Supervisory Policy Manual CR-G-1 General Principles of Credit Risk Management
Supervisory Policy Manual CR-G-1 General Principles of Credit Risk Management
.,
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
~~~l1lff$rni
This module should be read in conjunction with the Introduction and with the
Glossary, which contains an explanation of abbreviations and other terms
used in this Manual. If reading on-line, click on blue underlined headings to
activate hyperlinks to the relevant module.
Purpose
To summarise the main principles which Als are expected to follow in
managing credit risk.
Classification
A statutory guideline issued by the MA under the Banking Ordinance,
§7(3)
Application
To all Als
Structure
1. Introduction
2. Overview of the credit process
3. An appropriate credit risk environment
3.1 Credit risk strategy and policy
3.2 Risk tolerance and portfolio limits
3.3 Risk concentrations
3.4 New products
3.5 Delegated credit authority
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
'. :m=m~Il!'m'l!I!rnJ
Supervisory Policy Manual
Management
3.6 Accountability
3.7 Staff competence
4. Prudent procedures for approving credits
4.1 Major principles
5. Effective systems for credit administration, measurement and
monitoring
5.1 Credit administration
5.2 Measurement and monitoring of credit risk
5.3 Loan classification
5.4 Loan provisioning
6. Adequate controls over credit risk
6.1 Segregation of duties
6.2 Exception reporting
6.3 Risk mitigation
6.4 Managing problem credits
6.5 Independent audits
1. Introduction
1.1 The HKMA expects all Als to have comprehensive credit risk
management systems appropriate to their type, scope,
sophistication and scale of operations. These systems should
enable Als to identify, quantify, monitor and control credit risk
and to ensure that adequate capital resources are available to
cover the risk assumed.
1.2 Credit risk is the risk that a borrower or counterparty fails to
meet its obligations. It exists in both the banking book and the
trading book, and both on and off the balance sheet of an AI.
Obviously, credit risk arises from loans but there are other
sources of credit risk such as.
• trade finance and acceptances;
• interbank transactions;
• commitments and guarantees;
2
@
••
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
=m=m~IIt~J!I!rni
1 In the settlement of, say, a foreign exchange transaction, there is a risk that one party may
settle late, or not at all. If one party settles late, the other party may need to borrow the
currency required from the market and incur interest cost until the former settles. If one party
defaults after receiving payment (e.g. due to differences in time zones), the other party loses
the whole principal (the potential loss could be larger than the principal if there is an adverse
price movement between the agreed rate and the market rate for replacing the contract).
3
@J HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
• i!fm~lll~l!I!Ji'U
Supervisory Policy Manual
CR·G·1 General Principles of Credit Risk V. 1 - 19.01.01
Management
2 Please see para. 2.1.2 and footnote 1 of CR-G-2 "Credit Approval, Review and Records" for
a description of the key roles and functions of the Credit Committee.
3 Please see Diagram 1 of this module for an illustration of the typical functions performed by
the front, middle and back offices.
4
@
..
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
1lf~~M!I!~:@Jm
5
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
:m=rtf~fMl11f$~
6
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
'" =m:m~M!I!1f:OOfflj
Supervisory Policy Manual
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Approving credit strategy and policies
Credit approval and monitoring (for large or connected
transactions)
Delegation of credit authority
Oversight of credit risk management
I
CREDIT COMMITTEE I SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Credit policy review
Implementing credit strategy and policies
Establishing credit policies and manuals
Credit approval and monitoring (within delegated limits)
Approving internal credit rating and provisions
Overseeing loan recovery progress
I I I 4
FRONT MIDDLE OFFICE BACK OFFICE INTERNAL AUDIT
OFFICE and COMPLIANCE
4 Internal Audit should report directly to the Board of Directors or the Audit Committee.
7
@
.,
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
~rtf:~Jjl!~:@,Fqj
3.1.2 The credit risk strategy and policy (including the criteria
to be used in approving credit applications) should be
approved by the Board of Directors. The Board should
also review the strategy and policy periodically (at least
annually) in the light of the AI's financial results, market
conditions and trends and its capital resources.
3.1.3 The credit risk strategy should encompass the need to
maintain sound credit quality, profits and business
growth. Als are in business to be profitable. They
therefore have to decide on what risk/reward relationship
is acceptable for their business, after taking into account
resource and capital costs.
3.1.4 The credit risk strategy should allow for economic cycles
and their effects on the credit portfolio during different
stages of an economic cycle. For example, it should
cater for a higher incidence of defaults in the personal
loan and credit card portfolios in times of economic
recession.
3.1.5 The credit risk policy should follow the principles of
prudence. It should be enforced and applied
consistently. It should ensure that credit facilities are
only granted to credit-worthy customers and that risk
concentrations are avoided. It guides management on
how business is to be developed.
3.1.6 The credit risk policy should not be relaxed because of
competitive pressures. Any changes to the policy should
be approved by the Board of Directors and should not
expose the AI to excessive risk.
3.1.7 Locally incorporated Als with overseas branches should
establish credit risk policies adapted to local conditions.
3.1.8 Als granting credit to obligors in other countries should
cater for the fact that in so doing they incur additional
risks - country risk and transfer risk. They should
therefore take account of the environment - economic
and political - in those countries, the potential effect of
changes thereto on the obligors' ability to service the
credit and the contagion effects in regions where
economies are closely related.
8
~ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
~ lfm~il!~:@fqJ
9
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
• ~~~Ilt~l!I!fiU
Supervisory Policy Manual
10
~ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
., 1!fm:'&iIl!~~fflj
Management
3.6 Accountability
11
~ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
.. if~~M!k'lf~r.u
3.6.1 All staff should comply with laid-down credit policies and
procedures and be held accountable, ultimately to the
Board of Directors through their reporting officers, for
their decisions when discharging their responsibilities.
Thus, for example, if a credit goes into default and on
investigation it transpires that an approval by an officer
did not comply with policies or procedures, the officer
concerned should be counselled, re-trained or
disciplined, as appropriate.
3.6.2 An AI's remuneration policies should be consistent with
its credit risk strategy_ The policies should not
encourage officers to generate short-term profits by
taking an unacceptably high level of risk.
3.6.3 Where the account officer for a credit (or customer
relationship manager, branch manager or similar) moves
on, the incoming officer should carry out a take-over
review. The review should cover inter alia the credit-
worthiness of the borrowers, the adequacy of the
documentation, compliance with covenants,
performance of each loan and the existence and value
of any collateral.
12
@
•
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
:m=1th~Ik'iflMJm
13
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
• ::m=~~M!l!1fl!!nu
Management
14
@
..
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
:m:m~iIl'm'lmr.u
15
@
.,
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
1!fm~ik1fl!l!Jm
5
• internal credit ratings ;
5 This term will hereafter be used inter-changeably throughout this Manual with "internal risk
ratings".
16
@
."
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
:m:m~IIl1fl!!,Fqj
17
@
,
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
~~~III~l!I!r.u
18
@ HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
• 1fm~Ik~l!f!r.u
Supervisory Policy Manual
19
r@
.,
HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY
~r{l~IIt1f:OOfqj
20