Managing Sensitivity to Market Risk in a Challenging Interest Rate Environment

Highlights: 

• The FDIC is re-emphasizing the importance of developing a comprehensive asset-liability and interest rate risk management program.
• Interest rate risk management should be viewed as an ongoing process that requires effective measurement and monitoring, clear communication of modeling results, conformance with policy limits, and appropriate steps to mitigate risk.
• Nationally, a number of institutions report a significantly liability-sensitive balance sheet position, meaning that a marked increase in interest rates could adversely affect net interest income and, in turn, earnings performance.
• For a number of FDIC-supervised institutions, the potential exists for material securities depreciation relative to capital in a rising interest rate environment.
• Examiners will continue to consider the amount of unrealized losses in the investment portfolio and the degree to which institutions are exposed to the risk of realizing losses from depreciated securities when qualitatively assessing capital adequacy and liquidity and assigning examination ratings.
• Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities flow through to equity capital as reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adverse trends in an institution's GAAP equity can have negative market perception and liquidity implications.

Continuation of FIL-46-2013 

Distribution: 
FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings) 
FDIC-Supervised Savings Associations 

Suggested Routing: 
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Financial Officer 
Chief Risk Officer 

Note: 
FDIC Financial Institution Letters (FILs) may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site at 

http://www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2013/ . 

To receive FILs electronically, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html . 

Paper copies may be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center, 3501 Fairfax Drive, E-1002, Arlington, VA 22226 (1-877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). 

Managing Sensitivity to Market Risk in a Challenging Interest Rate Environment 
 

The FDIC has identified industry trends that highlight the importance of careful management of sensitivity to interest rate risk. Nationally, a number of institutions report a significantly liability-sensitive balance sheet position, meaning that a marked increase in interest rates could adversely affect net interest income and, in turn, earnings performance. For a number of FDIC-supervised institutions, the potential exists for material securities depreciation relative to capital in a rising interest rate environment. Interest rate risk at most banks arises from traditional activities; however, institutions may have hedging positions, embedded optionality, or other strategies that can moderate this sensitivity. This Financial Institution Letter re-emphasizes the importance of prudent interest rate risk oversight and effective risk management processes to ensure all state nonmember institutions are prepared for a period of rising interest rates.

On January 6, 2010, the FDIC joined the other financial regulators 1in issuing guidance titled Advisory on Interest Rate Risk Management (the 2010 Advisory). This guidance was issued when interest rates were trending toward historic lows and the more attractive asset yields were becoming concentrated in longer-duration assets. The issuance was intended to remind institutions of supervisory expectations for managing interest rate risk and that the declining trend in interest rates would not continue indefinitely. The fundamental risk management processes outlined in the 2010 Advisory continue to be relevant today. Institutions that embraced its tenets should have an effective interest rate risk management framework in place to handle potential market volatility.

The FDIC is increasingly concerned that certain institutions may not be sufficiently prepared or positioned for sustained increases in, or volatility of, interest rates. For example, institutions with a decidedly liability-sensitive position could experience declines in net interest income and potential deposit run-off in a rising rate environment. Moreover, rate sensitive liabilities may re-price faster than earning assets as coupons on variable rate loans and investments remain below their floor. Accordingly, the FDIC believes that asset-liability management should be viewed as an ongoing process that requires effective measurement and monitoring systems, clear communication of modeling results, evaluation of exposures relative to established policy limitations, and consideration of risk mitigation options as appropriate. As economic and interest rate cycles evolve, asset-liability management processes should be revisited to confirm that the institution has avoided a speculative position and reduced the likelihood of adverse outcomes. Boards of directors and management are strongly encouraged to analyze on- and off-balance sheet exposure to interest rate volatility and take action as necessary to mitigate potential financial risk.

