The Custody Services of Banks

July 2016
Preface
This white paper seeks to (i) describe the and the institutions that engage in them,
services provided by U.S.-based banking appropriately reflect the particular risks
organizations with regard to the provision they are intended to address. This paper
of custody and related services on a global does not seek to prescribe any particular
scale; (ii) distinguish the services provided regulatory framework for custody businesses
by custodians from the services provided by or the institutions that engage in them, but
other entities in the multi-tiered system for is rather intended to provide lawmakers,
safekeeping, clearing and settling securities; regulators, and the public a comprehensive
(iii) describe how the balance sheets and look at the activities and risks of the custody
risk profiles of custody businesses differ services provided by banks, with a view to
from those of other banking activities; and informing future decisions about the manner
(iv) clarify certain misconceptions regarding in which these institutions are regulated.
the risks presented by the custody and
related services. This paper is one in a continuing series
of Clearing House research reports and
As international and national regulatory working papers focused on financial
bodies continue to increase their focus on institutions and regulation, and in particular,
macroprudential supervision, The Clearing the role of large banks in the financial
House believes that it is important to system and the costs and benefits of
ensure that all supervisory policies, tools regulating such banks.1 It was prepared
and regulatory frameworks, including with the assistance of The Clearing House’s
those that apply to custody businesses special counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

i THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

Executive Summary
An investor—whether a retail investor, an corporate trust, but do not have a significant
employee pension fund, a mutual fund or commercial banking business.3† Other
any other kind of institutional investor—who providers offer some or all of these services in
invests in a financial asset such as an equity addition to a broader traditional commercial
or debt security needs someone to hold and or investment banking business.
safekeep the asset on its behalf; receive on
its behalf any dividends or interest payments This paper explains the nature and risks of
made by the company that issued the security; the custody services provided by U.S. banks
alert the investor of any votes or other actions and considers the role of the custodian in the
the investor needs to take with respect to the financial system, including the extent to which
security (such as responding to an offer by the their activities are similar to or different from
issuer to exchange the security for another those of other entities involved in the multi-
security); and, if the investor wishes to sell tiered framework for holding, servicing, and
the security or purchase another security, settling transactions in client securities.
process the transaction on the investor’s
behalf. Custodians provide all of these custody
services to investors by contracting with the PROVISION OF CUSTODY SERVICES
investor either directly or with an agent of the Custody services involve the holding and
investor, such as an investment manager. In servicing of assets on behalf of others. To
short, a custodian provides custody and related facilitate the provision of these services,
services to investors—broadly characterized as custodians operate securities accounts and
the safekeeping and servicing of an investor’s cash accounts for their clients. Securities
assets—and in this respect plays a critical role in accounts are used to record and safekeep
helping investors to build and maintain wealth. investments in securities made by clients, while
cash accounts reflect clients’ cash holdings,
Bank-chartered custodians2* provide asset often in multiple currencies, which are placed
safekeeping and other related custody on deposit with a bank that provides custody
services to large institutional investors, services. Custodian’s safekeep and segregate
including asset owners, asset managers, clients’ investment assets, or the investment
and official institutions, as well as private assets of their clients’ own clients, and provide
wealth clients. In the United States, some a broad range of related financial services.
providers offer custody services on a Custodians, in turn, are members of, or have
global scale, as well as asset management, relationships with local institutions that are
wealth management, and other securities
processing services such as brokerage and † The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), Northern Trust
Corporation (“Northern Trust”), and State Street Corporation
* Other market participants, such as broker-dealers, can also (“State Street”) are prime examples of such providers, and
provide custodial services, but this paper focuses solely on the information about the business of these entities is included in
services provided by bank-chartered custodians. various places in this white paper for illustrative purposes.

ii THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

members of, central securities depositories THE ROLE OF CUSTODIANS
(“CSDs”) or international central securities The provision of custody and other asset
depositories (“ICSDs”), which are financial services by custodians, facilitates client
market utilities (“FMUs”) that hold securities access to and participation in global financial
that are either immobilized or in uncertificated markets, including interactions with other
(dematerialized) form, enabling ownership market participants. In this regard, these
changes to be tracked and recorded through services are critical to the functioning of
“book-entry settlement” rather than through financial markets, and, in fact, the use of these
the transfer of physical certificates. CSDs custody services is often required by law or
and ICSDs serve as the official registrar of the regulation in order to protect investors from
issuers of corporate securities by maintaining potential misappropriation of their assets by
the lists of the owners of securities on behalf funds and other vehicles in which they have
of the issuers, while custodians, through their invested.5 The activities of custodians help
relationships with CSDs and ICSDs, report and to link investors to issuers of securities and
track ownership changes in securities holdings thereby facilitate the infrastructure investment
on behalf of their clients. Although some and physical capital formation necessary
custody services could be provided by non- for economic growth and the accumulation
banks, clients generally prefer to use banking of retirement and other long-term savings.
entities that can provide traditional banking However, while the services provided by
services, cash deposit accounts and access custodians are critical to the functioning of
to payment systems and that are subject to the global financial system, it is important
robust prudential regulation and oversight. to recognize that these services represent
just one tier in the multi-tiered system for
Custodians also offer various administrative safekeeping, clearing and settling securities.
services related to clients’ assets, including the As discussed further herein, custodians help
processing of income and interest payments, facilitate client access to other tiers within
corporate action processing, proxy voting, the global financial system, such as central
client reporting, depository receipts services, counterparties (“CCPs”), CSDs, ICSDs, payment
transfer agency services and facilitating client systems, and national central banks (in their
subscriptions and redemptions of fund shares, role as operators of payment systems or
and fund administration and accounting settlement systems), without which clients
services. In addition, custodians provide clients could not conduct transactions across global
with ancillary services related to core custody financial markets.6 For example, when a
activities, including agency securities lending client engages in the purchase or sale of a
and foreign exchange services.4‡ security, a custodian facilitates the delivery
or receipt of the security and the related cash
‡ This paper focuses on the custody and related services offered
by custodians and does not discuss other business lines consideration at the direction of the client.
in which they may engage. For example, this paper will not As noted above, it is the CSDs and ICSDs
address analytics, asset management, brokerage, corporate
trust, transition management, treasury management, tri-party that hold the immobilized global certificates
repo, or wealth management business lines in which custodians representing issuances of securities or whose
may engage.

iii THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

electronic book entries represent issuances is frequently used to refer to the value of
of dematerialized or uncertificated securities, client assets held by a custodian, for which
and consequently it is the relevant CSD or the custodian provides safekeeping services
ICSD that ultimately settles the transaction on and assumes recordkeeping, segregation,
its books. The role of a custodian in settling reconciliation and monitoring responsibilities.
client securities transactions is typically a post- The term “AUC” is intended to distinguish a
trade role. After the execution of the trade custodian’s pure agency role in holding and
and notification of the custodian by the client, servicing those assets from an asset manager’s
the custodian will transmit the purchase active decision-making role over the assets
or sale settlement instructions directly or it manages, referred to as “assets under
indirectly (if through a sub-custodian) to the management” (or “AUM”).
relevant CSD or ICSD, which will effect the
settlement and credit or debit the custodian’s Although custodians may have separate
account (or a sub-custodian’s account) the commercial or consumer lending relationships
cash or securities, as applicable. Certain with certain custody clients, such lending
custodians operate global custody networks relationships do not generally extend to the
that include local sub-custodians and cash financing of clients’ custodied investment
correspondent banks, thereby enabling positions through loans or long-dated
their clients to efficiently access the global credit facilities. In general, the only lending
securities markets and payment systems custodians engage in as principal as part
through a single service provider. of their custody services business involves
the provision of short-term credit (generally
Although custodians facilitate transactions intraday or overnight) to facilitate efficient
involving client assets, they do not make settlement across different payment and
markets in or underwrite the issuance of the settlement systems and time zones, cover
assets they service. Trading activities in which overdrafts, facilitate client redemptions,
custodians engage are ancillary to their core enable the payment of management fees
custody function and are specifically focused and other expenses, and allow their clients
on assisting clients in the management to manage liquidity. This lending is provided
of their investment assets. In providing in connection with the processing of client
custody services, custodians act solely on securities or payment transactions.
instructions from their clients and do not
exercise any discretion over the use or reuse As discussed further below, custodians, like
of client assets under custody, or use them all banks, face credit, market, liquidity, and
for proprietary purposes. In this regard, the operational risk. In light of the agency nature
role of a custodian is different from that of an of the custody and related activities in which
asset manager, which typically has discretion custodians engage, however, the extent to
over investments made with, and the use and which those risks are presented often differ in
reuse of, client assets under its management.7 scale from those presented by other banking
The term “assets under custody” (or “AUC”) activities.

iv THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

COMPETITION IN THE CUSTODY The cash balances held in custodians’ client
SERVICE INDUSTRY accounts that are used to support custodial
The market for custody services is highly and other operational activities, result from
competitive and includes banks that provide day-to-day transactional activities, such as
custody services (in addition to other banking securities purchases or sales, dividends and
services) on a global or regional scale, local interest payments, corporate action events
custodians, and—with respect to some and client subscriptions and redemptions. In
custody services—ICSDs and CSDs. As of addition, custodians hold cash deposit balances
December 31, 2014, there were seventeen maintained by clients to address anticipated
banks with assets under custody in excess of and unanticipated funding needs stemming
$1 trillion. There is a sharp price competition in from various operational considerations, such
the global market for custody services, which as failed securities transactions, the nonreceipt
may reflect the fact that these custodians’ of payments and timing differences in the
clients, including large institutional asset movement of cash.8 As a result, the size of the
managers and other sophisticated institutional balance sheet of a custody business is primarily
investors, have a high degree of bargaining driven by client investment and transactional
power as a result of the number of custody activity, over which custodians have little direct
service providers in the market and these means of control. While operational deposits
clients’ ability to maintain different custody are generally stable over time, there may also
relationships for different asset classes or be short-term “excess” or temporary deposits
investment portfolios. related to a custody business that flow onto
custodians’ balance sheets during periods of
financial market stress. As clients reassess
FINANCIAL PROFILE OF CUSTODY their view of financial markets and appropriate
BUSINESSES levels of risk during such times, they may place
Custody-related revenues are primarily cash on deposit with custodians, typically after
driven by fees collected for services rather disposing of market assets in favor of cash. This
than by the use of their balance sheets to can result in substantial short-term fluctuations
take principal risk. In general, these balance in the size of custodians’ balance sheets.
sheets are liability-driven, with deposits largely
consisting of cash held by their institutional The asset side of a bank-chartered custodian’s
investor clients. Custodians reinvest client cash balance sheet is typically invested in a
deposits in broadly diversified and prudently diversified portfolio of high-quality, liquid
managed portfolios of investment assets; fixed-income securities, such as government
consequently, net interest income is also an and agency and asset-backed securities.
important component of revenues. Because These proprietary securities portfolios
they hold large volumes of client-provided are generally held either for investment
liquidity, custodians generally do not rely on purposes or to secure extensions of credit
significant interbank borrowings or wholesale related to custodians’ securities settlement
funding for liquidity purposes. activities. Client securities are never reflected

v THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

on a custodian’s balance sheet because the owner’s ownership interest in the underlying
institution is not the beneficial owner of its securities would be unaffected.
clients’ securities and does not bear the credit
or market risk relating to those securities. By Operational risk is particularly relevant to
the same token, because custodians do not custodians because the provision of custody
own their clients’ securities, clients do not have services is largely dependent on the successful
any credit exposure to custodians arising from execution of large volumes of operational
their safekeeping of the clients’ securities. and administrative tasks and processes that
require sophisticated systems to manage.
Custodians do not tend to engage in Custodians undoubtedly bear and present
significant maturity transformation activities operational risks, particularly relating to
(i.e., they typically do not accept demand errors in processing transactions and the
deposits and use them to fund long-dated loss or corruption of client data. These risks
loans), and the primary lending activity that are primarily a function of the quality and
custodians conduct as principal involves capacity of a custodian’s operational systems,
the provision of short-term credit (generally technology, controls and, of course, employees,
intraday or overnight in connection with the but they are not directly a function of the size
provision of custody services) to facilitate or composition of a custodian’s balance sheet,
efficient settlement across different payment although, by definition, the larger the volume
and settlement systems and other related of custody services provided, the greater the
operational needs. Thus, the balance sheet volume of potential losses due to operational
associated with a custody business does not risk for which a custodian could be held liable.
inherently present a significant duration or Furthermore, this risk is not unlike that of any
liquidity mismatch. Additionally, the only other large data provider, such as a payroll or
credit exposure that clients have to custodians software administrator.
related to the provision of custody services is
with respect to their cash deposits.9 In their provision of custody services,
custodians are exposed to credit risk when
they (i) extend intraday and overnight credit
RISK PROFILE OF CUSTODY to their clients to facilitate the settlement of
BUSINESSES securities transactions and short-term credit
Assets held in custody by a bank-chartered facilities to investment funds, and (ii) agree
custodian are not the bank’s assets. to indemnify their custody clients that lend
Consequently, the failure of a custodian securities in securities lending programs
would not result in the potential loss of the through custodians against certain losses.
underlying securities. Although there could However, the extent to which custodians are
be delays while clients move the safekeeping exposed to credit risk from such activities is
of their investment assets to an alternative generally limited. Credit risk from extensions
provider of custody services (or a bridge entity of intraday and overnight credit is generally
in the event of insolvency), the beneficial limited because of legal and/or contractual

vi THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

lien, set-off or other rights custodians have FMUs and other service providers. Custodians
to secure repayment of such advances. manage this risk overall by maintaining highly
Further, exposures from both extensions of liquid assets, including cash, cash equivalents,
intraday and overnight credit and securities and U.S. government and agency securities
lending indemnification obligations are very (including mortgage-backed securities).
short-term in nature, allowing custodians Custodians also have access to markets and
to curtail their lending activities and rapidly funding sources that are limited to banks, such
reduce their credit exposure in response to as the federal funds market and the Federal
the deteriorating financial condition and Reserve’s discount window.
creditworthiness of any client or securities
lending counterparty. While the types of risks associated with
custody businesses do not differ from those
Custodians are also exposed to market risk associated with other banking activities,
related to their portfolios of investment the exposure to each type of risk does differ
securities, their broader asset-and-liability in scale. Consequently, in assessing the
management practices, and their foreign application of macroprudential and other
exchange positions (i.e., FX trades for which supervisory policies, tools and regulatory
custodians’ FX desks act as principal). However, frameworks to custody businesses and the
securities positions associated with the balance institutions that engage in them, The Clearing
sheet of a custody business consist primarily House believes that international and national
of highly liquid U.S. government and agency regulatory bodies should ensure that such
securities, foreign sovereign debt, and asset- application appropriately reflects the particular
backed securities that demonstrate low levels risk profile of these businesses and institutions.
of volatility and market risk. Similarly, the FX
business associated with the custody business * * *
relates primarily to transactions to support
trade settlement and asset servicing and This white paper addresses these issues in
do not typically lead to large proprietary FX more detail, and is structured as follows:
trading positions. Further, custodians seek to Section I of this paper discusses the services
hedge their FX exposures through the use of provided by custodians and distinguishes
FX swaps and futures. the services provided by custodians from
the services provided by other entities in the
In addition, custodians are exposed to liquidity multi-tiered system for safekeeping, clearing
risk, including from the possible failure to and settling securities. Section II of this paper
effectively manage intraday liquidity related describes how the balance sheet and risk
to mismatches in timing between clearing profile associated with a custody business
and settlement activities, and payments to or differs from those of other banking activities
on behalf of clients. Custodians manage this and seeks to clarify certain misconceptions
risk on an intraday basis by actively managing regarding the risks presented by custody
available cash and collateral positions at services.

