I
Idiosyncratic stress
A firm-specific stress scenario where the market and/or customers perceive that the particular firm is in difficulties, leading to a loss of confidence in the firm’s ability to continue business as usual.
Individual Capital Assessment
A firm's own assessment of its capital requirements resulting from its ICAAP.
Individual Capital Guidance
Guidance (formerly) given by the supervisor (FCA/PRA) on the amount and quality of capital resources which the FCA/PRA considers that a firm needs to hold at all times. Now replaced the supervisor's Pillar 2A assessment.
Individual Liquidity Guidance
Guidance given by the PRA on (i) the amount and makeup of liquidity resources that a firm needs to hold and (ii) what the PRA considers to be an appropriate funding profile for the firm.
Inherent Risk
The level of risk that exists before mitigation. This is to distinguish it from residual risk.
Instrument
A financial contract that can be traded, either a cash instrument whose value is determined directly by markets or a derivative contract.
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank's financial condition to adverse movements in interest rates. Accepting this risk is a normal part of banking and can be an important source of profitability and shareholder value.
Interest Rate Swap
An agreement between two counterparties where one stream of future interest payments is exchanged for another based on a notional principal amount. Interest rate swaps often exchange a fixed payment for a floating payment that is linked to an interest rate (e.g. LIBOR). Most swaps are traded over-the-counter.
Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process
Assessment process (or report of assessment) under which a bank considers whether it has adequate capital to meet both its business requirements and regulatory obligations.
Internal Controls
These include audits or other appropriate oversight mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the information used by senior officials in overseeing compliance with policies and limits.
Internal Estimates
Internal estimates are those parameters for use in models that have been generated by using the banks own loss experiences. These estimates are normally subject to some qualitative criteria.
Internal Limits
Self-imposed parameters designed to set boundaries for the levels of risks or exposure permitted. For instance a bank may limit the value of the amount of exposure it is allowed to have to some business lines.
Internal Liquidity Adequacy Assessment Process
Assessment process (or report of assessment) under which a bank considers the type and quality of liquidity resources it thinks it should hold against the sources of liquidity risk.
Internal Model Method
Under (Basel II) IMM banks that meet qualifying supervisory standards are permitted to use their 'own estimates' developed through internal models for calculating counterparty credit risk exposure. IMM is applicable to both OTC derivatives and SFTs.
Internal models or processes
The firm's process for generating estimates of risk components for use in the calculation of regulatory or economic capital requirements. These models are usually computer simulations that use past data or equivalent cohorts as a guide to estimating the characteristics of a type of risk. For instance, past data on mortgage defaults may be used to generate the probability of default of a new mortgage borrower.
Internal Rating Based Approach
Approach to credit risk under which a bank may use internal estimates to generate risk components for use in their Basel II credit risk capital assessment. There are two approaches: Foundation (FIRB) and Advanced (AIRB).
Internal risk management
A financial institution's internal process/strategy for handling the risk inherent in their operations. This will also include how management are involved in the monitoring of these risks and what systems the organisation has to reduce the probability or severity of risk events.
L
Large Exposure
The total exposure of a bank to a counterparty, or group of connected counterparties, that represents a significant concentration risk. In regulatory terms, any aggregate exposure that exceeds 10% of a bank’s eligible capital is considered to be a large exposure.
Level 1 Assets
The highest quality and most liquid assets that may be held to meet LCR regulatory requirements; generally, cash, central bank reserves and zero-weighted assets backed by sovereigns and central banks.
Level 2 Assets
Assets that are highly liquid and qualify as HQLA (but not Level 1). These are categorised as Level 2A assets, such as sovereign debt weighted 20% and high quality (non-FI) corporate debt and covered bonds; and Level 2B assets, such as certain asset-backed securities, certain shares, qualifying (non-FI) corporate debt and covered bonds.
Leverage Ratio
Commonly used to mean the ratio of assets to the firm’s capital base. Under the Basel III definition, the bank’s capital is restricted to Tier 1 Capital; the 'exposure measure' goes beyond on-balance sheet assets to include securities funding transactions and derivative exposures together with off-balance sheet items (reduced to 10% where unconditionally cancellable).
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate. A daily published rate based on the interest rates at which banks borrow unsecured funds from other banks in the London wholesale money market (interbank market).
Liquidity Contingency Plan
A plan of contingency measures for managing and preserving liquidity in various adverse situations.
Liquidity Coverage Ratio
The ratio of a bank’s stock of unencumbered, high quality liquid assets (HQLA) to net cumulative cash outflows over a 30 calendar day period. To meet the Basel III definition, the ratio must be greater than 100% for a combined firm-specific (idiosyncratic) and market-wide shock scenario. Net cash outflows must be calculated according to the scenario parameters set by the regulator.
Liquidity Metric Monitor
Liquidity monitoring tool provided by the PRA, originally designed for banks to monitor their ILG as well as a range of other liquidity metrics.
Liquidity Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process
The process under which the adequacy of a firm’s liquidity resources and ILAAP is assessed by the PRA.
Loan to Value
The ratio (percentage) of the value of a loan to the value of the security taken against it; usually used in relation to mortgages.
Long-term Repo
Many repos are overnight transactions, with the sale taking place one day and being reversed the next day. Long-term repos can extend for a month or more.
Loss Given Default
Reflects the amount that would be lost should a counterparty default. (Usually expressed as a percentage).