Agencies Extend Comment Period on Regulatory Capital Proposals

Aug 8 - The federal banking regulators have extended the comment period until Oct. 22, 2012, on three notices of proposed rulemaking that would revise and replace the agencies' current capital rules. The proposals have been available on the FDIC's website since June 12, 2012.

One NPR, the Basel III regulatory capital reforms, would strengthen minimum requirements for the level and quality of financial institutions' capital. The second NPR proposes changes to the agencies' Advanced Approaches capital regulation to reflect other aspects of Basel III and would apply the agencies' Market Risk capital regulations to thrift institutions and thrift holding companies. A third NPR, the Standardized Approach, proposes changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets that address issues identified in the financial crisis, and removes reliance on credit ratings consistent with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

The comment period was extended to allow interested persons more time to understand, evaluate and prepare comments on the proposals. Originally, comments were due by Sept. 7, 2012: www.fdic.gov/news/news/press/2012/pr12068.html.