Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Countries

Refine By Series

Refine By Language

Refine By Date

—

Refine By IMF Taxonomy

Refine By JEL Taxonomy

Refine by LOC Taxonomy

Refine By THEMA Taxonomy

  • Print
  • Save

Business and Economics > Banks and Banking

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 62 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover Selected Issues Papers
Recent Challenges to the Conduct of Monetary Policy in the WAEMU: WAEMU
Alain Feler
and
Lawrence Norton
This paper discusses recent challenges in BCEAO monetary policy, from a recent spike in inflation, the persistent erosion of external reserves, and strains in the regional financial market. In response to these shocks, the BCEAO operated via both policy rates and liquidity management, including by shifting from fixed to variable rate auctions. The paper finds that the conduct of monetary policy became progressively more constrained by financial stability and external viability challenges, arguing for enhanced monetary-fiscal policy coordination to help the BCEAO meet its reserves objectives.
Keywords:
BCEAO; WAEMU; monetary policy; CFA franc; BCEAO purchase; conduct of monetary policy; viability challenge; BCEAO refinancing; FX reserve; Liquidity; Central bank policy rate; Securities; Financial sector stability; International reserves; Global; West Africa
Cover Selected Issues Papers
Key Banking System Risks in the WAEMU: WAEMU
Knarik Ayvazyan
The gradual alignment of prudential regulations on Basel II/III standards since 2018, as well as improvements in banking supervision and macroprudential surveillance, have contributed to the WAEMU’s banking system’s resilience to recent global and regional shocks. However, while cyclical vulnerabilities have been contained, bank credit portfolios remain highly concentrated, and their exposure to sovereign risks has grown substantially in recent years, together with liquidity risks. Further reforms building on those recently implemented in line with recommendations from the 2022 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), including to enhance macroprudential policy’s effectiveness and banking supervision frameworks, will help address such vulnerabilities.
Keywords:
WAEMU; banks; risk; stress test; financial stability; credit gap; banking system's resilience; bank credit portfolio; Banking System risk; banking supervision framework; risks in the WAEMU; Commercial banks; Government securities; Securities; Market risk; Macroprudential policy; Sub-Saharan Africa; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This Selected Issues paper focuses on securing fiscal discipline and credibility in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Fiscal consolidation and the reintroduction of the WAEMU fiscal framework Pact—is crucial for maintaining debt sustainability, external viability, and financial stability, while promoting access to lower cost financing and rebuilding fiscal buffers. Members’ adjustment plans should emphasize domestic revenue mobilization, while controlling expenditure, notably the wage bill. In order to enhance fiscal credibility, and maximize prospects for debt sustainability, financial stability and external viability, it is essential and urgent to reintroduce regional fiscal rules at the original ceilings—3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) for deficit and 70 percent GDP for debt. It is also essential to implement a consistent definition of fiscal indicators across the region, avoiding carve-outs for particular spending items. In order to secure fiscal discipline and credibility, it is critical to establish effective mechanisms for assessment, accountability, and enforcement, including by defining a credible debt correction mechanism and exogenous escape clauses, as well as building an effective communication strategy.
Keywords:
deficit ceiling; climate adaption; WAEMU level; WAEMU population; WAEMU lag; Gender inequality; Climate change; Agricultural commodities; Women; Securities; Global; Sub-Saharan Africa; West Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing Terrorism (AML-CFT) Supervision of the Banking Sector
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This technical note discusses anti-money laundering and combating the financing terrorism (AML-CFT) supervision of the banking sector in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). The decision to focus on the AML/CFT supervision of the WAEMU banking sector was based on the remit of the regional authorities; the importance to the regional economy of a well-integrated and well-functioning banking sector; and the results of money laundering and terrorist financing national risk assessments conducted to date in West Africa, which identify banks as relatively high-risk financial institutions. The AML/CFT off-site supervision program feeds into the risk-rating process but is not itself risk-based and communication with supervised entities is insufficient. Feedback to banks as part of off-site supervision should be enhanced, the on-site inspection methodology should be sharpened, and the risk-based approach should be fully implemented. The observations and recommendations in this report are based on discussions with regional and national authorities and the private sector as well as a review of relevant templates.
Keywords:
IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; IMF finance competitiveness; staff team of the International Monetary Fund; TF risk; World Bank staff; FSAP's finding; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Commercial banks; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Internal controls; Bank supervision; West Africa; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment Report on the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision: West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment Report on the Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The BCEAO has conducted a comprehensive reform during the past five years. The regulatory and prudential framework were aligned with international standards and the conditions for supervision have been strengthened, although the efforts must be continued (liquidity ratio/net stable funding ratio and tools for monitoring liquidity, transfers of ownership, acquisitions of holdings, guidelines on nonperforming claims, and anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism—AML-CFT). The transition to Basel III has made it possible to incorporate additional capital requirements, while the rules applicable to credit institutions were upgraded with the 2017 publication of four circulars on governance, risk management, internal supervision, and compliance.