vii THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

Table Of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

I. Custodians and Their Custody Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

A. CUSTODY SERVICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1. Core Custody Services.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Ancillary Services.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Other Administrative Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

B. THE ROLE OF CUSTODIANS IN THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

1. Custodians’ Clients.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2. The Interaction between Custodians and FMUs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

C. COMPETITION IN THE CUSTODY SERVICE INDUSTRY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

II. Financial and Risk Profile of Custodians.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

A. FINANCIAL PROFILE OF CUSTODIANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

1. Income Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
2. Balance Sheet.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

B. RISK PROFILE OF CUSTODIANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

1. Risks Faced by Custodians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
2. Risks Faced by the Clients of Custodians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Endnotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

1 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

Introduction
An investor—whether a retail investor, an innovations that have largely eliminated the
employee pension fund, a mutual fund or need for the issuance of individual paper
any other kind of institutional investor—who securities certificates, the custody services
invests in a financial asset such as an equity provided by banks have become increasingly
or debt security needs someone to hold and complex and represent an indispensable part
safekeep the asset on its behalf, receive on of the multi-tiered financial market system for
its behalf any dividends or interest payments holding securities and clearing and settling
made by the company that issued the security, transactions, without which the securities
alert the investor as to any votes or other markets could not function.
actions the investor needs to take with respect
to the security (such as responding to an offer Bank-chartered custodians10 provide asset
by the issuer to exchange the security for safekeeping and other related custody
another security), and, if the investor wishes to services to large institutional investors,
sell the security or purchase another security, including asset owners, asset managers,
process the transaction on the investor’s and official institutions, as well as private
behalf. Custodians provide all of these wealth clients. In the United States, some
custody services to investors by contracting providers offer custody services on a
with the investor directly or with an agent of global scale, as well as asset management,
the investor, such as an investment manager. wealth management, and other securities
In short, a custodian provides custody processing services such as brokerage and
and related services to investors—broadly corporate trust, but do not have a significant
characterized as the safekeeping and servicing commercial banking business.11§ Other
of an investor’s assets—and in this respect providers offer some or all of these services in
plays a critical role in helping investors to build addition to a broader traditional commercial
and maintain wealth. or investment banking business.

At the most basic level, custody services The Clearing House is publishing this white
provided by banks involve holding assets on paper to foster a better understanding of
behalf of others, a function that banks have custody activities. Section I of this paper
historically provided to safeguard clients’ discusses the services provided by custodians
assets, including the physical securities and distinguishes the services provided by
certificates once commonly issued to investors custodians from the services provided by
representing the investors’ ownership interest other entities in the multi-tiered system
in the issuer. While this function may appear
straightforward on its face, as the securities § As previously mentioned, the Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY
Mellon”), Northern Trust Corporation (“Northern Trust”), and State
markets have grown exponentially in size and Street Corporation (“State Street”) are prime examples of these,
sophistication, and in light of technological and information about the business of these entities is included
in various places in this white paper for illustrative purposes.

2 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

for safekeeping assets and clearing and differs from those of other banking activities
settling transactions. Section II of this paper and seeks to clarify certain misconceptions
describes how the balance sheet and risk regarding the risks presented by custody
profile associated with the custody business services.

I. Custodians and Their Custody Services

Custodians deliver custody services primarily A. CUSTODY SERVICES
to institutional investor clients, including U.S. The starting point for any discussion of the
mutual funds and their non-U.S. equivalents, services and activities of custodians is to
corporate and public retirement plans, describe what is meant by the term “custody
sovereign wealth funds, central banks, services.” As applied to securities, the term
alternative investment funds, insurance originally referred to the safekeeping by
company general and separate accounts, a bank in its vault of the paper certificates
charitable foundations and endowments, representing the individual shares or principal
and personal and family trusts. Custodians amounts owned by the banks’ clients. The
maintain and operate integrated global settlement of clients’ trades in securities
custody networks that enable them to offer was effected by the transfer of the paper
their clients access to the global financial certificates from the custodian used by the
system in up to roughly 100 countries. The seller to the custodian used by the buyer. This
value of the assets under custody is not is no longer the case.
necessarily directly correlated to the size of
the balance sheet of the custodian that is With the development of International
attributable to the custody business, except Central Securities Depositories (“ICSDs”)
to the extent that those assets consist of and Central Securities Depositories (“CSDs”),
cash held as deposits with the custodian. For securities are generally not represented
example, measured by assets under custody by individual paper certificates anymore,
(“AUC”) as of December 31, 2014, BNY Mellon, but either by a single global certificate
Northern Trust, and State Street safe-kept representing the entire issuance or by
over $52.3 trillion of their clients’ assets.12 The an electronic book-entry.14 The result is
amount of assets as of the same date on their that a bank providing custody services no
own balance sheets, however, ranges from longer holds individual paper certificates
$110 to $385 billion, which places all three representing the securities owned by
institutions outside of the top 70 largest clients. Instead, such a bank holds—and
global banking institutions by asset size.13 thus “safekeeps”—an electronic book-entry
notation in the client’s securities account
representing the relevant number of shares

3 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

or principal amount of bonds that the bank these services as the “core custody services”
holds for its client(s) directly or indirectly and describe each in greater detail below.
through a CSD or an ICSD. As part of this
modern safekeeping function, custodians At its most basic level, the provision of core
are able to confirm that their holdings at the custody services requires the simultaneous
CSD or ICSD are equivalent to the amount operation of two separate but related types of
of securities owned by their clients at all client accounts: one that holds securities and
times.15 To settle transactions in securities for another that holds cash. The securities accounts,
its clients, a bank sends instructions directly which are used for safekeeping client assets,
(or indirectly through a sub-custodian in the include not only traditional equity and debt
relevant market) to the relevant CSD or ICSD, securities, but also shares and other ownership
which then effects the settlement on its books. interests in mutual funds and other funds,
asset-backed securities, alternative investments,
As discussed in greater detail below, custody and commodities. These investments are
services generally can be classified into three held under custody for, and beneficially
main categories: owned by, the custodian’s clients (or its clients’
customers). Since clients retain their property
»» Core custody services; rights in the assets credited to securities
accounts held with securities intermediaries
»» Ancillary services; and such as custodians (provided that such assets
are properly segregated from custodians’
»» Other administrative services. proprietary assets),16 these investments are not
reflected on a custodian’s balance sheet. The
corresponding cash accounts reflect clients’
1. Core Custody Services deposits to manage their investments and may
include holdings in multiple currencies. Unlike
While custodians today offer a wide breadth clients’ securities holdings, cash credited to
of services to their clients, the cornerstone of client cash accounts is typically reflected on
their custody servicing activities are: the balance sheet of a custodian as a deposit
liability, just as with any normal bank deposit,
»» safekeeping and record-keeping services; because it represents a contractual claim to the
payment of the cash balance (plus any accrued
»» asset servicing; interest) from the bank.

»» transaction processing and settlement;

and
a. Safekeeping and Record-
Keeping Services
»» banking services.
Custodians are first and foremost responsible
For purposes of this white paper, we refer to for safekeeping the assets in their clients’

4 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

securities accounts. While the safekeeping chain (CSD, ICSD, or sub-custodian), the client
of securities has evolved beyond the is very often not able to exercise its rights or
safeguarding of paper certificates, perform its obligations with respect to the
custodians continue to carry out safekeeping securities without the administrative support
responsibilities, primarily by: of the custodian. As a result, custodians offer
asset administration services to their clients,
»» properly recording the number or principal such as income and tax processing, corporate
amount of securities deposited by their action processing, collateral processing,
clients; securities valuation, and reporting services.

»» reconciling the securities holdings of »» Income and tax processing services

clients with the custodian’s accounts with include collecting income and dividend
a CSD or an ICSD17 or with a sub-custodi- payments on securities often on a con-
an18 to confirm that the correct number of tractual basis on behalf of clients.19 Cus-
securities is held for the client and can be todians also assist their clients in process-
delivered pursuant to the client’s instruc- ing withholding tax claims, which arise
tions; and from payments of interest and dividends
on securities, in accordance with applica-
»» segregating client securities from the cus- ble tax treaties.
todian’s own proprietary assets.
»» Corporate action processing services
This process will be further explained in include notifying clients of forthcoming
Section I.B.2 below. corporate actions affecting securities held,
such as exchange offers, mergers and
As part of their safekeeping activities, acquisitions, rights offerings, and regular
custodians also provide their clients with and extraordinary meetings of the securi-
reports about their cash and securities ties holders at which various matters may
holdings and transactional activities, which be put to a vote of the holders. In this
can be tailored or customized for specific connection, custodians offer proxy voting
client purposes, including for monitoring the services, which include delivering proxy
financial performance of securities and other notifications and agendas to their clients
assets. for their review and action. Clients may
then send the custodian voting instruc-
tions for onward transmission to the issuer
or its agent.
b. Asset Servicing
Because securities held by a client with a »» Securities valuation services include the
custodian are, in almost all cases, held by the collection and reporting to clients of secu-
custodian in a securities account provided rities pricing data produced by third-party
by the next entity in the multi-tiered custody sources and related administrative ser-

5 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 d. Banking Services
vices in support of the valuation of client
securities. Banking services provided by custodians
relate primarily to the processing of payments
»» Reporting services include providing and other transactions that result from client
clients with reports on their account investment activities. The acceptance of cash
holdings, recent transactions, and material deposits is, of course, in and of itself a banking
events, including income collections. service. In connection with the provision of
custody services, the primary purpose of a
client’s cash account is to accommodate the
investment activity of clients, including the
c. Transaction Processing and
Settlement purchase of assets that will be credited to
the client’s securities account and to receive
When a client engages in the purchase or the proceeds of sales of client assets and
sale of a security (using a broker-dealer and cash distributions on client assets held under
market execution mechanisms), a custodian custody. As noted previously, although
facilitates the delivery or receipt of the in some cases custodians have a business
security and the related cash consideration model under which they do not offer certain
at the direction of the client. As noted other services, such as retail, commercial and
above, it is the CSDs and ICSDs that hold the investment banking services, the custody-
immobilized global certificates representing related banking activities provided by such
issuances of securities or whose electronic banks are the same as those provided by
book entries represent issuances of other banks.
dematerialized or uncertificated securities,
and consequently it is the relevant CSD or Because of timing differences between the
ICSD that ultimately settles the transaction on processing of securities transactions in a
its books. The role of a custodian in settling local securities market and a client’s location,
client securities transactions is typically a the high volume of securities trades a client
post-trade role. After the execution of the may execute and simple operational errors,
trade by the client or its investment manager it is not always possible for clients to ensure
through its broker-dealer and notification that their cash account with a custodian has
of the custodian by the client or investment sufficient funds to settle all the purchases of
manager, the custodian will transmit the securities that the client has instructed the
purchase or sale settlement instructions custodian to process. As a result, absent credit
directly or indirectly (if through a sub- concerns with the given client, a custodian will
custodian) to the relevant CSD or ICSD, which typically advance any shortfall in funds (i.e.,
will effect the settlement and credit or debit effectively an overdraft) necessary to process
the custodian’s account (or a sub-custodian’s the purchases for the short time needed for
account) the cash or securities, as applicable. the client to transmit additional funds to the
The settlement process is explained in greater custodian. These cash advances are extensions
detail in Section I.B.2 below. of credit and, in the vast majority of cases, are

6 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

outstanding for less than a day (i.e., intraday debt and equity securities in their securities
credit extensions) or less than two days account. In response to client demand for a
(i.e., overnight credit extensions). They are way to enhance the yield on their investment
provided on a short-term basis and typically assets, custodians have developed agency
secured by a security interest in the equivalent services that enable clients to lend these
value of assets held in the client’s securities securities to other market participants. These
account. This banking service is thus closely securities lending programs have become
linked to a custodian’s provision of safekeeping a valuable source of additional yield for
and securities settlement services. institutional investors.

A custodian typically also provides cash To facilitate securities lending transactions,

management services, such as end-of-day a custodian first matches clients interested
balance reporting and sweep arrangements in lending securities with prospective
and short-term investment products, which borrowers approved by the lending client. The
allow for client cash balances to be reinvested custodian then enters into industry-standard
in securities, including interests in money or bespoke securities lending agreements,
market funds or other investment vehicles. In typically as agent for the lending client.
this regard, the securities in which the client’s Insurance companies and pension funds
cash is invested become part of the securities are among the major lenders of securities,
held in custody for clients for as long as the while broker-dealers, hedge funds, and other
cash is reinvested. financial institutions are frequently securities
borrowers. Securities lending transactions are
secured transactions, with the borrowers fully
2. Ancillary Services collateralizing their obligation to return the
borrowed securities with other securities or
In addition to their core custody services, cash. The role of the custodian is to effect the
custodians also offer other financial services loan of securities against the collateral and to
that are ancillary to the custody function, monitor the value of the lent securities against
including agency securities lending and the value of the collateral received and verify
foreign exchange services. Although a wide that additional collateral is posted (in the event
range of providers offer these ancillary services, of a shortfall in the value of the collateral) by
the business model of custodians positions the borrower or excess collateral is released
them well to offer such services to their (in the event of an excess in the value of the
custody clients. collateral) by the lender over the life of the
transaction. At the direction of its securities
lending client, a custodian will also typically
act as agent in reinvesting the cash collateral
a. Agency Securities Lending
Services posted by a securities borrower.

