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Banking Practices and Regulation_124551

The document outlines the practices and regulations governing banks, emphasizing their importance for consumer protection, financial stability, and prevention of financial crime. Key aspects include prudential regulation, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering measures, while common regulations involve capital, reserve, and liquidity requirements. It also discusses the role of various regulatory bodies and the necessity of regulation to ensure banks operate safely and soundly.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
2 views

Banking Practices and Regulation_124551

The document outlines the practices and regulations governing banks, emphasizing their importance for consumer protection, financial stability, and prevention of financial crime. Key aspects include prudential regulation, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering measures, while common regulations involve capital, reserve, and liquidity requirements. It also discusses the role of various regulatory bodies and the necessity of regulation to ensure banks operate safely and soundly.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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MILTON MARGAI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

BANKING AND FINANCE BSC 2


Lecture Note 1

Bank Practice and Regulation

Banking practices are the day-to-day operations and procedures


followed by banks, while regulations are the rules and guidelines
established by government or regulatory bodies to ensure the stability
and safety of the banking system. Regulations aim to protect depositors,
prevent financial crises, and ensure banks operate responsibly

Bank Practices means the terms set out in the terms and conditions
governing accounts and services, internet banking, as may be
prescribed by Bank from time to time as well as any practices and/or
policies followed by Bank from time to time; Sample 1 AI Clause Wizard.

Common bank regulations include reserve requirements, which dictate


how much money banks must keep on hand; capital requirements,
which dictate how much money banks can lend; and liquidity
requirements, which dictate how easily banks can convert their assets
into cash.

Key Aspects of Banking Practices and Regulations:


 Regulation:
 Prudential Regulation: Ensures banks are financially sound and resilient
by setting capital requirements, liquidity standards, and risk management
practices, according to Wikipedia.
 Consumer Protection: Includes regulations on conduct of business, fair
practices, and protection against fraud and abuse.
 Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Counter-Terrorist Financing
(CTF): Regulations require banks to implement policies and procedures to
prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
 Deposit Guarantee Schemes: Provide protection to depositors in case of
bank failure.
Lecturer: Mohamed F M Kamara
Bank Practise and Regulation
Bsc Banking Year 2
 Bank capital Requirements: Regulations that require banks to hold a certain
amount of capital relative to their assets.

Banking Practices:
 Risk Management: Banks must identify, assess, and manage various
risks, including credit risk, market risk, and operational risk.
 Capital Management: Banks need to maintain adequate capital reserves
to absorb potential losses.
 Lending and Credit: Regulations influence how banks lend money and
manage credit risk.
 Customer Service: Banks must adhere to fair and transparent practices in
their dealings with customers.
 Internal Controls: Banks need to establish robust internal controls to
prevent fraud and ensure financial accuracy.

What is the main purpose of bank regulation?

Bank regulation is the process of setting and enforcing rules for banks
and other financial institutions. The main purpose of a bank regulation is
to protect consumers, ensure the stability of the financial system, and
prevent financial crime.
Banking regulations are also designed to promote safe and sound
banking practices by ensuring banks have enough capital to cover their
risks, preventing them from engaging in unfair or deceptive practices,
and ensuring that consumers have access to information about their
rights and options.
For example, regulations may ban certain types of fees or limit the
amount of interest that banks can charge on loans. By promoting
competition, bank regulation helps to keep prices low for consumers and
spurs innovation in the banking sector.

Lecturer: Mohamed F M Kamara


Bank Practise and Regulation
Bsc Banking Year 2
Furthermore, bank regulators also supervise the activities of banks
and enforce compliance with regulations. By doing so, bank
regulators help to ensure that banks operate in a safe and sound
manner and that consumers are protected from fraud and abuse.
Who regulates banks?
Being a heavily regulated industry worldwide, bank regulation varies
from country to country, but all countries have some form of regulation in
place to ensure the stability of their banking systems. Typically, there is
more than one regulatory agency per country.
Regulations typically come from both government agencies and central
banks. In the United States, bank regulation is primarily the responsibility
of four federal agencies: the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency,
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insuring deposits, the
Federal Reserve System regulating state-chartered banks, and the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Other countries have similar agencies that oversee their banking
systems. For example, in Canada bank regulation is handled by the
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, while in the United
Kingdom it is the role of the Prudential Regulation Authority and the
Financial Conduct Authority, a division of the Bank of England. In
Germany, the responsibility falls to BaFin.

 Key Regulatory Bodies:


 Government Agencies: Governments establish laws and regulations to
oversee the banking industry.
 Central Banks: Central banks often play a key role in setting monetary
policy and supervising banks.
 Industry Associations: Industry associations develop codes of practice
and best practices for banks.

 Examples of Regulations:
 Capital Requirements: Banks must maintain a certain level of capital
relative to their assets.

Lecturer: Mohamed F M Kamara


Bank Practise and Regulation
Bsc Banking Year 2
 Reserve Requirements: Banks are required to hold a certain percentage
of deposits in reserve.
 Liquidity Requirements: Banks must have sufficient liquid assets to meet
obligations.
 Basel Accords: International standards for banking regulation, including
capital requirements and risk management.
 Dodd-Frank Act (USA): A US law enacted after the 2008 financial crisis to
increase financial regulation.
 Sarbanes-Oxley Act (USA): A US law aimed at improving the accuracy of
financial reporting.
 Bank Secrecy Act (USA): A US law that requires financial institutions to
report suspicious activity.
 Community Reinvestment Act (USA): A US law that encourages banks
to serve low-income communities

Why is regulation important?

Banking is an essential part of the global economy, and bank regulation


is a critical tool for ensuring the stability and efficiency of the banking
sector. Bank regulation protects consumers by ensuring that banks
maintain adequate capital levels, disclose risks inherent in their business
activities, and follow sound risk management practices.
Regulation is also important because it promotes financial stability by
limiting the ability of banks to engage in activities that could lead to a
systemic crisis. In addition, bank regulation helps to ensure that banks
can serve as reliable sources of credit for businesses and households.
Overall, bank regulation plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and
soundness of the banking sector.

Why are banks highly regulated?

Banks are highly regulated for a variety of reasons. First and foremost,
banks deal with large amounts of money, which makes them a prime
target for crime. In addition, banks play a crucial role in the economy,
and their failure could have devastating consequences.
Additionally, banks act as intermediaries between borrowers and
lenders, helping to allocate capital to its most productive uses. Without
bank regulation, banks would be free to engage in risky behavior that
Lecturer: Mohamed F M Kamara
Bank Practise and Regulation
Bsc Banking Year 2
could lead to bank failures and a financial crisis. To prevent this,
regulators must monitor banks’ activities to ensure that they are sound
and stable. Some of the things that are monitored include the bank's
financial stability, its compliance with anti-money laundering laws, and its
lending practices.
By regulating banks, authorities can help to prevent bank failures and
protect the economy.

Lecturer: Mohamed F M Kamara


Bank Practise and Regulation
Bsc Banking Year 2

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