If interest rates were to rise markedly, institutions that have concentrated bond holdings in long-duration issues could experience severe depreciation of a magnitude that could be material relative to their capital position. Institutions that rely primarily on a long-duration fixed-income portfolio for liquidity could have difficulty meeting short-term cash needs if other marketable assets or funding sources are not readily available. Although net unrealized losses on securities may not flow through to regulatory capital under certain circumstances, 2examiners consider the amount of unrealized losses in the investment portfolio and an institution's exposure to the possibility of further unrealized losses when qualitatively assessing capital adequacy and liquidity and assigning examination ratings.

Unrealized losses on securities also may reduce equity capital under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) 3. Specifically, net unrealized losses on trading and available-for-sale securities are reflected in GAAP equity. Under certain circumstances, principally credit impairment, unrealized losses on held-to-maturity debt securities can also reduce GAAP equity. Adverse trends in an institution's GAAP equity can have negative market perception and liquidity implications.

The FDIC is re-emphasizing these practices to ensure state nonmember institutions have adopted a comprehensive asset-liability and interest rate risk management process:

• Board and Management Oversight – Effective board governance and oversight are critical to developing a strong asset-liability management process. Boards of directors should be aware of interest rate risk exposure during the business cycle, not just in advance of volatile periods. Therefore, directors need to devise sound policies and a clear understanding of their institution's susceptibility to interest rate volatility and the corresponding impact on earnings and capital. As appropriate, and based on analytical or modeling information, the board may determine that strategies should be developed to balance exposure to interest rates. Furthermore, management should ensure that interest rate risk measurement tools and output provided to board members are accurate and functioning effectively. Notably, Appendix A of Part 364 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, Standards for Safety and Soundness requires state nonmember institutions to manage interest rate risk appropriately and provide periodic reports that enable boards of directors to assess risk.
• Policy Framework and Prudent Exposure Limits – Asset-liability management and investment policies should be revised at least annually to ensure authorities, risk tolerance levels, and exposure limits are prudent. Policy limitations should formalize the board's risk philosophy, guide management's day-to-day decision making, and protect capital from undue risk. Given the potential for prospective interest rate volatility, directorates should review policies and exposure limits to promote safe-and-sound banking.
• Effective Measurement and Monitoring of Interest Rate Risk – All institutions should have well-developed risk measurement tools for monitoring interest rate risk. Management should not focus on a single measurement of interest rate risk, but instead review multiple types of data. A variety of modeling techniques, such as gap analyses, earnings simulations, economic value of equity estimations, and various stress tests, are used effectively by financial institutions. The 2010 Advisory recommends a holistic approach that considers a variety of these or other methods to help institutions develop a comprehensive interest rate risk assessment process. In addition, the Advisory suggests that institutions should consider the impact of 300 to 400 basis point interest rate changes on earnings and capital. Boards of directors should revisit and validate the effectiveness of current measurement tools in relation to their institution's rate sensitivity position. To complement standard interest rate risk modeling, institutions with longer-duration securities portfolios should test the sensitivity of their holdings to a hypothetical rising rate environment in terms of risk to earnings and capital.
• Risk Mitigation Strategies – Financial institutions have a number of approaches that can be used to mitigate risks associated with outsized exposure to interest rate risk. These approaches can include rebalancing earning asset and liability durations, proactively managing non-maturity deposits, increasing capital, and hedging. Financial institutions' use of hedging instruments to mitigate interest rate risk exposure is only appropriate when institutions have the requisite knowledge and expertise to engage in such transactions, including the ability to accurately determine the exposure being hedged and to understand possible effects on the bank's financial performance and capital position. Entering into interest rate derivatives is a potentially complex activity that can have unintended consequences, including amplified losses, if used incorrectly. Institutions should not undertake derivative-based hedging unless the board of directors and senior management fully understand these instruments and their potential risks.

Effectively managing interest rate risk is part of the business of banking, and many institutions have effectively measured, monitored, and controlled exposures to achieve earnings goals. However, significant, unmitigated levels of interest rate or market risk can lead to losses and liquidity constraints when prevailing rates change significantly. The FDIC will continue to review interest rate risk in the normal course of its supervisory activities and offer feedback as appropriate on institutions' risk measurement and mitigation processes to sustain earnings and preserve capital.