Custodians’ clients hold large pools of liquid Because securities lending clients rely on

7 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

agents, such as custodians, to perform due By providing these foreign exchange services,
diligence and manage credit risk in relation custodians allow their clients to engage
to the securities borrowers that the lender seamlessly in securities transactions in a variety
approves, a custodian typically agrees to of currencies. To the extent that clients regularly
indemnify the lender by replacing lent anticipate having to convert currencies,
securities in the case of a borrower default. the foreign exchange products offered by
The principal credit risk that a custodian takes custodians provide them with convenient and
in operating an agency securities lending attractive ways to lock in particular exchange
program is in providing such an indemnity. rates for a period of time and hedge their risks
Although important to the overall structure against exchange rate volatility.
of the market, the risk presented by a
client indemnification is quite limited, with
custodians having rarely experienced more 3. Other Administrative Services
than de minimis securities lending–related
losses due to borrower default. Custodians have expanded beyond the
provision of core custody and ancillary
services to offer a relatively standard set of
custody-related administrative services. These
b. Foreign Exchange Services
administrative services are a logical outgrowth
Custodians’ clients typically invest in securities of, and complementary to, custodians’
from many countries and, therefore, require operation of their clients’ securities and cash
custodians to provide services related to accounts, allowing custodians to capitalize
both their securities and cash accounts on an on their knowledge of clients’ investment
international basis. Where necessary, custodians businesses and their own operational expertise
have cash correspondent relationships with and capacity in asset administration and
banks in the country of the investment and transaction processing. Custodians are able to
thus can process transactions and make and provide these services on a cost-effective basis,
receive payments in the various local currencies. especially compared to the cost for clients
Custodians are thus able to support clients in to develop and maintain their own internal
holding cash deposits and settling securities capabilities, in part because custodians are
transactions in multiple currencies. As a able to achieve economies of scale.
natural outgrowth of their access to the local
currencies of the securities markets they serve, Administrative services offered by custodians
and in response to client demand, custodians to clients typically include fund accounting
offer their clients a variety of foreign exchange and administration services, transfer agency
products and services, including execution of services, and outsourcing services. These
FX spot and forward transactions and currency services are provided to a variety of investment
options. Custodians may also act as market funds, including mutual funds, pension funds,
makers in certain currencies, providing further private equity and hedge funds, and other
liquidity in those currencies. collective investment vehicles.

8 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 a. Fund Accounting and d. Outsourcing Services
Administrative Services
Outsourcing services generally consist of the
Fund accounting and administration services performance by custodians of activities under a
include the generation and calculation of a long-term contract that have historically been
fund’s net asset value (“NAV”). This involves conducted by a fund’s or other custody client’s
reporting the value of assets held in a client own middle or back office functions. These
account, as well as fund expenses, and then activities include transaction management,
communicating the NAV to the fund manager, cash management, record-keeping and
transfer agent, any exchange on which the accounting, data management, reconciliation
fund is traded, and other recipients. Fund and performance measurement and analysis.
administration services also include tax and
compliance reporting20 and the preparation
and dissemination of financial and other B. THE ROLE OF CUSTODIANS IN THE
reports to fund investors. FINANCIAL SYSTEM
In order to better understand the significance
of the custody services provided by a custodian,
it is important to understand the multi-tiered
b. Transfer Agency Services
chain of intermediation that connects investors
Transfer agency services generally consist of to the financial market utilities (“FMUs”)21
acting as the registrar of a fund, processing and that ultimately clear and settle the investors’
recording subscriptions to and redemptions payments and securities transactions. The
of fund shares by investors, interacting with primary role of a custodian in providing custody
the fund’s custodian (which will often be the services is to act as an intermediary between,
custodian itself ) to make related payments to on the one hand, the client that either invests
and from the fund’s cash account, and acting in securities and other investment assets on a
as a reporting agent to a fund’s shareholders, proprietary basis (i.e., the beneficial owners of
distribution agents and regulatory authorities. the securities), or manages or holds securities
and other investment assets on behalf of the
beneficial owners, and, on the other hand,
the FMUs that provide the necessary financial
c. Collateral processing services
market infrastructure to clear and settle
Custodians also provide services to support transactions in, and act as the ultimate holders
collateralized transactions (such as repurchase of, the investment assets.22¶ In its role as such
and reverse repurchase transactions, securities an intermediary, a custodian may access FMUs
lending and borrowing, and collateralized through its own direct membership or indirectly,
derivatives transactions) in which clients may through the memberships and services of other
engage bilaterally as principals. Such services ¶ Of course, many U.S. custodians have an investment
include verifying the amount of the relevant management business that provides investment advisory
and investment management services, but in each case that
credit exposure, calculating initial and variation is a separate and distinct line of business from its custody
margin requirements and executing margin calls. business. As noted above, this white paper focuses exclusively
on custody businesses.

9 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

intermediaries such as local custodians, which endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth
we refer to in this paper as “sub-custodians.” funds, other banks, and national central banks.

The decisions to purchase or sell investment Institutional investors use the services of
securities or other assets, or whether and custodians for many reasons. First, because
how to exercise voting or other rights with of the breadth of services custodians offer,
respect to the securities (such as whether to clients are able to work with one service
exercise options or rights to convert securities provider that can meet all of their custody
into other securities), are made by custodians’ needs. This saves clients the cost and burden
clients. In providing custody services, the of in-house staffing and resource development,
custodian acts on and follows its client’s and provides the benefits of a centralized,
instructions and does not make any investment highly integrated service delivery model. As
decisions or exercise any investment discretion the financial markets have globalized and as
on its client’s behalf. trading instruments have grown increasingly
complex, custodians have expanded their
offerings to meet the diverse needs of their
1. Custodians’ Clients large investor client base. Because custodians
operate globally, providing their services
In order to operate across such a large number in more than 100 countries, they are able
of foreign markets in which clients invest their to benefit from significant economies of
assets, custodians may establish contractual scale and provide their services to clients
relationships with local sub-custodian banks, at favorable prices. Finally, many clients
rather than establish a physical presence in prefer to use a custodian rather than a non-
each market. Whether achieved through bank custodian or FMU because custodians
organizational expansion or by establishing provide clients with traditional secure banking
a network of local sub-custodians, the services, cash deposit accounts, and access to
geographical reach of large U.S. custodians payment systems and are subject to a robust
uniquely positions them to serve investors with prudential framework and oversight (including
large and diversified international portfolios. compliance with the Basel III regulatory capital
requirements).
Custody clients consist primarily of institutional
investors, high-net-worth individuals, and Certain institutional investors are required
individual or family trusts. Institutional by law or regulation to rely upon custodians
investor clients include U.S. mutual funds to satisfy customer protection requirements,
and foreign public funds, corporate and such as those mandating the segregation of
public retirement plans, asset management client assets or transparency of investment
companies, U.S. registered investment advisers performance. The 1940 Act, for example,
and foreign investment advisors, private equity explicitly requires a U.S. mutual fund to
funds, alternative investment funds, hedge “place and maintain its securities and similar
funds, insurance companies, corporations, investments” with a qualifying custodial

10 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

institution.23 Because mutual fund custody as “onboarding”), tend to result in stable and
arrangements are often very complex and long-lasting relationships between custodians
must satisfy strict regulatory requirements, and their clients. For example, in order for a
many U.S. mutual funds elect to use a single client to transfer assets to another custody
custodian to maintain centralized operations. provider, it must enter into a custody contract
Similarly, European Union rules also require with the new provider, establish its profile on
the use of custody services for certain funds, new custody and accounting systems, migrate
mandating, for example, that the assets of each accounting and other financial data, initiate
UCITS or AIF be held with a single depositary.24 a parallel period of shadow accounting and
reporting, and open new accounts in each
The breadth of services provided by custodians market where it transacts. This resource-
also allows their clients to customize their intensive process can take at least six to twelve
contracts to receive the services suited to months to complete and requires significant
their particular needs. For example, managers investments in technology, operating
of large global funds typically require a full platforms and staff. While there is considerable
suite of custody-related activities—especially time and expense involved in switching
fund administration services—and may custody providers, the presence of numerous
even outsource their middle-office or back- competitors in the market for custody services
office functions to custodians. Clients with provides clients with sufficient incentives
a more limited geographic footprint and to regularly evaluate existing custody
lower transaction volumes may only employ relationships in comparison to the alternatives
custodians for selected services or markets. present in the market, thus incentivizing
Other clients, such as large, sophisticated asset custodians to maintain competitive pricing
managers and insurance companies, may use structures. See Section I.C for a detailed
the services of different custodians, and indeed discussion of the competitive dynamics of the
different global and local custodians based custody services industry.
in other countries, often to service specific
asset classes or needs. Certain categories of
clients, such as government agencies, national 2. The Interaction between
central banks, corporations, endowments, and Custodians and FMUs
foundations may have more specific needs for
custody services in selected countries or asset Through the intermediation of custodians,
classes, or may use custodians primarily to clients can access the payment, settlement and
access various payment systems. other services provided by FMUs, including
central counterparties (“CCPs”),25 CSDs, ICSDs,
The specialized nature of the custody services national central banks, payment systems26 and
that custodians provide, in addition to the time settlement systems, 27 without which clients
and costs involved in establishing new custody could not conduct transactions across global
relationships and moving the assets from financial markets. Thus, the custody services
one custodian to another (a process known provided by custodians facilitate the efficient

11 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

functioning of a modern, diversified financial allow access only to those institutions that
system. As discussed previously, custodians, meet specified requirements, including,
act as one tier in the multi-tiered system of for example, being subject to prudential
intermediaries that connect investors to the regulation, meeting financial soundness
FMUs that ultimately clear and settle the requirements, or maintaining and updating
investors’ payments and securities transactions. technological systems to ensure compatibility
Other intermediaries include asset managers with CSD systems.31 CSD members typically
and investment advisers, which, as discussed consist of custodians, broker-dealers, CCPs
above, constitute custodians’ institutional and other CSDs, national central banks and,
client base, and local custodians acting as sub- for some limited purposes, corporations. CSD
custodians for custodians. members hold their respective interests in
securities in the form of book-entry credits to
their securities accounts at the CSD.

a. CSDs and ICSDs

While CSDs typically only process securities
As noted above, to eliminate logistical burdens from their home-country market, some
and reduce operational risk associated have expanded their activities by processing
with issuing, transmitting, exchanging and securities from other markets.32 This is
safekeeping physical securities certificates, especially true in parts of the world with
CSDs have been established in most markets smaller, more fragmented capital markets.
globally to hold the physical securities In order to offer custody services for foreign
certificates, which, particularly for debt securities, a CSD must “link” with a foreign CSD.
securities, may be in the form of a single This can be arranged through the appointment
global note representing the entire principal of a sub-custodian that is a direct member of
amount of the debt.28 While these FMUs were the foreign CSD or, more typically, by a CSD
originally intended simply to immobilize opening an account in its own name with a
certificated securities, due to technological foreign CSD.33
advances, certain securities have been fully
dematerialized (or “uncertificated”) and exist at While CSDs operate within national borders
CSDs only in electronic form.29 CSDs maintain and generally offer membership only to
the list of the owners of securities (the “official domestic firms, ICSDs provide the same
register of shares” or debt), as applicable, on services across national borders and offer
behalf of issuers and are generally the holder of membership to entities—generally the
record of the securities held in the CSD. CSDs same types of institutions that qualify for
also recognize a change in ownership among memberships in CSDs—without regard to
account holders following the purchase or sale their home country. In addition, while CSDs
of a security through providing the service of a typically focus on book-entry settlement
settlement system.30 activities and often avoid activities that
involve extensions of credit, existing ICSDs34
CSDs operate on a membership model and have vertically integrated to offer both

12 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 1. SETTLEMENT THROUGH CSDS AND ICSDS 36
Local CSD or ICSD

Clearing
Custodian Agent Custodian
(CCP)

settlement and associated banking and

custody services, including extensions of
credit, collateral management services and
Investment Investment
Selling Local Buying
the operation of securities lending and Fund
Broker Exchange Broker
Fund
(Seller) (Buyer)
borrowing programs. While CSDs are the
official holders of record of securities issued
and traded in their domestic markets, ICSDs the movement of securities and cash from
are the ultimate and official holders of record a custodian’s account with a CSD or ICSD to
only for certain securities issued as so-called another custodian’s or broker’s account with
“Eurobonds,” namely, debt securities issued that CSD or ICSD. This will be explained in
by issuers of different nationalities in different greater detail below.
currencies (typically U.S. dollars or euros) to
the international debt market. While institutional investors could undertake
this reconciliation and settlement activity on
The development of CSDs and ICSDs and their own by becoming a member of a CSD,
the corresponding immobilization or they may not meet the strict requirements—
dematerialization of securities has transformed or may not want to invest resources to fulfill
custodians’ safekeeping responsibilities the strict requirements—to become a CSD
from the safeguarding of physical securities member. Thus, many institutional investors
certificates in their vaults, to the reconciliation gain access to CSDs and ICSDs worldwide
of book-entry securities positions credited to through the use of a custodian that operates
the relevant securities accounts. Specifically, on a global scale (a “global custodian”).
a custodian must confirm that its book-entry
credits at a CSD or ICSD are equivalent to
the book-entry credits held by its clients in
b. Sub-Custodians
their securities accounts on the books of
the custodian. In doing so, a custodian thus As noted above, leading custodians operate in
facilitates the delivery of securities owned by more than 100 securities markets worldwide.
its clients at a client’s request. In certain well-established markets, U.S.
custodians are direct members of the local
Because a CSD or ICSD holds the certificates CSD through a physical presence in the
representing the entire issuance of market, either in the form of a branch of their
securities or, in the case of dematerialized or U.S. bank or another subsidiary bank, or in
uncertificated securities, the electronic record the form of a locally incorporated subsidiary.
that evidences the entire issuance of securities, These direct memberships are generally
in most cases the settlement of a transaction known as “self-custody” arrangements. In
in securities would be effected by a custodian numerous other markets, however, custodians
on behalf of its clients by communicating do not have a physical presence and prefer to
with the relevant CSD or ICSD.35 Typically, the access a CSD through the appointment of a
settlement of securities transactions involves sub-custodian.

