Pääomavaatimia

Pääomavaatimia refers to the capital requirements imposed on financial institutions, primarily banks and investment firms, by regulatory authorities. These requirements are designed to ensure that institutions have sufficient financial resources to absorb unexpected losses and to maintain financial stability within the banking system. The core idea is to prevent bank runs and systemic crises by making sure that banks can withstand adverse economic conditions.

These requirements are typically expressed as a percentage of a financial institution's risk-weighted assets. Risk-weighted assets are calculated by assigning a risk weighting to each asset held by the institution, with riskier assets receiving higher weightings. For example, a mortgage loan might have a lower risk weighting than a highly speculative investment. This means that institutions holding more risky assets must hold more capital to cover potential losses.

Common types of capital requirements include Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital, which represents the highest quality of capital, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital, which include other forms of loss-absorbing instruments. Regulators regularly review and update these requirements to adapt to evolving financial markets and economic conditions. The objective is to create a resilient financial sector that can continue to lend and support the economy even during periods of stress. Non-compliance with capital requirements can lead to regulatory penalties and restrictions on business activities.