RBNZ: A review of bank liquidity identifies areas for improvement
In its latest review of New Zealand’s banking sector, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) identifies system, controls and risk management weaknesses.
Key findings
Undertaken review of banks’ compliance with liquidity policy, identifying system, controls and risk management weaknesses.
Compliance with the policy varied amongst banks, but was unrelated to bank size.
Review covered all 15 locally incorporated banks and onsite interviews with the largest ten.
It was positive we found banks are currently maintaining liquidity ratio levels above the regulatory minimums.
Sometimes liquidity positions were more favourably reported by banks than could be justified.
Areas of non-compliance highlighted gaps in these frameworks, suggesting widespread underinvestment in systems and assurance processes.
Plan to commence a review of the liquidity policy in the first half of 2022.
NZD reaction
The NZD/USD pair keeps its recovery mode intact just above 0.7100 on the RBNZ’s report. The kiwi is now trading at 0.7109, up 0.17% on the day.
Author
Dhwani Mehta
FXStreet
Residing in Mumbai (India), Dhwani is a Senior Analyst and Manager of the Asian session at FXStreet. She has over 10 years of experience in analyzing and covering the global financial markets, with specialization in Forex and commodities markets.