13 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 2. SETTLEMENT THROUGH SUB-CUSTODIANS
Local CSD or ICSD

Clearing
Sub- Sub-
Agent
custodian custodian
(CCP)

These sub-custodians are generally local

Custodian Custodian
custodians, multi-market custodians
sometimes known as “multi-direct” custodians,
Investment Investment
Selling Local Buying
or other global custodians. The sub-custodian Fund
Broker Exchange Broker
Fund
(Seller) (Buyer)
is a direct member of the relevant CSD and
will generally hold securities accounts with the
CSD and a cash account with the local central be transferred to the buyer and the buyer
bank or an alternative cash provider (such as must pay the seller for the securities).
the CSD). Instructions to process securities
transactions and exercise voting rights and As shown in Figure 3, assume for purposes of
other rights with respect to corporate actions this example that the securities in question
are processed by the sub-custodian on the are common equity of a UK issuer listed on
custodian’s behalf, and the sub-custodian the London Stock Exchange, that the seller is
then reports the results and receives any a non-UK institutional investor, and that the
distributions on the securities (such as interest buyer is a UK investment fund. The seller holds
payments and dividends) in the cash or the UK equities in a securities account with a
securities accounts it holds. Sub-custodians custodian’s U.S. bank and uses a UK broker to
may therefore be one of the tiers involved in execute the transaction. The buyer uses a UK
the provision of custody services, including broker and has a securities account with a UK
safekeeping and asset administration services, custodian.
by custodians to their clients.37
In this case, upon completion of the trade, the
seller’s UK broker will instruct the custodian to
settle the transaction. The custodian uses its
c. The Settlement of a Securities
Transaction by a Custodian U.S. bank’s London branch or subsidiary to hold
the seller’s broker’s UK equities in its securities
While transactional arrangements vary, a account with the UK CSD, Euroclear UK &
single purchase or sale of a security typically Ireland, which operates the CREST settlement
involves several tiers of the financial market system. As a result, the custodian’s U.S. bank
system for holding, clearing and settling will instruct its London branch or subsidiary
securities. For example, an investor seeking to to settle the sale of the UK equities to the UK
sell securities held in its portfolio may contact investment fund. The custodian’s London
a broker to sell the securities on its behalf. branch or subsidiary will then instruct CREST to
The broker will then typically enter into a debit the UK equities from its CREST securities
trade with another broker acting on behalf account and arrange for its cash account to
of the buyer of the securities. The trade may be credited with the amount of cash that the
be executed on a trading venue, such as a buyer, through its broker, has agreed to pay the
securities exchange, or over the counter. After seller for the UK equities.
the trade is executed, the transaction must
still be settled (i.e., the seller’s securities must In the meantime, the buyer’s UK broker

14 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 3. SETTLEMENT PROCESS EXAMPLE
Euroclear UK &
Ireland CREST
Settlement
System

Custodian
– U.S. Bank
UK
London CCP
Custodian
Branch or
Subsidiary

has executed the trade and the buyer has

instructed its UK custodian to debit its cash Custodian
– U.S. Bank
account with the amount of cash it has agreed
to pay for the securities. The UK custodian
Non-UK UK Retail UK Retail UK
has instructed CREST to debit from its cash Institution Securities
London
Securities Investment
Stock
al Investor Selling Buying Fund
account the amount of cash the buyer has (Seller) Broker
Exchange
Broker (Buyer)

agreed to pay for the securities and to credit

the number of UK equities it has agreed to
buy from the seller. C. COMPETITION IN THE CUSTODY
SERVICE INDUSTRY
CREST will receive both sets of instructions, The market for custody services is highly
match and validate them, and then will settle competitive and includes custodians, other
the transaction on its books on a delivery banks that provide custody services (in
versus payment (“DvP”) basis, meaning that it addition to other banking services) on a global
will simultaneously credit the securities to the or regional scale, local custodians, and—with
UK custodian’s securities account and credit respect to some custody services—ICSDs and
the cash to the custodian’s London branch CSDs. As seen in Figure 4, as of December
or subsidiary’s cash account. The custodian’s 31, 2014, there were twenty banks that, in
London branch or subsidiary will credit the their financial reports, reported holding at
cash to its U.S. bank’s cash account, and the least $500 billion of AUC; of these, seventeen
custodian’s U.S. bank will credit the cash to banks reported holding at least $1 trillion
the seller’s broker’s cash account. The seller’s of AUC. Thus, there is a significant degree
broker will then credit the cash to the seller’s of substitutability in the market among
cash account (which may be held by the broker current custodians—that is, the ability of
with another U.S. bank). one custodian to substitute in part or wholly
for another custodian in providing custody
If the trade is cleared through a CCP, there services, without taking into consideration
would be an additional step to the above the possibility of new banks entering the
transaction, in that the seller’s U.S. broker market through acquisitions of part or all of the
would enter into the trade with the buyer’s custody business of an existing custodian.
UK broker, but each broker’s custodian would
clear the trade through a CCP, which may This data understates the degree of
net the trade with other trades in the same competition and substitutability in the global
securities and produce a net trade in a smaller market for custody services. As explained in
amount and with a different counterparty Section I.B.2 above, banks are not the only
than the original trade between the seller’s entities that provide custody services; thus,
and buyer’s brokers. However, the process by defining the market for custody services solely
which each counterparty’s custodian would by reference to the AUC held by banks—and
settle the netted trade in CREST is the same as without including in the calculation the
described above. AUC held by the ICSDs or other non-bank

15 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 4. TOP CUSTODIANS BY AUC AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014
AUC 38
RANK FIRM HQ
(IN US$TN)
1 BNY Mellon 24.6 United States
2 State Street 21.7 United States
3 J.P. Morgan 21.1 United States
4 Citigroup 12.5 United States
5 BNP Paribas 9.0 France
custody providers—understates the degree of 6 HSBC 6.4 United Kingdom
competition and substitutability in the custody 7 Northern Trust 6.0 United States
market. However, because there are many 8 Mitsubishi UFJ 4.9 Japan
entities that could hold the same assets and 9 Société Générale 4.7 France
count them in their AUC—including CSDs and 10 Brown Brothers Harriman 4.0 United States
ICSDs, custodians, and sub-custodians—it is 11 UBS 3.4 Switzerland
difficult to determine an accurate market size 12 RBC Investor & Treasury Services 3.3 Canada
in terms of total AUC without the inevitable 13 SIX Securities Services 3.2 Switzerland
problem of double-counting certain assets. 14 CACEIS 2.9 France
For example, in those instances in which a local 15 Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Co. 1.6 Japan
custodian holds assets on behalf of a global 16 U.S. Bancorp 1.1 United States
custodian, both the local custodian and the 17 Santander 1.1 Spain
global custodian would count those assets as 18 SEB Group 0.9 Sweden
AUC. Because more than one custodian may 19 Nordea 0.8 Sweden
account for the same assets when disclosing 20 National Australia Bank 0.5 Australia
AUC, the AUC figures reflected above for the TOTAL 133.7
top 20 banks that provide custody services,
although correct for each individual bank, may relating to securities issued in other CSDs,
collectively overstate the AUC. while at the same time setting out specific
rules for the provision of such services.
While the primary role of CSDs and ICSDs is to
act as market utilities whose function is the These different types of custody service
maintenance of the ultimate book of record providers not only work to provide custody
of ownership of the securities they hold on services to custody service providers at higher
behalf of issuers (operating as a “single utility” tiers in the chain of holding AUC, but also
provider in many markets), some CSDs, as compete with those custody service providers
well as the ICSDs, have the ability to hold and one another and provide clients with
securities that have been issued in other alternatives (to a greater or lesser degree)
CSDs either directly with that CSD or through for the provision of custody services. In their
a subcustodian, and thus have the ability to own markets, local custodians compete not
act as an alternative to custodians for some only with other US custodians, other global
categories of securities, and for some types custodians and local custodians, but also with
of entities (largely banks and broker-dealers). the ICSDs and the relevant CSD with respect to
CSDs and ICSDs are typically regulated and entities that meet the eligibility requirements
supervised based on their core functions to be members of ICSDs and CSDs.
as market utilities, but some applicable
regulation, such as the European Union’s There is sharp price competition in the global
Central Securities Depositories Regulation, market for custody services. Measured by the
does allow CSDs and ICSDs to provide so- amount of custody servicing fees per $1,000
called “ancillary” services that include services of AUC for four banks that provide a significant

16 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

volume of custody services, one source Finally, although the provision of custody
recently estimated that fees have decreased services requires significant investment in IT
from approximately 3.5 cents ten years ago to infrastructure and systems and operational
2.5 cents in 2014.39 This may reflect the fact processes, the servicing of large amounts of
that these custodians’ clients, which include AUC does not require the maintenance of
large institutional asset managers and other correspondingly large balance sheets. This
sophisticated institutional investors, have a is evidenced by the fact that BNY Mellon,
high degree of bargaining power as a result Northern Trust, and State Street, which rank
of the number of custody service providers first, second and seventh, respectively, in
in the market and these clients’ ability to AUC in Figure 4 above, ranked ninth (BNY
maintain different custody relationships for Mellon), thirteenth (State Street) and twenty-
different asset classes or investment portfolios. ninth (Northern Trust) among U.S. holding
Although, as noted in Section I.B.1 above, companies in terms of total consolidated
institutional clients tend to have stable and assets as of December 31, 2014,40 and none
long-lasting relationships with custodians, of them is among the 70 largest banks
the presence of numerous competitors in the worldwide.41 Balance sheet size is not,
market for custody services provides clients therefore, a direct measure of a bank’s ability
with sufficient incentives to regularly evaluate to provide custody services, and it is not
existing custody relationships in comparison necessary for a provider wishing to enter the
with the alternatives present in the market, custody services market to have a balance
thus incentivizing custodians to maintain sheet comparable in size to the largest
competitive pricing structures. global banks.

17 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

II. Financial and Risk Profile of Custodians
As explained above, a custody business on instructions from their clients and do not
occupies a unique niche in the financial sector. make investment decisions or exercise any
Additionally, as noted above, some, custodians investment discretion over client assets, or use
do not generally engage in commercial or them for proprietary purposes.
consumer lending except as part of their
broader service offerings to institutional and Nor do custodians engage in the same types
wealth management clients. The balance of activities as certain FMUs, such as CCPs
sheets associated with a custody business or payment systems. In providing custody
is different from that associated with other services, custodians do not typically become
banking businesses that require the maturity principals to their clients’ trades through
transformation activities of taking short-term novation and netting, unlike CCPs, but instead
deposits to fund long-term assets such as act as agents on behalf of their clients. The
commercial and industrial loans, commercial only principal trading activity in which
real estate loans, and residential mortgage custodians typically engage is FX trading, and
loans.42 To the extent that custodians engage even that is client-driven activity: the volume
in lending activities as part of providing of FX trading is a consequence of the volume
custody services, they are typically limited to of client instructions to purchase and sell
the routine provision of short-term credit on securities denominated in currencies different
an intraday or overnight basis to facilitate the from those in which the clients’ cash balances
settlement of securities transactions and other are denominated. As noted previously,
operational matters. custodians provide access to FMUs on
behalf of their clients and operate in a highly
The activities of custodians in providing competitive market.
custody services are also different from
those of broker-dealers or prime brokers. This section of the white paper explains how
First, custodians do not, in connection with custodians’ financial performance and financial
providing custody services, make markets in condition is reflective of their business model.
or underwrite the issuance of the assets that In addition, it addresses the risks borne by
they service. Second, custodians typically custodians in providing custody services and
do not finance clients’ investment positions the risks to which their clients are exposed
through loans or other similar credit facilities. when holding assets with custodians.
Finally, to the extent that custodians engage
in trading activities, it is ancillary to the
provision of their core custody services. When A. FINANCIAL PROFILE OF
custodians facilitate the purchase and sale of CUSTODIANS
securities in connection with the provision Custodians are chartered as banks and accept
of custody services, they act as agents solely insured and uninsured deposits in the same

18 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 5: PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE FROM FEES 20122015 45
U.S.-based BHCs with
BNY Mellon Northern Trust State Street over $100b in assets
90

80
77.9 80.0 78.0 79.0 79.9
70 77.2 76.7
73.4
68.3 69.5
60 66.5 67.0

PERCENT
50

way as commercial banks do, but the balance 40 42.9 42.2 41.8 41.5
sheets associated with their custody services 30
means that both their income statements and 20
balance sheets differ from those of typical 10
commercial banks.43 0
12/2012 12/2013 12/2014 12/2015

1. Income Statement above), fee revenues, rather than net interest

revenues, compose a majority of total
For many commercial banks, revenue consolidated revenues. Figure 5, sets this out
is derived primarily from their maturity for illustrative purposes with respect to BNY
transformation activities, i.e., taking short- Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street.
term deposits and using them to fund
long-term loans such as commercial and In the four-year period from 2012 through
industrial loans, residential mortgage loans, 2015, the percentage of total revenues
and commercial real estate loans. The single accounted for by revenues from custody
revenue item in a bank’s income statement services ranged from 64.1% to 69.2% for BNY
that most reflects this lending activity is Mellon, 51.4% to 53.8% for Northern Trust,
net interest income or net interest revenue, and 87.7% to 88.4% for State Street.46 The
which is the difference between interest majority of the revenues from custody services
income (consisting of the amount of interest consist of fees rather than net interest income,
earned on the principal amount of the although, as described below, custodians do
loan) and interest expense (consisting of earn net interest income, which contributes to
the amount of interest paid by the bank to their overall profitability.47
the source of its funding for the loans, e.g.,
the amount of interest paid to the bank’s Individual custodians typically categorize
depositors). According to a report published their fee-based revenues from custody
by Autonomous, on an asset-weighted services in slightly different ways, but they
average basis, net interest income accounted generally represent asset servicing fees, fund
for just under 60% of U.S. banks’ revenues in administration fees, securities brokerage fees,
2014, with the percentage ranging from over payment fees, securities lending fees and
75% for smaller regional banks (with total fees from providing analytical investment
assets between $1 billion and $50 billion) and performance data and other similar services to
approximately 60% for large regional banks clients.48 These fees are primarily calculated as
(with total assets between $50 billion and a function of, as applicable, the market values
$500 billion) to approximately 50% for large of assets under custody or administration,
banks (with total assets above $500 billion).44 the volume of transactions, and market
interest rates.49 The revenue calculations can
In comparison, for a custody business vary depending on the contract between
(including the ancillary services discussed the custodian and its client, particularly if its

