kapitalinõuded

Kapitalinõuded, often translated as capital requirements, are regulations that mandate financial institutions, particularly banks, to hold a certain amount of capital as a buffer against potential losses. These requirements are a cornerstone of financial regulation, designed to ensure the stability and solvency of the banking system and to protect depositors and the wider economy from financial crises.

The primary purpose of capital requirements is to prevent banks from taking on excessive risks. By requiring banks to maintain a certain level of capital, regulators aim to absorb unexpected losses without the institution becoming insolvent. This capital acts as a cushion, ensuring that a bank can continue its operations even when facing financial difficulties.

Capital is typically measured as a percentage of a bank's risk-weighted assets. Risk-weighted assets are calculated by assigning different risk weights to various types of assets a bank holds. For example, loans to governments might have a lower risk weight than unsecured corporate loans. This methodology ensures that banks with riskier asset portfolios are required to hold more capital.

The most well-known framework for capital requirements is the Basel Accords, developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. Basel III, the latest iteration, introduced stricter standards for capital quality, leverage ratios, and liquidity requirements to address shortcomings exposed by the 2008 global financial crisis. These requirements aim to make banks more resilient to market shocks and to reduce the likelihood of systemic risk.