25 March 2020

EBA provides clarity to banks on the application of the prudential framework in light of COVID-19 measures (including IFRS9)

The EBA issued a second statement to explain a number of additional interpretative aspects on the functioning of the prudential framework in relation to the classification of loans in default, the identification of forborne exposures, and their accounting treatment.

These clarifications will help ensure consistency and comparability in risk metrics across the whole EU banking sector, which are crucial to monitor the effects of the current crisis. The EBA also reminds financial institutions of their consumer protection obligations, temporarily lifts some reporting obligations for payment service providers (PSPs), and calls on PSPs to raise their contactless payment thresholds to the legal limit.

The EBA supports the measures taken and proposed by national governments and EU bodies to address the adverse systemic economic impact of the coronavirus in the form of general moratoria. The statement clarifies the implications of moratoria on the prudential and accounting treatment of the exposures, but reiterates that it is crucial that the classification of exposures accurately and timely reflects any deterioration of asset quality.

In particular, the EBA clarified  that generalised payment delays due to legislative initiatives and addressed to all borrowers do not lead to any automatic classification in default, forborne or unlikeness to pay. Individual assessments of the likeliness to pay should be prioritised.

The EBA also highlighted that when applying the IFRS 9 international accounting standard, institutions are expected to use a certain degree of judgement and distinguish between borrowers whose credit standing would not be significantly affected by the current situation in the long term, and those who would be unlikely to restore their creditworthiness.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) also issued a Statement with further guidance on the accounting implications of the economic support and relief measures adopted by EU Member States in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Whilst ensuring flexibility on the prudential side to support generalised payment delays, the EBA emphasised there is no flexibility in relation to consumer protection. The EBA called on all lenders to act in the interest of consumers. In particular making sure that customers fully understand the implications of taking up any measures, without hidden charges and that such new terms should not have automatic adverse impacts on the customer’s credit rating.

The EBA finally noted the importance of orderly payments services during this period, recommended the use of contactless payments up to EUR50 and encouraged consumers and merchants to take sanitary measures and consider all payment options when paying in-store.

Further actions to support banks’ focus on key operations:

• To extend the deadlines of ongoing public consultations by two months;
• To postpone all public hearings already scheduled to a later date and run them remotely via teleconference or similar means;
• To extend the remittance date for funding plans data;
• In coordination with the BCBS, to extend the remittance date for the Quantitative Impact Study (QIS) based on December 2019 data.

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