19 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

services are bundled under the terms of the of their total consolidated revenues, of which
contract. The advantage of fee-based revenue, the largest component in turn consists of
especially in a low interest rate environment, fee-based revenues, has produced a relatively
is that, unlike net interest income, it is not stable profit margin that contributes to their
dependent on the level of or spread between ability to maintain strong capital ratios and
interest rates. Rather, it is more dependent on thus increases their resiliency in the event of
the market values and transaction volumes of financial market uncertainty.
the assets being serviced, both of which are
more strongly correlated to client investment
activities and general market conditions. 2. Balance Sheet

Custodians also earn revenue in the form of As explained above, the market for custody
net interest income. In connection with the services is generally defined by AUC (or a
provision of custody services, net interest combination of AUC and AUA where reported
income primarily arises from the interest together). To the extent that AUC or AUA
earned on the reinvestment of clients’ cash consist of securities or other non-cash assets,
deposits in proprietary investment securities they are not recognized on the balance sheet
(which generally consist of highly liquid of custodians. This is because, provided that
government and agency securities and asset- the securities are properly segregated from the
backed securities) and interbank deposits, as custodian’s own assets and those of any sub-
well as interest charged on extensions of credit custodian, ICSD or CSD with which the securities
in connection with purchases of securities are sub-deposited, they are not the property
and other similar operational matters on of the custodian. They remain the property
behalf of clients. These extensions of credit of the beneficial owners of the securities and
are generally very short-term, primarily on therefore are recognized on the balance sheets
an overnight basis. While the percentage of the beneficial owners. The beneficial owners
of custodians’ revenues represented by net may be the custodian’s clients or clients of the
interest income is significantly lower than that custodian’s clients. Because client securities
of most commercial banks, net interest income are not reflected on the balance sheet of
is important to the overall profitability of custodians, custodians do not take any principal
custodians.50 risk in the form of credit risk (i.e., the risk of the
issuer of a debt security not paying principal
Fee-based revenues from custody services and interest and thus defaulting on the debt)
have historically been steady and predictable, or market risk (i.e., the risk of a decline in the
even during periods of economic downturn. market price of securities compared to the price
Custodians’ fee-based revenue structure paid for them) on client securities.52
creates a predictable flow of income that has
historically been quite stable throughout Although AUC and AUA are not reflected on
economic cycles.51 In short, custodians’ the balance sheets of custodians, the amounts
reliance on custody services for the majority of AUC and AUA nevertheless indirectly

20 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 6: GROWTH OF TOTAL DEPOSITS AT SELECTED
CUSTODIANS FROM DECEMBER 2006 – DECEMBER 2015
BNY Mellon Northern Trust State Street
300

250

200

US $ BILLIONS
150
contribute to the size of their balance sheets
because, for example, AUC and AUA result in 100

cash deposits necessary to purchase securities, 50

as well as dividends and interest payments.
0
BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street 12/06 06/07 12/07 06/08 12/08 06/09 12/09 06/10 12/10 06/11 12/11 06/12 12/12 06/13 12/13 06/14 12/14 06/15 12/15

experienced significant growth in AUC and

AUA from June 30, 2007, prior to the onset FIGURE 7: GROWTH OF AUC/AUA AT SELECTED CUSTODIANS
of the global financial crisis, through the end FROM DECEMBER 2006 – DECEMBER 2015
of 2014.53 In the same period, the deposit BNY Mellon Northern Trust State Street
liabilities of these institutions, representing 30
client cash deposits, increased by even
25
greater rates.54 The ratio of deposits to AUC/
AUA, however, typically remains very low, as
US $ TRILLIONS

20

indicated in Figures 6 and 7. To the extent that

15
deposits have grown faster than AUC/AUA,
this indicates that custodians have generally 10

experienced a “flight to quality” since the 5

global financial crisis, described further below.
0
12/06 06/07 12/07 06/08 12/08 06/09 12/09 06/10 12/10 06/11 12/11 06/12 12/12 06/13 12/13 06/14 12/14 06/15 12/15

The balance sheets of custodians are liability-

driven rather than asset-driven. Client cash
deposits are the primary building block of has invested the funds, whether investment
balance sheets associated with a custody securities or receivables from the placement of
business. These cash deposits consist of (i) the cash with another bank (including a central
client-deposited cash balances, which are bank such as the Federal Reserve).
used primarily to purchase securities, (ii)
proceeds from the sale of securities, and (iii) Client deposits represent the lion’s share
cash distributions of dividends and interest of the total liabilities of a custody business.
from client securities. Like any cash deposit For example, at the end of each year from
with a banking institution, the cash held at 2012 through 2015, the percentage of total
a custodian becomes the property of that consolidated liabilities represented by deposits
bank and can be used by the bank for its ranged from 76.5% to 78.8% for BNY Mellon,
own purposes. The depositing client has a 89.4% to 95.4% for Northern Trust, and 81.4%
contractual claim to the return of the cash: to 85.5% for State Street.55
either on demand or, in the case of time
deposits, upon expiration of a contractual term Client deposits held with custodians in their
to the deposit. As a result, the deposits are role as custody service providers fall into two
reflected as liabilities on the balance sheet of main categories: operational deposits and
the custodian, and the asset side of the balance other deposits. Operational deposits generally
sheet reflects the assets in which the custodian constitute deposits that support custodial and

21 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

other operational activities and result from In addition to operational deposits, clients
day-to-day transactional activities, such as often place additional amounts, sometimes
securities purchases or sales, dividends and referred to as “excess deposits,” with custodians,
interest payments, corporate action events especially in times of financial market stress.
and client subscriptions and redemptions. Figures 6 and 7 above, for example, show a
In addition, custodians hold cash deposit general increase in the amounts of deposits
balances maintained by clients to address placed with custodians from the end of
anticipated and unanticipated funding June 2007 to the end of December 2008,
needs stemming from various operational notwithstanding that the amounts of AUC
considerations, such as failed securities and AUA generally decreased over the same
transactions, the nonreceipt of payments and time period. This trend is evidence of the fact
timing differences in the movement of cash.56 that clients tend to view custodians as “safe
Since operational deposits are necessary for havens” in times of severe market stress.59 This
clients to obtain custody services, they are less also explains why, particularly in such stressed
likely to be withdrawn, as the lack of sufficient conditions, custodians may see increased
funds in a client’s cash account could limit the volatility in their balance sheets—with such a
ability of the custodian to provide the required high percentage of their liabilities consisting of
level of service or effect transactions on the client deposits, their balance sheets may grow
client’s behalf. As such, deposits resulting from significantly in stressed conditions as a result
the provision of custody services represent a of their clients’ desire to hold higher amounts
stable source of funding.57 This is recognized of cash deposits instead of other assets. Any
in the Basel III liquidity standards, where such client-driven growth may, as a result, put
operational deposits are assigned a lower pressure on custodians’ Tier 1 leverage ratio or
run-off factor due to the need for clients to Basel III Supplementary Leverage Ratio, neither
place “deposits with a bank in order to facilitate of which is a risk-weighted measure and both
their access to and ability to use payment of which therefore treat as an asset of equal
and settlement systems and otherwise make value $100 million of U.S. Treasuries and a $100
payments.”58 The stability of these deposits is million equity exposure to a highly leveraged
also attributed to the general stability of the hedge fund.
custody relationship between a custodian
and its clients. Contracts governing custody Apart from client cash deposits, custodians
relationships typically have termination generally have few other liabilities on their
provisions requiring advance notice periods of balance sheets. While these institutions may,
up to one year, making it unlikely that clients at times, borrow funds from other banks or
would withdraw these operational deposits wholesale funders, the liquidity provided by
in a short period of time, much less without clients through their cash accounts largely
any warning. In short, although custodians obviates the need to borrow from outside
may not have a broad retail deposit base, their lenders for liquidity.
operational deposit base provides a stable and
predictable source of funding. The assets associated with a custody business

22 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

consists primarily of two main asset categories: client redemption activities, payment of
cash on deposit with other institutions, management fees and other expenses.63
including the Federal Reserve and other These credit facilities are generally short-term
central banks; and investment securities, which (30-60 days), and the provision of credit is
typically consist of high-credit-quality, highly typically subject to the fund’s ability to meet
liquid securities such as U.S. government and asset quality and minimum diversification
agency securities, foreign sovereign debt requirements.
securities, and asset-backed securities.60 These
types of securities generally have very low risk This limited lending activity is reflected in the
weights for purposes of the Basel III risk-based relatively low percentage of net loans and
capital rules61 and qualify as High Quality leases64 recognized on the balance sheets of
Liquid Assets (“HQLAs”), which are assets custodians. For example, at the end of each
that satisfy the liquidity requirements of the year from 2012 through 2015, the percentage
U.S. Basel III LCR. These investment securities of total consolidated assets represented by net
are also used by custodians as collateral to loans and leases ranged from 12.9% to 16.1%
secure intraday and overnight borrowings for BNY Mellon, 28.4% to 30.4% for Northern
from sub-custodians, ICSDs, central banks and Trust, and 5.5% to 7.7% for State Street.65
other entities in connection with the purchase
of securities on behalf of their clients. At the Lastly, because custodians do not engage in
end of each year from 2012 through 2015, material volumes of market-making or dealing
the percentage of total consolidated assets activities, they have very few trading assets on
of custodians represented by cash, deposits their balance sheets. At the end of each year
with central and other banks, and investment from 2012 through 2015, trading assets as a
securities ranged from 62.9% to 66.7% for BNY percentage of total assets represented from
Mellon, 62.8% to 64.3% for Northern Trust, and 1.9% to 3.2% for BNY Mellon, 0.3% for State
72.0% to 78.4% for State Street.62 Street, and an insignificant fraction (less than
0.1%) for Northern Trust.66
As noted above in Section I.A.1.d of this
white paper, custodians also make intraday,
overnight and other short-term loans in B. RISK PROFILE OF CUSTODIANS
connection with providing custody services. The unique financial profile of a custody
These short-term loans are primarily business is reflective of its unique risk profile.
attributable to overnight overdrafts to Custodians do not face different or unique
fund purchases of securities, as well as categories of risk compared to other types
draw-downs on lines of credit to regulated of banks and financial institutions—like all
collective investment undertakings such as banking organizations, they face credit risk,
U.S. mutual funds, EU UCITS and other similar market risk, liquidity risk, and operational
retail investment funds to accommodate risk. However, because of the unique nature
the funds’ day-to-day operational needs, of the custody business, the extent to which
such as unanticipated movements of cash, custodians face each of these risks varies

23 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

significantly from the risk banks face for other While every banking organization faces
types of business. some or all of these categories of operational
risk, these risks are particularly relevant to
custodians because the provision of custody
1. Risks Faced by Custodians services is largely dependent on the successful
execution of large volumes of operational
The risks faced, managed and mitigated by and administrative tasks and processes that
custodians can be classified into four main require sophisticated systems to manage. The
categories: following are examples of custody or related
services provided by custodians that create
»» operational risk (including legal, fiduciary, operational risk:
and IT risk);
1. Corporate Action Processing Services.
»» credit risk; One of the most significant sources of
operational risk arises from the processing
»» market risk; and of corporate actions relating to securities
held under custody, such as exercising
»» liquidity risk. voting rights on mergers or other extraor-
dinary corporate transactions, tendering
securities in tender offers or exchange
offers, exercising conversion rights (e.g.,
a. Operational Risk
to convert debt into equity), or exercising
As with all banking institutions, custodians warrants or options to acquire securities.
face operational risk, which is the risk of loss In processing such corporate actions,
resulting from inadequate internal processes, custodians are exposed to the risk of
human error, systems failure or external errors such as missing deadlines to exer-
events, or failure to comply with applicable cise rights, crediting or debiting cash or
laws or regulations.67 These types of errors securities to incorrect clients or accounts
and failures are often evidence of a gap and committing errors in executing client
between applicable written internal policies instructions (e.g., electing to receive the
and procedures, regulations or contractual wrong securities in a merger or exchange
agreements and the actual execution of those offer). Because corporate actions are often
written guidelines. The U.S. Basel III rules tied to specific record dates for securities
classify operational risk loss events into seven holdings and specific deadlines by which
categories: (1) internal fraud, (2) external fraud, the companies whose securities are impli-
(3) employment practices and workplace cated must take certain actions, a failure
safety, (4) clients, products and business to process a corporate action properly can
practices, (5) damage to physical assets, (6) result in the loss of all or part of the value
business disruption and system failures, and (7) of a client’s investment in the particular
execution, delivery and process management.68 securities and a legal claim for damages

24 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 by the client against the custodian. A to a loss of the principal amount of the
custodian may also have to buy securities cash or securities and a claim against the
to make a client whole and bear any differ- custodian for that amount.
ence between the cost of purchasing the
securities and the value of any securities 3. Fund Administration and Related
incorrectly acquired or which the custo- Services. Fund administration services
dian incorrectly failed to sell, exchange or are also a source of operational risk. If
convert. a custodian erroneously calculates or
records the value of securities and other
2. Settlement. A second source of oper- assets held by an investment fund or
ational risk for custodians arises from the fund’s expenses, it may incorrectly
their purchases and sales of securities for calculate a fund’s NAV, with the result that
the account of their clients. Settlement the fund’s shares will be incorrectly priced
instructions can be incorrectly entered and valued. Client holdings, subscriptions
or processed, with the result that incor- and redemptions of fund shares can all
rect numbers or amounts of securities or be adversely affected by erroneous prices
cash may be credited or debited to client and can lead to client claims for resulting
accounts. Further, because an error in a losses.
settlement instruction entered by a custo-
dian may prevent it from being matched 4. Agency Securities Lending. A custodian
with a settlement instruction entered by that provides agency securities lending
the counterparty or its agent, the transac- services is exposed to the risk of errone-
tion may fail to be processed altogether. ously monitoring or determining the value
This in turn can lead to the failure of other of the collateral provided by the borrower
transactions that depended for their com- to the lender or incorrectly processing
pletion on the completion of the failed the substitution of collateral or the return
transaction. In the case of transactions of the borrowed securities. Any of these
that are supposed to settle on a DvP basis, errors can lead to claims for losses by the
these errors can lead to failed settlements. lenders or borrowers of securities.
They will not lead to the loss of the value
of the investment, since the clients will 5. Legal and Compliance Risk. Custodians
still have their cash or securities, but could also face operational risk in the form of
require the custodian to buy securities or legal and compliance risk. While there are
recompense clients for the cost of funds many definitions of legal risk, it is often
for the period in which funds were not defined as the risk of loss that an institu-
received and thus were not available to tion faces if a contract has unenforceable
the client. In the case of the transactions covenants or if the law changes or is not
that are supposed to settle on a non-DvP applied as initially understood. This can
basis, such that one party performs while lead to a loss equal to the value of the
the other does not, these errors can lead contractual right the custodian is seeking

