other community-based financial cooperatives.
A copy of the Committee’s revised Stress Testing Principles can be viewed here.
Michael S. Edwards, Senior Vice President and General Counsel leads World Council’s advocacy efforts
About World Council of Credit Unions
World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development platform for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.
World Council has implemented 300+ technical assistance programs in 90 countries. Worldwide, 82,758 credit unions in 97 countries serve 404 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.
