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2023-01-01

Instructions No. (2) of 2023 Concerning the Amendment of Instructions No. (4) of 2022 Regarding Credit Concentration Risks

The Palestine Monetary Authority issued Instructions No. (2) of 2023 to amend its 2022 Credit Concentration Risks framework, introducing revised exposure thresholds, new credit risk mitigants, and preferential capital weighting for domestic economic sectors and government financing. The amendments set a 20% exposure limit for systemically important banks and 25% for others, authorize cash collateral and pledged Palestine Exchange-listed shares (calculated at 70% of market value) as risk mitigants, and apply 100% or 20% weighting to financing directed toward agriculture, industry, renewable energy, technology, healthcare, and Palestinian government bonds. Additionally, the rules streamline approval processes for low-risk or pre-authorized facilities, permit banks to bypass prior approval requests under specific conditions, and mandate the automatic revocation of approvals for unexecuted financing within 90 days.

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Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY

Instructions No. (2) of 2023 Concerning the Amendment of Instructions No. (4) of 2022 Regarding Credit Concentration Risks

Pursuant to the provisions of Decision-Law No. (9) of 2010 Concerning Banks, particularly Articles (16, 72) thereof, and after reviewing Instructions No. (4) of 2022 Regarding Credit Concentration Risks, and Instructions No. (7) of 2016 Regarding the Implementation of Capital Adequacy Requirements in Accordance with Basel II Decisions, and in accordance with the powers delegated to us, and in pursuit of the public interest, we have issued the following Instructions:

Article (1) Definitions

The following words and phrases shall, wherever they appear in these Instructions, bear the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context indicates otherwise: Original Instructions: Instructions No. (4) of 2022 Regarding Credit Concentration Risks.

Article (2) Amendment of the Provisions of Article (2) of the Original Instructions

The text of paragraph (1) of Article (2) of the Original Instructions is replaced with the following: "The provisions of these Instructions aim to mitigate credit concentration risks and exposures at banks, in addition to enhancing the role of banks in supporting and encouraging economic development and financing essential infrastructure projects to provide a suitable economic environment."

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Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY

Article (3) Amendment of the Provisions of Article (3) of the Original Instructions

The text of paragraph (1/ (c)) of Article (3) of the Original Instructions is replaced with the following: "Exceeding the exposure or credit concentration size for a single person by 20% of the bank's capital base, classified as a systemically important bank, and exceeding 25% at the group level of persons in accordance with the provisions of Article (4) of the Original Instructions."

Article (4) Credit Risk Mitigants

A new article bearing the number (3 bis) is added to the Original Instructions, stipulating the following: For the purpose of applying the provisions of Article (6) of the Original Instructions, the bank may use the following as credit risk mitigants:

  1. Cash collateral against exposure or credit concentration.
  2. Pledged shares against granted financing or credit, and subscribed bonds or instruments utilized within Palestine, subject to the following: (a) They must be shares of companies listed in the Palestine Exchange index and pledged to the bank as first-ranking collateral. (b) Seventy percent (70%) of the market value of the shares shall be calculated.

Article (5) Group of Persons Acting Together or Sharing a Common Interest

A new article bearing the number (4 bis) is added to the Original Instructions, stipulating the following: For the purpose of determining interconnection and common relationships among a group of persons acting together or sharing a common interest based on economic dependence, exposure to a single person exceeding 5% of the bank's capital base shall be taken into consideration.

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Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY

Article (6) Amendment of the Provisions of Article (5) of the Original Instructions

  1. The provisions of paragraph (1/ (b)) of Article (5) of the Original Instructions are replaced with the following: "A minimum of 10% of off-balance sheet items and in accordance with the credit conversion factor used for calculating regulatory capital adequacy requirements."
  2. The provisions of paragraph (1/ (c)) of Article (5) of the Original Instructions are replaced with the following: "The value of credit risk mitigants shall be deducted from the denominator."

Article (7) Facilities or Financing for Economic Activities and Facilities or Financing for the Government

A new article is added to the Instructions bearing the number (5 bis), stipulating the following:

  1. Financing or credit granted, and subscribed bonds or instruments utilized within Palestine, directed towards financing the following activities, shall be weighted at 100% if it exceeds 20% of the capital base of a bank classified as systemically important, and 25% for other banks: (a) Agriculture (fish farming projects, red meat and fattening, medicinal herbs, land reclamation, poultry farming, livestock and cattle breeding, beekeeping and honey production, agricultural greenhouses for producing various vegetables and fruits). (b) Industry (production lines, food industries, animal feed, leather and footwear manufacturing, stone and marble production, furniture, spinning and textiles). (c) Renewable energy, water treatment plants, waste recycling, and energy efficiency improvement projects. (d) Technology (research and development, consulting and training, development and production of computer software, service export, technology incubators, infrastructure projects). (e) Health sector (hospitals, medical services, pharmaceutical industries).
  2. Subject to what is stipulated in Article (6) paragraph (5) of the Original Instructions, subscription in Palestinian government bonds or instruments issued in accordance with the provisions of Articles (13, 14) of Public Debt Law No. (24) of 2005, aimed at financing capital and developmental expenditures, shall be weighted at 20% for the purpose of calculating the regulatory capital adequacy ratio.
  3. Credit granted to the Palestinian Government that does not exceed the bank's paid-up capital shall be weighted at 20% for the purpose of calculating the regulatory capital adequacy ratio.
  4. Credit granted to the Palestinian Government that exceeds the bank's paid-up capital shall be weighted at 100% for the purpose of calculating the regulatory capital adequacy ratio.

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Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY

Article (8) Amendment of the Provisions of Article (6) of the Original Instructions

  1. The provisions of Article (6) of the Original Instructions are amended by adding a new paragraph bearing the number (1 bis), stipulating the following: "In the event that the Monetary Authority approves the bank's request to renew facilities or financing that exceed the maximum limits stipulated in the Original Instructions, the bank may refrain from weighting them at 200%, provided that the bank submits a plan to rectify credit concentrations and exposures and the Monetary Authority approves the plan."
  2. The provisions of Article (6) of the Original Instructions are amended by adding a new paragraph bearing the number (6 bis), stipulating the following: The bank may refrain from submitting a request to obtain approval from the Monetary Authority to grant financing or a facility in the following cases: (a) If the financing or facility is secured by 100% cash collateral. (b) If the credit concentration or exposure constitutes less than 10% of the capital base after taking into account eligible mitigants and conversion rates related to indirect credit. (c) If no modifications are made to the conditions of the approval granted by the Monetary Authority to renew financing or facilities that fall below the percentages specified in Article (3) paragraph (1) of the Original Instructions.
  3. The provisions of paragraph (4) of Article (6) of the Original Instructions are replaced with the following: "Unexecuted facilities and financing shall be added to the credit concentration and exposure ratio for the purpose of granting additional approvals, and the Monetary Authority's approval for facilities or financing that are not executed within a maximum period of (90) ninety days from the date of issuance of the Monetary Authority's approval shall be automatically revoked."

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Palestine Monetary Authority PALESTINE MONETARY AUTHORITY

Article (9) Repeal of Conflicting Provisions

All provisions conflicting with the provisions of these Instructions are repealed.

Article (10) Implementation and Enforcement

All competent authorities shall, each within their respective jurisdiction, implement the provisions of these Instructions, which shall apply from the date of their issuance. Issued in the city of Ramallah on: 19/01/2023 AD

Dr. Firas Malham Governor [Signature]

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