25 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 to enforce (e.g., the amount of a fee for a securities transactions. And all banking
service). Compliance risk is the risk of loss organizations and financial institutions are
that an institution faces from the failure of exposed to legal and compliance risk, as well
an individual or group within the insti- as technology risk, including cybersecurity
tution to comply with applicable laws or risk. What distinguishes leading custodians’
regulations, such as anti-money launder- exposure to these types of operational risk
ing, U.S. economic sanctions, antitrust or is the scale and volume of their custody
antifraud requirements. This can lead to operations—the extent and potential
losses in the form of legal expenses, civil consequences of operational risk are obviously
money penalties and the costs of reme- greater for a bank that holds over $20 trillion in
diating any weaknesses in compliance assets under custody than for a bank that holds
controls, policies and procedures that led $200 billion in assets under custody.
to the violation of laws or regulations.
Custodians seek to mitigate their operational
6. Fiduciary Risk. The services provided by risk through a variety of measures. First
custodians also implicate a broad array of and foremost, they invest heavily in and
confidentiality and fiduciary requirements. continuously update their operational
Fiduciary risk is the risk of loss resulting processing systems and IT infrastructure,
from an organization’s failure to properly employing automated and straight-through
exercise discretion when acting on behalf transaction processing wherever possible to
of its clients, or to properly monitor and minimize the need for manual processing
oversee a third party’s exercise of such and intervention. These investments
discretion. This can result in substantial and updates both improve the ability of
financial liability, reputational damage, custodians to accurately service growing
decreased client demand for products and volumes of assets under custody and to
services, and potentially costly changes accurately process related cash payments and
to business practices in order to prevent securities transactions and also allow them
recurrence. to meet evolving operational standards and
requirements for connecting with ICSDs, CSDs
The examples listed above, although and other FMUs. In addition, custodians invest
specifically relevant to custodians, are not heavily in enhancing their risk management
different in kind from the examples of and compliance controls, policies and
operational risks faced by banks and other procedures. Apart from these active efforts
financial institutions for other lines of business. to mitigate the risk of the occurrence of
For example, banking organizations engaged operational risk loss events, custodians also
in securities brokerage, prime brokerage and seek to mitigate the financial consequences
asset management activities, as well as ICSDs of possible loss events through insurance and,
and some CSDs, can similarly be exposed to the ultimately, holding capital against operational
risk of incorrectly processing corporate actions risk in accordance with the applicable U.S.
related to securities or erroneously settling Basel III capital requirements.

26 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 b. Credit Risk
creditworthiness. These credit exposures are
A custody business, like a banking business, also generally incurred in connection with DvP
is exposed to credit risk, which is the risk that (for securities) or payment versus payment (for
a borrower or other counterparty will not foreign exchange) transactions, in which the
be able to pay its obligations on time and custodian’s client would not pay the amount of
in full. As discussed in Sections I.A.1.d and cash without receiving the number or principal
II.A.2 above, custodians extend intraday and amount of securities it was purchasing or pay
overnight credit to their clients to facilitate the amount of one currency without receiving
the settlement of securities transactions and the corresponding amount of the other
short-term credit facilities to investment funds. currency. In other words, the transactions
In addition, custodians take on counterparty are generally transactions in which there is
credit risk by indemnifying their custody no risk of loss of principal for the custodian’s
clients that lend securities in securities lending client if the counterparty to the trade does
programs through custodians against certain not perform its obligation to complete the
losses. Finally, custodians take on a degree transaction. Custodians may, however, be
of counterparty credit risk when—in order exposed to credit risk if they advance cash in
to facilitate client investments in emerging anticipation of settlement or receipt of income
market securities—they engage in FX or tax payments, rather than waiting to verify
transactions in emerging market currencies actual settlement. Some of these settlement-
that are not settled through the CLS payment related credit exposures are fully secured by
system. While this risk is mitigated by the the client granting a security interest in all cash
practice of posting collateral, market volatility and securities credited to the client’s accounts
in certain emerging market currencies can with the custodian, thus giving custodians the
result in residual unsecured credit exposure. ability to set-off the exposure amount against
cash or foreclose on and liquidate assets to
Overall, however, the extent to which a ensure repayment of the credit extension.69
custody business is exposed to credit risk
is generally limited because they do not The relatively low level of credit risk faced
engage in significant maturity transformation by custodians with respect to their custody
activities (i.e., they typically do not accept business is evidenced both by the lower level
demand deposits and use them to fund of credit losses and the lower level of their
long-dated loans, such as commercial and allowance for loan and lease losses relative
industrial loans, commercial real estate to the U.S banking industry more broadly.
loans and residential mortgage loans). The data shown in Figure 8 for BNY Mellon,
Because their credit exposures related to Northern Trust, and State Street is illustrative: at
the custody business are very short-term in the end of each year from 2012 through 2015,
nature, custodians retain the ability to curtail charge-offs of loans as a percentage of their
their lending activities and rapidly reduce total loan and lease portfolios represented
their credit exposure in response to any from 0.02% to 0.26% for BNY Mellon, 0.06% to
client’s deteriorating financial condition and 0.14% for Northern Trust, and -0.02% to 0.02%

27 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 8: CREDIT LOSSES: CHARGEOFF RATE 20122015
1.2
U.S.-based BHCs with
1.03 BNY Mellon Northern Trust State Street over $100b in assets
1.0

0.8
PERCENT

0.63
0.6
0.51 0.49
0.4
0.26
0.2 0.14
0.06 0.09 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.00 0.06
0.02
0.00
0.0
-0.02
-0.2
12/2012 12/2013 12/2014 12/2015

for State Street.70 Over the same time period, and have lower reserves against expected
annual charge-offs of loans as a percentage credit losses, associated with their custody
of their total loan and lease portfolios businesses, than U.S.-based BHCs with over
represented on average 0.49% to 1.03% for all $100b in assets have overall.
U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b in assets, and
0.41% to 1.22% for commercial banks generally While the overall credit risk faced by custodians
as reported by the Federal Reserve Board.71 is relatively low, custodians’ counterparty credit
exposures can be concentrated. Because of
Loans made by custodians in connection their business model, custodians typically face
with their custody business also have a lower other financial institutions74 (including sub-
allowance for loan and lease losses as a custodians and cash correspondent banks)
percentage of their total loans and leases than and collective investment funds (including
Commercial Banks on average. For example, mutual funds, UCITS, sovereign issuers, and
as seen in Figure 9, at the end of each year hedge funds). If these counterparties fail or
from 2012 through 2015, the allowance for are perceived to be failing, the exposures held
loan and lease losses as a percentage of total by custodians could present a significant risk
loans and leases ranged from 0.25% to 0.57% to custodians and their clients. Custodians
for BNY Mellon, 0.58% to 1.01% for Northern mitigate these risks by collateralizing such
Trust, and 0.18% to 0.25% for State Street.72 For transactions with high quality liquid assets,
all U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b in assets, which effectively shifts the credit risk from the
the allowance for loan and lease losses as a financial institution counterparty to the issuer
percentage of total loans and leases ranged of the collateral.
from 0.18% to 3.88% at the end of 2012,
from 0.21% to 2.95% at the end of 2013, and Further, as with all other banking organizations
from 0.21% to 2.48% at the end of 2014, and that are exposed to credit risk, custodians seek
0.25% to 2.07% at the end of 2015.73 In short, to mitigate their credit risk through a robust
consistent with their lower level of credit credit risk management framework, including
exposures and the short-term, settlement- the use of counterparty credit exposure limits,
related nature of the majority of these credit performing legal reviews of the enforceability
exposures related to their custody business, of their collateral agreements and security
banks have suffered lower credit losses, interests, and ensuring that they have control

28 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 FIGURE 9: ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES 2012201575
2.0
1.89
1.8 U.S.-based BHCs with
BNY Mellon Northern Trust State Street over $100b in assets
1.6 1.55

1.4 1.31
PERCENT

1.19
1.2
1.01
1.0 0.95
0.84
0.8

0.6 0.57 0.58

0.41
0.4 0.32
0.21 0.21 0.25 0.25
0.2 0.18

0.0
12/2012 12/2013 12/2014 12/2015

over the collateral provided by their clients However, the extent of the market risk faced
(which generally consists of cash and securities by custodians is limited. They do not incur any
already held by the client with the custodian). market risk on assets they hold under custody
or administration because, as explained in
In addition, custodians also hold significant Section II.A.2 above, AUC and AUA are not the
levels of capital against their counterparty property of custodians and are not reflected on
credit risk exposures both for internal risk their balance sheets. The securities and other
management purposes and in compliance assets that comprise AUC and AUA may well be
with U.S. Basel III capital rules. For example, subject to market risk because their values will
notwithstanding their generally lower level of fluctuate based on changes in market prices,
credit risk and credit losses (including through interest rates and other market factors, but
the financial crisis) compared to the average any such market risk is borne by the beneficial
U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b in assets, owners of the assets, not by custodians. In
BNY Mellon, Northern Trust and State Street addition, as explained in Section II.A.2 above,
have reported Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios unlike banks with substantial securities market-
comparable to those of this group of banks. making and dealing activities, custodians
At December 31, 2015, for example, the Tier 1 have immaterial percentages of their balance
risk-based capital ratios were 12.29% for BNY sheets associated with their custody business
Mellon, 11.4% for Northern Trust, and 15.3% for comprising trading assets and trading liabilities
State Street; U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b as to which they incur market risk.
in assets reported Tier 1 risk-based capital
ratios ranging from 10.8% to 17.37% at the The market risk to which a custody business
same date.76 is primarily exposed relates to its portfolios of
investment securities, its broader asset-and-
liability management practices, and its foreign
exchange positions (i.e., FX trades for which
c. Market Risk
custodians act as principal). Changes in market
Custodians are also exposed to market risk, prices, interest rates or other market factors
which is the risk of loss on a position in can affect the value of investment securities,
securities, foreign currencies, commodities and changes in foreign exchange rates can
or other assets resulting from changes in affect the value of FX positions. In this respect,
market factors such as prices or interest rates. custodians are no different from other banks

29 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

that have securities investment portfolios (including mortgage-backed securities), select
and foreign exchange exposures. However, non-U.S. government and supranational
because a custody business generally uses securities, and certain other high-quality
investment securities as sources of liquidity, securities that remain relatively liquid in times
including through pledging them as collateral of stress. Custodians also have access to
to FMUs, ICSDs and CSDs to secure intraday markets and funding sources that are limited
and overnight extensions of credit related to to banks, such as the federal funds market and
purchases of securities on behalf of custody the Federal Reserve’s discount window.
clients, the securities consist primarily of highly
liquid U.S. government and agency securities,
foreign sovereign debt, and asset-backed 2. Risks Faced by the Clients of
securities. Most of these securities evidence Custodians
low levels of volatility and market risk and thus
meet the criteria to qualify as High Quality Just as custodians are exposed to risks arising
Liquid Assets for purposes of the U.S. Basel III from providing custody services to their clients,
LCR requirements. Similarly, custodians tend their clients are exposed to risks from using the
to act as FX dealers in connection with foreign custody services. The main risks that clients
currencies that have historically experienced may face can be classified as follows:
relatively stable exchange rates and in any
event seek to hedge their FX exposures »» The risk of loss or delay arising from the
through the use of FX swaps and futures. custodian’s operational errors; and

»» Credit risk.

d. Liquidity Risk
Custodians are also exposed to liquidity
a. Risk of Loss or Delay Resulting
risk, which is the risk of loss from an actual from a Custodian’s Operational
or perceived inability to meet cash and Errors
collateral obligations. This includes the risk
that a custodian may fail to effectively manage As explained in Section I.A.1.a, the provision of
intraday liquidity related to mismatches in custody, custody-related and ancillary services
timing between clearing and settlement is subject to operational risks resulting from—
activities, and payments to or on behalf of among other things—inadequate internal
clients. To manage this risk on an intraday processes, human error, and system failure.
basis, custodians must actively manage If a custodian commits an operational error,
available cash and collateral positions at such as failing to process a corporate action
FMUs and other service providers. To manage or settle a securities transaction for a client,
liquidity overall, custodians maintain highly the client is at risk of losing all or a portion
liquid assets, including cash, cash equivalents, of the value of its investment or expected
U.S. government and agency securities profit from the investment or transaction. The

30 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

client will likely claim the amount of the loss of adequate controls and processes through
from the custodian for breach of contract or SSAE 16 reports and similar audit reports made
negligence and, provided that the claim is available by custodians, as well as information
justified, will ordinarily obtain compensation relating to compliance with such asset
from the custodian. Ultimately, the risk to protection requirements as Rule 17f-5 under
the client is that it may not be able to recover the 1940 Act relating to the custody of assets
the full extent of its losses (for example, on behalf of registered investment companies.
because the custody contract limits liability
to direct damages and excludes liability for
consequential damages such as lost profits) or
b. Credit Risk Resulting from
may face a delay in obtaining compensation. Exposure to a Custodian

These risks are the same risks a client of any As with a client of any bank, clients of
bank faces in obtaining other types of services custodians face the risk of loss of any
from a bank. For example, if a bank fails to uncollateralized cash deposits in an amount
disburse a loan or to credit a fund transfer to a above the limit of the Federal Deposit
client’s account, a client may be unable to pay Insurance Corporation’s deposit insurance,
the full extent of its obligations coming due which is $250,000 for each account holder.
on that day. These are also risks that a client This is because cash held on deposit with a
would face in using any third party to provide bank represents a contractual claim for the
custody services, or indeed if it performed return of the cash amount from the bank rather
its own back-office services. In short, they than the retention of a property interest in an
are risks that are inherent in using any asset that belongs to the client. In the event
service provider in connection with holding of a custodian’s insolvency, the client would
investment assets and effecting transactions in have a claim against the Federal Deposit
those assets. Insurance Corporation as receiver of the bank
for the amount of the deposit and, under
Clients are also exposed to the operational the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, would
risk of a custodian’s failure to properly benefit from the priority that depositors
segregate client securities from the bank’s have over other unsecured creditors of the
own securities portfolio—the same risk faced bank. A client can mitigate this credit risk
by any client of any financial institution that in the case of a custodian by maintaining
holds securities or other non-cash assets on only enough cash in its cash account on any
the client’s behalf (such as securities brokers one day that is necessary to process normal
holding client securities). However, this risk course transactional activities. Cash holdings
can be mitigated by verifying the use of of custody clients represent, however, a very
separate client accounts on the books of the small percentage of custody assets.
custodian and client omnibus accounts on
the books of sub-custodians, ICSDs, CSDs and Clients of a custodian that lends securities
other FMUs, as well as verifying the existence through the bank’s agency securities lending

31 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

program also have a credit exposure to the a custodian generally has a security interest
bank to the extent that the bank has agreed in cash and securities credited to a client’s
to indemnify the lender in the event that the account to secure its intraday or overnight
borrower fails to provide sufficient collateral extensions of credit to the client in connection
to fully secure its obligation to return the with settling its purchases of securities. The
borrowed securities. The indemnity generally client faces a risk of loss of cash or securities if
covers any shortfall between the required the custodian exercises its rights and enforces
amount of collateral necessary to cover the full its security interest by exercising its set-off
amount of the value of the borrowed securities rights against the client’s cash or foreclosing
and the actual value of the collateral provided on and liquidating securities collateral, but this
by the borrower. The credit risk to which the risk only materializes if a client fails to repay
custodian’s lender client is exposed in this case the extensions of credit made by the bank. In
is no different than the credit risk faced by any other words, the client itself can mitigate this
entity relying on a bank’s guarantee of a third risk by ensuring that it meets and performs
party’s obligations. its obligations to the custodian. This risk is no
different than the risk that any borrower faces
As explained in Sections I.A.1 and II.A.2 above, on any secured loan extended by a bank.

