Reserve Bank of Australia

Capital / Liquidity

RBA, APRA Free Up Liquidity, Capital Buffers for Banks

By Editors | 19/03/2020

New measures include an interest rate cut, a bond-buying programme, a term lending facility for banks, and relaxed expectations on bank capital ratios.

Market Infrastructure

RBA Mulls First-Ever Quantitative Easing Programme

By Editors | 16/03/2020

The RBA says it stands ready to buy government bonds in the secondary market, while APRA and ASIC are tasked with ‘adjusting’ regulatory requirements to boost credit availability.

Australia: ‘Perfect Storm’ of Regulatory Change Squeezing Smaller Banks

By Editors | 09/03/2020

The Customer Owned Banking Association is calling for the government to reassess the approaching wave of banking regulation, as record low interest rates squeeze margins.

Market Infrastructure

Central Banks Act to Mitigate Covid-19 Economic Threat

By Editors | 04/03/2020

The HKMA has responded to the US rate cut with a cut of its own. The RBA and BNM have also cut their key policy rates, while the BOJ focuses on asset purchases.

Market Infrastructure

Australia Finalises ISO 20022 Migration Approach for Payment System

By Editors | 27/02/2020

From November 2021, all intermediaries for incoming cross-border payments must be able to receive ISO 20022 enhanced message content, and to pass on those messages in full.

ESG / Sustainability

APRA to Develop Climate Risk Guidance, Assess ADI Vulnerability

By Editors | 25/02/2020

APRA will develop guidance on climate change financial risk, conduct a vulnerability assessment of ADIs, and include ESG in superannuation investment governance guidance.

Market Infrastructure

RBA Considers Mandating ‘Least Cost Routing’ – Reports

By Editors | 07/02/2020

Forcing banks to route payments through EFTPOS rather than Visa or Mastercard could save retailers an estimated A$500mn a year.

Market Infrastructure

Demand for Stablecoin, CBDC Not Yet Established: RBA

By Editors | 13/01/2020

A retail CBDC could ultimately hurt commercial banks, as it would translate to a fall in deposits and a reduction in the availability of funds for lending to households and businesses, the RBA says.

AML / KYC

RBA Underlines High Cost of Cross-Border Transfers via Big Banks

By Editors | 11/12/2019

The average mark-up over the wholesale exchange rate is around 5.5% for the major banks, versus about 1% for the digital money transfer services, said RBA governor Philip Lowe.