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Eurobank EFG and the Agricultural Bank almost failed the stress test

16 July 2011 / 16:07:46  GRReporter
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If you do not take into account additional measures for the improvement of the capital adequacy indicator made after April 30, 2010, in worst case scenario the Agricultural Bank shows Index Tier 1 -0.8 percent, while Eurobank has lower than the minimum requirement - 4.9 percent. 

If, however, you take into account the increase of share capital made by Agricultural Bank, its assessment is based on 6 percent and when it comes to Eurobank, if you take into consideration the takeover of joint stock investment company "Diaz" and the sale of its subsidiary company in Poland, its assessment reaches 7.6 percent. 

Based on the balance sheet, published on December 31, 2010 initially the two banks (Agricultural Bank and Eurobank), do not pass the stress tests because the results based on the so-called worst case scenario, did not include the actions or their forecasts made from April, 30 onwards. 

The criteria for this year's stress test were extremely stringent. 

Firstly, the minimum level of regulatory adequacy of the primary capital was set at 5 percent instead of 6 percent, as it was last year. 

Second, the definition of capital adequacy index, used in this year's tests, was that of the main core capital (Core Tier 1), rather than the capital (Tier 1) of the previous year. The scenarios were drawn up by the European Central Bank and cover a period of two years (2011-2012). The worst case scenario reflects the extreme hypothetical risks (such as ‘what if’). 

Another important difference from the last stress test is that the requirements for central governments involved in the banking book of credit institutions is considered a methodology consistent with the methodology of the other loan portfolios containing credit risk (corporate, mortgage and consumer loans ). For reference data taken were the balance sheets from December 31, 2010 

Despite these more stringent criteria, taking into account the above measures of the Agricultural Bank and Eurobank, all Greek banks have passed the stress tests and the banks with best indicators are the National Bank of Greece with 9.7 percent capital adequacy ratio, followed by Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, Eurobank, Hellenik Postbank, Agricultural Bank, Bank of Cyprus and Marfin. 

Minimum required levels of stress tests were set at 5 percent, and all Greek banks showed an index of major equity Core Tier I of 6 percent to 9.7 percent. 

"With regard to the capital position of our banks the test results are encouraging. The banks followed the recommendations of the National Bank and resorted to increasing the equity business and took action, resulting in a strengthened position, despite the difficulties in the middle", said the Governor of the National Bank of Greece, George Provopoulos. 

Meanwhile, with a decision of the Treasury extended until the end of 2015 will be the state guarantee of deposits amounting to 100,000 Euros (per depositor and per bank), which before was going to expire on December 31, 2011. 

The role of guarantor on deposit in the country is performed by the Guarantee Fund of Deposits and Investments (TEKE), which in the event that a bank bankrupts, was able to reimburse depositors with a maximum of 100,000 euros (according to Art. 9, paragraph 2 (a) H. 3746/2009 - SG. 27 Α’ 16/02/2009). 

The same is true for all countries of the European Union under Directive 2009/14/ΕΚ of the European Parliament and Council of Europe. 

It should be emphasized that the guarantee of 100,000 euros, is valid for one depositor and one bank. That is, if someone has 150,000 euros, he shall be compensated for the amount of 100,000 euros, if the deposit is 70,000 euros, he shall be compensated for the full amount. 

In the case of joint accounts—in other words, those that are opened in the name of two or more persons, the part corresponding to each depositor in a joint account is considered a separate account, and covered up to a limit of 100,000 euros. If the joint holder is a minor, the sum is paid out to the guardian. 

If any problems occur in a bank, the Guarantee Fund will compensate depositors using their liquid capital, which at the end of 2010 amounted to 1.4 billion euros. Total funds managed by the Fund amounted to 2.97 billion euros. 

If the available capital of the Guarantee Fund arising from regular resources is not sufficient for payment of depositors, customers of financial institution, which is unable to return their deposits, the other banks must pay an additional contribution which size is determined by a decision of the board of the Fund. 

Tags: Greece economy banks National Bank of Greece Agricultural Bank Eurobank
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