The Banking Supervision Handbook – banking supervision policy documents and regulations

Objective of the handbook

The objective of this handbook is to provide registered banks, their advisers and other interested parties with an understanding of the Reserve Bank’s banking supervision policy framework.

How do you keep informed of updates to the handbook?

You can subscribe to an email list which will keep you informed of updates to the Banking Supervision handbook. There is no charge for this service.

Recent changes to the Banking Supervision Handbook

October 2009 – updated Handbook documents BS13 - Liquidity Policy (PDF 189KB) and BS13A - Liquidity Policy Annex: Liquid Assets (PDF 127KB), containing the finalised versions of the Reserve Bank’s new quantitative and qualitative requirements for banks in relation to liquidity risk. Also, associated changes to BS1 and BS3.
October 2009 – changes to Appendix 3 of BS1, to bring the approval criteria for credit rating agencies into line with the approval guidelines in the non-bank deposit taker regime.
May 2009 – new paragraphs 37A and 37B in BS7A clarify that banks’ credit rating disclosures should include any rating outlooks, watches or other qualifications to their ratings.

All document links are to PDF files.

	Section Title	Document Reference	Date of Issue
1.	Statement of principles – bank registration and supervision (PDF 232KB)	BS1	October 2009
2.	Capital adequacy framework (Basel I approach) (PDF 115KB)	BS2	March 2008
3.	Capital adequacy framework (standardised approach) (PDF 358KB)	BS2A	November 2007
4.	Capital adequacy framework (internal models based approach) (PDF 111KB)	BS2B	March 2008
5.	Application for status as a registered bank: Material to be provided to the Reserve Bank (PDF 70KB)	BS3	October 2009
6.	Audit obligations (PDF 35KB)	BS4	September 2008
7.	Guidelines on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (PDF 45KB)	BS5	February 2009
8.	Market risk guidance notes (PDF 35KB)	BS6	March 2008
9.	Registered bank disclosure regime – overview of Orders in Council and related documents (PDF 481KB)	BS7	November 2008
9.	Registered bank disclosure regime – explanatory information on Orders in Council (PDF 47KB)	BS7A	May 2009
10.	Connected Exposures Policy (PDF 28KB)	BS8	March 2008
11.	Application for consent to acquire or increase significant influence over a registered bank: Material to be provided to the Reserve Bank (PDF 25KB)	BS9	August 2003
12.	Review of Suitability of Bank Directors and Senior Managers (PDF 41KB)	BS10	February 2009
13.	Outsourcing Policy (PDF 45KB)	BS11	January 2006
14.	Guidelines on a Bank’s Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (“ICAAP”) (PDF 49KB)	BS12	December 2007
15.	Liquidity Policy (PDF 189KB)	BS13	October 2009
15.	Liquidity Policy Annex: Liquid Assets (127KB)	BS13A	October 2009
	Orders in Council
	NZ Gazette of 27 February 2008, 27 March 2008, 28 August 2008, and 10 November 2008
	Full and Half-year – New Zealand Incorporated Registered Banks Disclosure Order (as amended) (PDF 464KB)	OIC1	November 2008
	Off-Quarter – New Zealand Incorporated Registered Banks Disclosure Order (as amended) (PDF 299KB)	OIC2	November 2008
	Full and Half-Year – Overseas Incorporated Registered Banks Disclosure Order (as amended) (PDF 324KB)	OIC3	November 2008
	Off-Quarter – Overseas Incorporated Registered Banks Disclosure Order (as amended) (PDF 174KB)	OIC4	November 2008

Contents of the handbook

The handbook contains a number of documents, which explain various aspects of supervision and registration policy. The information in the handbook is updated from time to time.

If you have any queries regarding this handbook, please contact the Records and Administration Officer, Prudential Supervision Department or email rbnz-info@rbnz.govt.nz.

Matters not addressed in the handbook

Registered banks and their advisers are encouraged to make the handbook the first point of reference on specific matters relating to banking supervision. Where a matter is not addressed in the handbook, the matter should be raised with the Bank. In general, the appropriate contact person at the Bank will always be the analyst responsible for the registered bank concerned. Other enquiries should be directed to the Head of Prudential Supervision.