32 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

Conclusion
Custody services occupy a unique space and of other banking businesses. In light of these
play a critical role in the global financial market significant differences, The Clearing House
with respect to safekeeping and servicing believes that a custody business should not
investor assets and, through provision of automatically be subject to the same regulatory
these services, helping investors build and and supervisory framework as other banking
maintain wealth. The custody services businesses, but rather that the regulatory and
provided by custodians facilitate client access supervisory policies applicable to a custody
to and participation in the global financial business should be tailored to address the
ecosystem, which includes asset managers, specific risks inherent and unique to custody
broker-dealers, and FMUs. In providing such businesses. The Clearing House has frequently
services, custodians help to connect investors emphasized that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to
and enable capital to be deployed efficiently, regulation, and to macroprudential regulation
thereby helping to support overall economic in particular, is inappropriate and would
growth and the accumulation of retirement inherently fail to account for the wide variety of
and other long-term savings. business models and practices that exist among
individual institutions. As international and
As discussed in detail in this white paper, to national regulatory bodies continue to increase
the extent custodians are engaged in offering their focus on macroprudential supervision,
custody services, their financial and risk profiles The Clearing House believes that it is important
are distinguishable from those associated to ensure that all supervisory policies, tools
with other services offered by banks. While and regulatory frameworks, including those
custodians experience to some degree the that apply to custody businesses and the
same risks as any other banking institution, institutions that engage in them, appropriately
these businesses tend to have different credit, reflect the particular risks they are intended to
market and interest rate risk profiles from that address. n

33 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

Endnotes
1 See, e.g., “Scaled To Serve: The Role Of Commercial Banks In State Street Corporation (“State Street”) are prime examples
The U.S. Economy” and a study entitled “Understanding the of these, and information about the business of these entities
Economics of Large Banks,” The Clearing House’s Working Paper is included in various places in this white paper for illustrative
Series on the Value of Large Banks, and the fourth quarter issue purposes.
of The Clearing House’s Banking Perspective journal, which was
12 AUC is the value of client assets held by a custodian, for which
devoted to the topic: “The Value of Banks to Society.”
the custodian provides safekeeping services, and for which the
2 Other market participants, such as broker-dealers, can also custodian assumes recordkeeping, segregation, reconciliation
provide custodial services, but this paper focuses solely on the and monitoring responsibilities. As of December 31, 2014,
services provided by bank-chartered custodians. BNY Mellon’s AUC was $24.6 trillion, Northern Trust’s AUC was
$6.0 trillion, and State Street’s AUC was $21.7 trillion. See
3 The Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY Mellon”), Northern Trust National Information Center, 2014 FR Y-15 Snapshot Excel
Corporation (“Northern Trust”), and State Street Corporation (Aug. 3, 2015).
(“State Street”) are prime examples of such providers, and
information about the business of these entities is included in 13 SNL, Largest 100 Banks in the World (July 1, 2014). BNY
various places in this white paper for illustrative purposes. Mellon ranks 72nd and State Street ranks 96th on the list of
largest banks worldwide by total assets. Northern Trust does
4 This paper focuses on the custody and related services offered not place in the top 100 banks by total assets. The trading
by custodians and does not discuss other business lines assets and liabilities of these three institutions are relatively
in which they may engage. For example, this paper will not insignificant, ranging from $3.0 to $19.7 billion, (See SNL
address analytics, asset management, brokerage, corporate Reports, December 31, 2014 Trading Assets and Liabilities
trust, transition management, treasury management, tri-party for BNY Mellon, State Street, and Northern Trust (accessed
repo, or wealth management business lines in which custodians Sept. 28, 2015) reflecting the fact that custodians do not
may engage. engage in any meaningful volume of trading, market-making
or underwriting activities as principals in connection with their
5 For example, the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940
custody business.
Act”) requires U.S. mutual funds to ensure the proper
segregation of fund assets, a service often fulfilled by 14 Diana Chan, et al., The Securities Custody Industry, European
custodians. European Union rules regarding the Undertakings Central Bank: Occasional Paper Series Number 68, 5 (2007).
for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (“UCITS”) The former is generally referred to as a security “immobilized”
and Alternative Investment Funds (“AIFs”) also require the use in a CSD or ICSD; the latter is generally referred to as a
of custody services, mandating that the assets of each UCITS or “dematerialized” or “uncertificated” security on the books of a
AIF be held at a single depositary or custodian. CSD. In some cases, an issuance is represented by two global
certificates: one representing a domestic offering tranche and
6 The Depository Trust Company is an example of a settlement
one representing an international offering tranche.
service provider in the United States.
15 Id. at 10.
7 Of course, a custodian may have its own investment
management business that provides investment advisory 16 See, e.g., U.C.C. §  8-503(a) (1994).
and investment management services, but in each case that
is a separate and distinct line of business from its custody 17 In the case of a direct account relationship with the CSD or
business. As noted above, this white paper focuses exclusively ICSD.
on custody businesses. 18 In the case of an indirect account relationship with a CSD or
8 These two categories of deposits are often termed “operational ICSD.
deposits,” and in many cases are given favorable treatment for 19 In many major markets, the custodian credits these payments
capital and regulatory purposes over other types of institutional to its clients on the scheduled payment date even prior to
deposits. actual receipt of the funds from the issuer, in which case the
9 In addition to lending in connection with their provision of custodian is effectively advancing the funds to its clients, with
custody services, custodians may extend credit in connection the advances generally secured by a security interest in a
with their non-custody activities, including, for example, wealth client’s assets held in the securities account. By advancing
management activities. the funds, the custodian helps the client facilitate the efficient
management of investment assets, including by enabling
10 Other market participants, such as broker-dealers, can also transactions to settle despite timing differences arising from
provide custodial services; this paper, however, focuses on the issuers in one time zone making payments to holders in a
services provided by bank-chartered custodians. different time zone.
11 As previously mentioned, the Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY 20 Compliance reporting consists of monitoring compliance with
Mellon”), Northern Trust Corporation (“Northern Trust”), and investment guidelines and other similar mandates.

34 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

21 The term “financial market utility” is defined by Section 35 It is possible, of course, for two clients of a custodian to hold
803 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer the same securities with the same custodian and for those
Protection Act to mean “any person that manages or operates securities to be held in the same omnibus client securities
a multilateral system for the purpose of transferring, clearing, account (and in the same sub-account, if relevant) held
or settling payments, securities, or other financial transactions by the custodian with the CSD or ICSD. In this case, the
among financial institutions or between financial institutions custodian could simply settle the securities transaction on its
and the person.” 12 U.S.C. § 5462(6)(A) (2015). These books, debiting and crediting the cash and securities in its
entities are referred to as Financial Market Infrastructures, or clients’ respective cash and securities accounts, without the
“FMIs,” by the Bank of International Settlements. involvement of the CSD or ICSD (because the custodian’s cash
and securities positions in its cash and securities accounts with
22 Of course, many U.S. custodians have an investment
the CSD or ICSD would remain unchanged). Such activity is
management business that provides investment advisory
both incidental (as it depends on the occurrence of a specific
and investment management services, but in each case that
set of circumstances), and relatively rare (as most brokers
is a separate and distinct line of business from its custody
active on a particular trading venue use a direct account at the
business. As noted above, this white paper focuses exclusively relevant CSD).
on custody businesses.
36 The diagrams that appear in this paper are modified versions of
23 See 15 U.S.C. § 80a-17(f) (2012); see also 17 C.F.R.
the diagram found in The Payment System: Payments Securities,
§ 270.17f-4 (2015). Although U.S. mutual funds are permitted
and Derivatives, and the Role of the Eurosystem 89 (Tom
to self-custody their assets, due to the regulatory requirements
Kokkola ed., European Central Bank, 2010).
associated with self-custody it is rare for them to do so.
37 Some banks also act as clearing banks for certain types of
24 See European Commission, Directive 2014/91/EU of the
transactions, such as tri-party repo transactions. The role
European Parliament and of the Council Amending Directive
of clearing banks is analogous to the role of custodians or
2009/65/EC on the Coordination of Laws, Regulations,
sub-custodians in settling securities transactions, except that
Administrative Provisions Relating to Undertakings for Collective
in acting as clearing banks they generally settle the securities
Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) as Regards
transaction on their own books without a corresponding transfer
Depositary Function, Remuneration Policies and Sanctions, Art.
of securities on the books of a CSD or ICSD. Because this
22(1) (July 23, 2014); Directive 2011/61/EU of the European
paper is focused on custodians’ provision of custody services,
Parliament and of the Council on Alternative Investment
BNY Mellon’s role as one of two U.S. tri-party repo clearing
Fund Managers and amending Directives 2003/41/EC and
banks is not discussed.
2009/65/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009 and (EU)
No. 1095/2010, Art. 21(1) (June 8, 2011). Custodians facilitate tri-party repo transactions by providing
clients access to tri-party repo services offered by the custodian
25 The Options Clearing Corporation, the National Securities
or other clearing banks. In a tri-party repo transaction, the repo
Clearing Corporation and the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation
buyer (i.e., the lender of the cash) and repo seller (i.e., the seller
are examples of CCPs in the United States.
of the cash) enter into a bilateral repo transaction using their
26 FED ACH and the Clearing House Interbank Payment System cash and securities accounts with a custodian. Custodians
are examples of payment systems in the United States. facilitate such transactions by entering into such transactions as
agent for the repo buyer and repo seller.
27 Continuous Linked Settlement (“CLS”) is an example of a
settlement service provider in the United States. 38 There is no consistent reporting of AUC. In some cases, the
figures in this chart may include Assets Under Administration
28 DTCC (United States) and Euroclear UK & Ireland are examples
(“AUA”), which includes assets that the custodian may or
of CSDs.
may not hold in custody, but for which it provides asset
29 Chan, supra n.14 at 3. Many issuances of U.S. Treasury administration services, such as fund accounting, regulatory
securities, for example, exist solely in uncertificated form and and shareholder reporting, performance and analytics, and
the official register or record of each such issuance is the back or middle office outsourcing. In addition, in some cases
Federal Reserve’s Fedwire settlement system. the AUC figures published in this chart were not reported as
of December 31, 2014, but are instead reported as of a date
30 Id. at 8. period within nine months of December 31, 2014. Figures
31 Id. at 10. that were not initially reported in US$ were converted using
Internal Revenue Serv., Treasury Reporting Rates of Exchange
32 Id. at 14. CSDs are particularly likely to offer such services (“IRS Table”) issued at the date nearest to the date of the
for foreign securities that are also listed on the CSD’s home- AUC figure. See National Information Center, supra n.12; BNP
country exchange, but may also accept such securities if the Paribas Securities Services, About Us: Key Figures (accessed
national central bank in their home country accepts them as May 21, 2015); HSBC, Annual Report and Accounts 2014
collateral against extensions of credit in their payment system (Feb. 23, 2015); Northern Trust, 2014 Annual Report, (Form
or in connection with the central bank’s monetary operations. 10-K) (Feb. 26, 2015); Institutional Investor, The 2014 World’s
Largest Custodians: The Leaders (accessed June 4, 2015);
33 Id. at 16.
Société Générale, Press Release: 2014 Activity and Results
34 Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking S.A. in the (Feb. 12, 2015); Brown Brothers Harriman, Press Release:
European Union are examples of ICSDs. Brown Brothers Harriman Private Banking to Open a New Office

