IFRS 9 Transition Effect on Financial Stability of Kosovo Commercial Banks

From January 1, 2018, most of the commercial banks in Kosovo adopted IFRS 9. The new standard introduces the expected credit loss model to allow for timely recognition of credit losses, estimated not only on the actual credit loss but also on forward-looking information regarding the current loan portfolio. Although, transition phases may lead to increasing impairments and a decrease in banks’ equity, which directly influences the financial stability of banks. This paper examines the day-one transition effect of IFRS 9 on the level of assets balance, allowance for loan losses, and capital regulatory class II of banks in Kosovo. To test our hypothesis, we have performed a comparative analysis for the six biggest commercial banks in Kosovo to identify correlation and causality between studied variables. As a statistical technique, we have employed a “paired sample t-test†where we compare financial indicators before and after adopting IFRS 9 to examine the impact on financial stability for commercial banks in Kosovo. Our results are in line with the results of recent studies in the IFRS 9 field and conclude that the transition phase has a significant influence on the recognition of additional loan impairment but assets and capital regulations are not affected significantly. Results demonstrate the transition to IFRS 9 causes instability and re-consolidation of capital, but in the long-run reduce the possibility for large and sudden losses. Commercial banks in Kosovo should follow a balanced growth approach without compromising the quality of the loan portfolio

The nature of credit risk information disclosed in the risk and capital reports of the top-5 South African banks

This paper used the Credit Risk Disclosure Measurement Tool (CRDMT) constructed on the basis of six main areas, namely, banks own description of credit risk (i.e., as it applies to the banks operations), banks strategy of reducing credit risk exposure (i.e., objectives of credit management), banks approach to credit modelling or the internal rating system, banks approach and the manner in which they assess their exposure to credit risk, banks credit risk mitigation strategies employed (i.e., collateral and other credit enhancements), and banks approach to the valuation of pledged collateral and other credit enhancements to assess the information disclosed on the risk and capital management reports of the top-5 South African banks. Results demonstrated that the top-5 South African banks were fairly in line with the main six credit risk areas that would result in an informative risk and capital management report, as proposed by the CRMDT. It was observed that there were, however, pockets of information that could be improved to enhance these risk and capital management reports, particularly the credit risk information made available to public. These areas included the information relating to banks credit risk mitigation strategies employed and banks strategy of reducing credit risk exposure, as well as the information relating to banks approach to the valuation of pledged collateral and other credit enhancements. These areas were noted for their partial or non-disclosure of information. Keywords: banks, credit risk, Credit Risk Disclosure Measurement Tool (CRDMT), disclosure analysis and risk and capital reports. JEL Classification: G21, G3