Keywords:
IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; WAMU banking commission; market infrastructure; FSAP assessment's finding; banking landscape; Market risk; Credit; Bank legislation; Credit risk; Operational risk; West Africa; Global; Africa; Maghreb; Central Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Systemic Risks and Macroprudential Policy Framework
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
Since the 2008 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), the financial sector of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) has undergone major changes that have altered its risk profile. Three structural changes have played a key role since the 2008 FSAP: (i) the financial sector has grown significantly; (ii) regional banking groups have become dominant; and (iii) the high concentration of bank portfolios in sovereign exposures, which accounted for an average of 31 percent of banking assets at end-2020, are almost triple the level observed in 2004. These changes have altered the structure of systemic risks and vulnerabilities and raised the need for implementing reforms to strengthen the effectiveness of the macroprudential policy and banking supervision frameworks.
Keywords:
Basel-type liquidity ratios; contagion risk; bank portfolio; WAEMU bank holding; risk profile; IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; bank assets; verifiable liquidity indicator; Macroprudential policy; Financial sector stability; Systemic risk; Commercial banks; Financial sector risk; West Africa; Global; Sub-Saharan Africa; Europe; North Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net and Crisis Preparedness
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
The institutional and legal frameworks for financial stability in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) have seen significant progress since the previous Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) in 2008. 1 The institutional reform of the WAEMU and the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) in 2010 clarified the respective mandates and responsibilities of the latter and the WAEMU Banking Commission (CBU), and it strengthened the CBU’s legal autonomy and enforcement powers. A new banking law adopted in 2010 established an overall framework for the operation and supervision of banking activities, which has been rendered more proactive and risk based with the gradual implementation of the Basel II/III mechanism initiated in 2016. A bank resolution regime was introduced in 2015 and the mandate of the deposit guarantee fund, created in 2014, was expanded to bank resolution funding in 2018. A macroprudential policy framework, including for monitoring systemic financial sector risks, was developed around the BCEAO and the Financial Stability Committee (CSF-UMOA) in 2010. This series of reforms has greatly enhanced the robustness of the financial safety net via its four components: the early intervention mechanism, the bank resolution regime, the deposit insurance system, and the emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) mechanism.
Keywords:
IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; CBU decision; WAEMU Banking Commission; Bancaire de l'UMOA; CBU staff; BCEAO governor; Bank resolution framework; Bank resolution; Crisis management; Financial safety nets; Credit; West Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Analysis of Systemic Liquidity
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
The limited development of markets in the region represents a key risk factor for financial stability. 1 Since the previous Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) in 2008, the bank deposit base has increased from 18 percent to 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and the buoyancy of the government securities market has benefited from the interruption of public deficit financing by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Nevertheless, a significant portion of bank funding cannot be considered stable, due to the concentration of deposits held by large corporations. Apart from reserves held with the BCEAO, banks have little in the way of liquid assets, although the secondary market for government securities is beginning to grow for some issuers. Insufficient secondary market liquidity and the prevalence of unsecured intragroup transactions (60 percent of the total) in the interbank market exacerbate the risk and extent of potential losses for banks in the event of liquidity distress.
Keywords:
BCEAO risk control; funding plan; Basel-type liquidity ratios; Treasury securities dealer; customer funding Stability indicator; Lender of last resort; Liquidity; Liquidity risk; Government securities; Securities; West Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Stress Tests, Credit Concentration, and Interest Rate Risks
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This technical note presents the stress tests on credit, interest rate, and concentration risk conducted by the WAEMU FSAP.1 Stress tests on contagion and liquidity risks are addressed separately.2 Stress tests are an important tool for detecting financial sector vulnerabilities, setting up targeted banking sector monitoring, imposing preventive measures, and informing public decision-makers of macrofinancial risks and costs.
Keywords:
concentration risk; bank portfolio; bank cluster; IMF-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program; risk modeling; BCEAO's bank; Stress testing; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Market risk; Nonperforming loans; Bank soundness; West Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
West African Economic and Monetary Union: Financial Sector Assessment Program–Financial System Stability Assessment
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) was conducted amid an economic rebound two years into the COVID-19 pandemic that had a limited impact on the financial sector. Several member states have experienced political instability, with coups in Burkina Faso and Mali leading to economic sanctions for the latter, and an attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau. Yet, short of further political deterioration, economic recovery is expected to persist. The last FSAP was conducted in 2008.
Keywords:
World Bank FSAP; Basel III liquidity requirement; FSAP finding; liquidity support; liquidity stress test scenario; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Stress testing; Financial sector stability; Market risk; West Africa