35 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 in Nashville (May 5, 2015); UBS, UBS Group – Basel III Pillar Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 24, 2016); Bank of America,
3 Disclosure for Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015); BB&T Corp.,
Indicators as of 31 December 2014 (accessed Oct. 5, 2015); 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2016); BB&T Corp.,
RBC Investor & Treasury Services, Press Release: RBC Investor 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015); Capital One
and Treasury Services Selected as Custodian by Legg Mason Financial Corp., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25,
(Mar. 31, 2015); Six Securities Services, Annual Report 2014 2016); Capital One Financial Corp., 2014 Annual Report (Form
(Apr. 29, 2015); CACIES, About Us: Key Figures (accessed May 10-K) (Feb. 24, 2015); Citigroup Inc., 2015 Annual Report
21, 2015); Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, About Sumitomo (From 10-K) (Feb. 26, 2016); Citigroup Inc., 2014 Annual
Mitsui Trust Group (accessed Oct. 5, 2015); Santander, Press Report (From 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015); Citizens Financial Group,
Release: Santander Signs Alliance with Group Led by Warburg Inc., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Mar. 26, 2016); Fifth
Pincus to Create Leader in the Custody Business (June 19, Third Bank Bancorp, 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25,
2014); SEB Group, 2014 Annual Report (Mar. 4, 2015); 2016); Fifth Third Bank Bancorp, 2014 Annual Report (Form
Nordea, GSIB: Systematic Importance Indicators (accessed 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015); Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2015
May 21, 2015); Brendan Swift, NAB Still the Big Player in Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 22, 2016); Goldman Sachs
Custody But Others Catching Up, Fin. Review (Apr. 16, 2015). Group, Inc., 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015);
JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb.
39 Mike Mayo, Rob Rutschow, Chris Spahr, Tom Hennessy, & Mark
23, 2016); JPMorgan Chase & Co., 2014 Annual Report (Form
Holland, World’s Worst Oligopoly: Time for Trust Banks to Adjust,
10-K) (Feb. 24, 2015); Morgan Stanley, 2015 Annual Report
CLSA Special Report, 6 (Jan. 2015).
(Form 10-K) (Mar. 23, 2016); Morgan Stanley, 2014 Annual
40 FFIEC National Information Center, Holding Companies with Report (Form 10-K) (Mar. 2, 2015); PNC Financial Services
Assets Greater than $10 Billion (accessed May 8, 2015). Group, Inc., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 29, 2016);
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., 2014 Annual Report (Form
41 See SNL, supra n.13. 10-K) (Mar. 2, 2015); Regions Financial Corp., 2015 Annual
42 In the case of custodians, such as BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 16, 2015); Regions Financial Corp.,
and State Street, that do not engage in significant maturity 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 19, 2015); SunTrust
transformation activities, their overall balance sheet will be Banks, Inc., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 23, 2016);
different from those of other custodians that do engage in SunTrust Banks, Inc., 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb.
broad commercial banking businesses. 24, 2015); U.S. Bancorp, 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K)
(Feb. 25, 2016); U.S. Bancorp, 2014 Annual Report (Form
43 As noted in footnote 42, in those cases where a custodian 10-K) (Mar. 2, 2015); Wells Fargo & Co., 2015 Annual Report
elects not to engage in general commercial banking, its income (Form 10-K) (Feb. 24, 2016); Wells Fargo & Co., 2014 Annual
statements and balance sheets overall would be expected to Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2015); (together, including
differ from those of typical commercial banks. 2014-2015 Annual Reports for BNY Mellon, Northern Trust and
State Street “2014-2015 Annual Reports of U.S.-based BHCs
44 Autonomous Research US LP, US Banks 4 (Mar. 19, 2015).
with assets over $100b”). See also Autonomous supra n.44 at
See also SNL Financial, Bank of New York Mellon Corp.: Non-
Chart 55 (demonstrating that revenue from fees has typically
Interest Income / Operating Revenues, Period: 12/15 Q (Mar.
comprised between 40-50% of money center banks’ total
7, 2016) (ratio of non-interest income to operating revenues
revenues over the last five years).
in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 79.50% for BNY Mellon,
74.98% for Northern Trust, and 80.54% for State Street, while 46 See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust,
the average for similarly sized “peer” U.S. commercial banks and State Street, supra n. 45. For purposes of this calculation,
ranged from 35.87% to 55.21%). revenues from BNY Mellon’s Investment Services business,
Northern Trust’s Corporate and Institutional Services business,
45 As used in this paper, “U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b
and State Street’s Investment Servicing business were used as
in assets” refers only to BHCs that have a U.S.-based
a proxy for custody services revenues.
parent company, not BHCs that are part of Foreign Banking
Organizations under 12 C.F.R. § 211.21(o). In all instances, 47 In the case of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street the
BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street are included in the percentage of total consolidated revenues (i.e., not just from
banking organizations categorized as “U.S.-based BHCs with custody services, but from all services provided by custodians,
over $100b in assets.” BNY Mellon, 2015 Annual Report (Form such as investment management and/or private wealth
10-K) (Feb. 26, 2016); BNY Mellon, 2014 Annual Report (Form management), fee-based revenues in 2012-2015 represented
10-K) (Feb. 27, 2015); Northern Trust, 2015 Annual Report from 77.2% to 80.0% for BNY Mellon, 66.5% to 69.5% for
(Form 10-K) (Feb. 29, 2016); Northern Trust, 2014 Annual Northern Trust, and 73.4% to 79.9% for State Street. See
Report, supra n. 38; State Street, 2015 Annual Report (Form 2014-2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and
10-K) (Feb. 19, 2016); State Street, 2014 Annual Report (Form State Street, supra n. 45.
10-K) (Feb. 20, 2015) (together, “2014-2015 Annual Reports
for BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street”); Ally Financial 48 See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust,
Inc., 2015 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 24, 2016); Ally and State Street, supra n. 45.
Financial Inc., 2014 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 27, 49 Id. See Autonomous Research supra n. 44.
2015); American Express Co., 2015 Annual Report (Form
10-K) (Feb. 19, 2016); American Express Co., 2014 Annual 50 See Autonomous Research supra n. 44. In the four-year period
Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 24, 2015); Bank of America, 2015 from 2012 through 2015, net interest income as a percentage

36 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

 of revenues from custody services ranged from 23.3% to Trust, 2007 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2008); State
24.9% for BNY Mellon, 12.9% to 16.4% for Northern Trust, Street, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015
and 22.8% to 28.9% for State Street. See 2014-2015 Annual (Form 10-Q) (July 29, 2015); State Street, Quarterly Report for
Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State Street, supra the Quarter Ended June 30, 2014 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 6, 2014);
n. 45. As a percentage of total consolidated revenues (i.e., not State Street, 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 22, 2013);
just from custody services), net interest income in 2012-2015 State Street, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30,
decreased from 20.3% to 19.9% for BNY Mellon, 25.4% to 2011 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 5, 2011); State Street, 2010 Annual
22.8% for Northern Trust, and 26.4% to 20.2% for State Street. Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2011); State Street, Quarterly
Id. For the same four-year period, the average percentage of Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2009 (Form 10-Q) (Aug.
total consolidated revenues represented by net interest income 10, 2009); State Street, 2008 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb.
for the U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b in assets ranged from 27, 2009); State Street, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended
43.2% to 45.7%. See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of U.S.- June 30, 2007 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 3, 2007); State Street, 2007
based BHCs with over $100b in assets, supra n.45. Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 15, 2008).

51 For each of the four years ended December 31, 2015, pre-tax 54 Deposit liabilities increased from approximately $81.4 billion
operating margin from custody services were reported as to $279.6 billion (an increase of 243.7%) for BNY Mellon; from
ranging from 26% to 30% for BNY Mellon, 20.2% to 27.6% for approximately $45.9 billion to $96.9 billion (an increase of
Northern Trust, and 23% to 28% for State Street. See 2014- 111.2%) for Northern Trust; and from approximately $73 billion
2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust, and State to $191.6 billion (an increase of 162.4%) for State Street. Id.
Street, supra n. 45. For the same four-year period, net income
55 See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern
as a percentage of total consolidated revenues (i.e., not just
Trust, and State Street, supra n. 45; BNY Mellon, 2012 Annual
from custody services) ranged from 14.5% to 21.2% for BNY
Report, supra n. 53; Northern Trust, 2012 Annual Report, supra
Mellon, 17.6% to 20.7% for Northern Trust, and 19.1 to 21.3%
n. 53; State Street, 2012 Annual Report, supra n. 53 (together,
for State Street. Id.
“2012, 2014, and 2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon,
52 As explained in more detail below, the only exception to this Northern Trust, and State Street”).
arises if a custodian takes a security interest in client securities
56 For example, the final rule implementing the Basel III Liquidity
to collateralize an extension of credit to its client to purchase
Coverage Ratio (“LCR”) in the United States defines “operational
securities and forecloses on the securities to enforce its
deposit” in relevant part as “unsecured wholesale funding or a
security interest or else to enforce a lien over the securities for
collateralized deposit that is necessary for the [bank] to provide
unpaid custody fees.
operational services as an independent third-party intermediary,
53 For example, BNY Mellon increased its AUC/AUA by 44.5% agent, or administrator to the wholesale customer or counterparty
from approximately $20 trillion to $28.9 trillion; Northern Trust providing the unsecured wholesale funding or collateralized
increased its AUC/AUA by 52.2% from approximately $4.0 deposit.” See 12 C.F.R. § 249.3 (2015).
trillion to $6.1 trillion; and State Street increased its AUC/AUA
57 For this reason, operational deposits benefit from a lower
by 111.0% from approximately $13 trillion to $27.5 trillion.
assumed run-off rate in calculating the net cash outflow
See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, Northern Trust,
denominator of the LCR than deposits from wholesale
and State Street, supra n.45; BNY Mellon, Quarterly Report for
customers that are not operational deposits. See 12 C.F.R.
the Quarter Ended June 30, 2015 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 7, 2015);
§§ 249.32(h)(3) and (4) (2015) (5% and 25% outflow rates
BNY Mellon, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30,
for operational deposits, depending on whether the entire
2014 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 11, 2014); BNY Mellon, 2012 Annual
deposit amounts are covered by deposit insurance).
Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2013); BNY Mellon, Quarterly
Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2012 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 58 Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Basel III: The
8, 2012); BNY Mellon, 2010 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Liquidity Risk Monitoring Tools ¶
28, 2011); BNY Mellon, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended 93 (Jan. 2013).
June 30, 2010 (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 6, 2010); BNY Mellon, 2008
Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 27, 2009); BNY Mellon, 59 Custodians are likely viewed as “safe havens” because, as
Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2008 (Form explained above, they do not engage in high volumes of trading
10-Q) (Aug. 8, 2008); BNY Mellon, 2007 Annual Report (Form activities or typical maturity transformation activities and also
10-K) (Feb. 28, 2008); Northern Trust, Quarterly Report for the have historically reported relatively high risk-based capital ratios.
Quarter Ended June 30, 2015 (Form 10-Q) (July 29, 2015); 60 As noted elsewhere in this white paper, overdrafts and other
Northern Trust, Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June short term extensions of credit to facilitate transactions by
30, 2014 (Form 10-Q) (July 28, 2014); Northern Trust, 2012 custody clientele are common assets relating to a custody
Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 26, 2013); Northern Trust, business but are not material in size relative to the business as
Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2012 (Form a whole.
10-Q) (July 27, 2012); Northern Trust, 2010 Annual Report
(Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2011); Northern Trust, Quarterly Report 61 For example, U.S. Treasuries and most foreign sovereign debt
for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2010 (Form 10-Q) (July 30, securities have a zero risk weighting under the U.S. Basel
2010); Northern Trust, 2008 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. III rule’s standardized approach for counterparty credit risk,
27, 2009); Northern Trust, Quarterly Report for the Quarter meaning that banks are not required to hold any capital against
Ended June 30, 2008 (Form 10-Q) (July 31, 2007); Northern such securities reflected on their balance sheets.

37 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS

62 See 2012, 2014, and 2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Mar. 1, 2013); BNY Mellon,
Northern Trust, and State Street, supra n. 55. 2012 Annual Report, supra n. 53; Capital One Financial Corp.,
2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2013); Citigroup
63 Collective investment vehicles are generally subject to limits Inc., 2012 Annual Report (From 10-K) (Mar. 1, 2013); Citizens
on borrowing or otherwise constrained in borrowing because of Financial Group, Inc., 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Mar.
leverage and asset coverage ratios. 7, 2013); Fifth Third Bank Bancorp, 2012 Annual Report (Form
64 Net loans and leases are the amount of loans and leases net of 10-K) (Feb. 22, 2013); Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 2013
the amount of the related allowance for loan and lease losses. Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2014); JPMorgan Chase &
Co., 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2013); Morgan
65 Northern Trust’s percentage of assets represented by loans and Stanley, 2013 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 25, 2014);
leases is relatively high in comparison to BNY Mellon and State Northern Trust, 2012 Annual Report, supra n. 53; PNC Financial
Street’s because the figure includes loans made as part of its Services Group, Inc., 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Mar. 1,
significant Wealth Management operations. 2013); Regions Financial Corp., 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-
K) (Feb. 21, 2013); State Street, 2012 Annual Report, supra n.
66 See 2012, 2014, and 2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon, 53; SunTrust Banks, Inc., 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb.
Northern Trust, and State Street, supra n.55. 27, 2013); U.S. Bancorp, 2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K)
67 See, e.g., 12 C.F.R. § 217.101(b) (2015) (Federal Reserve’s (Mar 22, 2013); Wells Fargo & Co., 2012 Annual Report (Form
final rule implementing Basel III advanced approaches; 10-K) (Feb. 27, 2013); (together, “2012-2015 Annual Reports
definition of “Operational risk”). Under the U.S. Basel III rules, of U.S.-based BHCs with assets over $100b”). See also Federal
only advanced approaches banking organizations are required Reserve Board Statistical Release, Charge-Off and Delinquency
to hold capital against operational risk. BNY Mellon, Northern Rates on Loans and Leases at Commercial Banks (accessed
Trust, and State Street use the advanced approaches capital Mar. 7, 2016). The figures presented here are an average of
reported quarterly figures and assume that the amount of
framework.
charge-offs is relatively equal throughout the year.
68 See 12 C.F.R. § 217.101(b) (2015) (Federal Reserve’s final
72 See 2012, 2014, and 2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon,
rule implementing Basel III advanced approaches; definition
Northern Trust, and State Street, respectively, supra n.55.
of “Operational loss event”). The Basel Committee on Banking
Northern Trust’s allowance for loan and lease losses, which is
Supervision issued its Standardized Measurement Approach
higher than that of BNY Mellon and State Street, reflects not
for operational risk – consultative document on March 4, 2016,
only the allowance made for its custody services, but also for
available at: http://www.bis.org/bcbs/publ/d355.htm.
its significant Wealth Management operations.
69 In addition, in many cases, custodians retain the right to
73 See 2012-2015 Annual Reports of U.S.-based BHCs with
reverse provisional credits in case of counterparty default.
assets over $100b, supra n.71.
70 See 2012, 2014, and 2015 Annual Reports of BNY Mellon,
74 These financial institutions are often subject to extensive
Northern Trust, and State Street, supra n.55.
prudential regulation, including stress testing.
71 See 2014-2015 Annual Reports of U.S.-based BHCs with assets 75 See 2012-2015 Annual Reports of U.S.-based BHCs with
over $100b, supra note 45; Ally Financial Inc., 2012 Annual assets over $100b, supra n.71.
Report (Form 10-K) (Mar. 1, 2013); American Express Co., 2012
Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 22, 2013); Bank of America, 76 SNL Financial Data, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratios for the
2012 Annual Report (Form 10-K) (Feb. 28, 2013); BB&T Corp., U.S.-based BHCs with over $100b in assets (Mar. 7, 2015).

38 THE CUSTODY SERVICES OF BANKS