vähimmäispääomavaatimuksen

The term “vähimmäispääomavaatimuksen” refers to a minimum capital requirement, a regulatory standard that obliges financial institutions to hold a specified amount of capital relative to their risk‑weighted assets. The concept is central to prudential regulation in banking, insurance, and securities firms and is designed to protect the stability of the financial system by ensuring that institutions can absorb losses and continue operating during periods of stress.

In the European Union, the minimum capital requirement for banks is largely defined by the Basel III framework, which sets a common regulatory minimum capital ratio of 8 % of risk‑weighted assets, supplemented by a higher common equity tier 1 ratio of 4.5 %. Insurance companies follow Solvency II, which requires the solvency capital requirement (SCR) based on a nested Monte‑Carlo simulation of various risk factors; the SCR is expressed as a percentage of risk‑weighted assets, typically between 6 % and 10 %. Securities firms are covered by the Capital Requirements for Securities Firms (CRSF) regime, which imposes a capital ratio of 3.75 % plus an additional 2 % for concentrated credit risk.

The calculation of the minimum capital requirement involves assigning a risk weight to each asset or portfolio element and then applying the relevant regulatory multiplier. For example, if a bank holds €1 billion of fully rated sovereign bonds, the risk weight might be 0 %, so no capital is required for that portion. Conversely, a €1 billion loan to a private company with a risk weight of 100 % would demand €80 million of capital under a Basel III 8 % requirement.

Finland adopts these EU frameworks through the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA), which applies the same risk weights and capital mandates to domestic institutions, while allowing for national adjustments in certain discretionary areas. The minimum capital requirement is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changing risk conditions and global regulatory developments.