Norwegian banks’ adjustment to stricter capital and liquidity regulation
- Author:
- Per Atle Aronsen, Monique Erard, Kjell Bjørn Nordal and Lars-Tore Turtveit
- Series:
- Staff Memo
- Number:
- 18/2014
Abstract
Capital and liquidity requirements for Norwegian banks are being gradually tightened. This paper presents the alternatives Norwegian banks have for complying with stricter capital regulation and the forthcoming LCR. Norwegian banks have so far primarily used retained earnings to strengthen their capital and this is also the likely future adjustment choice. The relationship between the level of bank equity and the cost of equity is important for banks' adjustment decisions. It may be reasonable to expect that large Norwegian banks in a steady state will have a cost of equity of about 10 percent and ROE of about 12 percent. We also look into Norwegian banks' current holdings of liquid assets, and strategies that may be used to comply with the LCR. Studies show that the impact on lending margins from complying with the LCR is low and negligible for Norway.
Staff Memos present reports and documentation written by staff members and affiliates of Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway. Views and conclusions expressed in Staff Memos should not be taken to represent the views of Norges Bank.
ISSN 1504-2596 (online)