2026-07-27
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This document establishes the framework for calculating total risk-weighted assets (RWAs) for credit risk, applying to both standardised and Internal Ratings-Based (IRB) registered banks. It mandates that IRB banks use the standardised approach for non-modelled exposure classes and calculate standardised equivalent RWAs for modelled exposures. The text specifies distinct calculation methodologies, scalars, and floors effective from 1 January 2022 and 1 October 2022 to ensure compliance with minimum regulatory capital requirements.
Ref #21327357 v1.0 BPR130 Credit Risk RWAs Overview Purpose of document This document sets out the high-level framework for calculating the value of total risk-weighted assets (RWAs) for credit risk. Credit risk RWAs is a component in the calculation of capital ratios, as defined in BPR100, which a bank must carry out to determine its compliance with minimum regulatory capital requirements. This document applies to both standardised and IRB banks, and refers to documents BPR131, BPR132, BPR133 and BPR160 for the details of the calculations, which vary between standardised and IRB banks. Banking Prudential Requirements October 2026
BPR130 1 Document version history 1 July 2021 First issue date 1 October2023 Updated for technical changes 1 July 2024 Revised for minor correction 1 October 2026 Updated for technical changes Conditions of registration The Banking (Prudential Supervision) Act 1989 (the Act) permits the Reserve Bank to impose conditions of registration (conditions) on registered banks1 . This document BPR130: Credit Risk RWAs Overview forms part of the requirements for the following conditions:* A New Zealand-incorporated registered bank is normally subject to a condition requiring it to maintain capital ratios above specified minimum levels, and also to a condition imposing restrictions on its dividend payments when its prudential capital buffer ratio falls below specified levels2 . This document sets out the calculation framework for credit risk RWAs that will be needed by such a bank to allow it to calculate its day-to-day values for the capital ratios and the capital buffer ratio, and hence monitor its compliance with these capital adequacy conditions.
1 The conditions can relate to any of the matters referred to in sections 73 – 73B, 78 and 81. The standard conditions are contained in Appendix 1 of document BS1: Statement of Principles. 2 These conditions of registration relate to the matter referred to in: section 78(1)(c) (capital in relation to the size and nature of the business).
BPR130 2 BPR130: Credit Risk RWAs Overview Part A: Overview of credit risk RWA calculation Part B: Calculation of credit risk RWAs by standardised banks Part C: Calculation of credit risk RWAs by IRB banks Contents Part A: Overview of credit risk RWA calculation A1 Components of calculation methodology A1.1 Availability of standardised and IRB approaches A1.2 Summary of credit risk RWA calculation A1.3 Scope of credit risk RWA calculation A1.4 Navigating credit risk RWA methodology Part B: Calculation of credit risk RWAs by standardised banks B1 Overview B1.1 Calculation of credit risk RWAs and application of credit risk mitigation Part C: Calculation of credit risk RWAs by IRB banks C1 Overview C1.1 Accreditation to use IRB approach C1.2 Components of credit risk RWA calculation for IRB banks C1.3 Additional components of credit risk RWA calculation applying on and after 1 January 2022 C1.4 Calculation of total credit risk RWAs by IRB banks C1.5 Definition of modelled and nonmodelled exposure classes C1.6 Alignment of non-modelled exposure classes to standardised approach C1.7 Standardised equivalents to IRB corporate and retail exposure classes
BPR130 3 Overview of credit risk RWA calculation Components of calculation methodology Availability of standardised and IRB approaches
BPR130 4 capital ratios for disclosure purposes. The scope of calculation specified in BPR100 includes any adjustments required to reflect BPR160. 2. In relation to the balance sheet for the scope of consolidation specified in subsection (1), the following items are within the scope of the calculation of total credit risk RWAs: a. all credit exposures on the balance sheet; and b. all other credit exposures defined by the calculation methodology that arise from business carried on by entities within the scope of consolidation; and c. all other assets on the balance sheet not caught elsewhere. Guidance: The risk-weighting methodology includes measurement of credit exposure amounts that are not recognised on the balance sheet, including potential future credit exposure on derivatives, credit exposures arising from contingent liabilities (such as commitments and guarantees), and the Credit Valuation Adjustment. The scope also extends to other assets on the balance sheet that do not give risk to credit risk, such as property, plant, and equipment. 3. If the bank has a loan, or commitment to lend, that satisfies the conditions for a “clean transfer” in Part D of BPR160, the bank may exclude the corresponding credit risk exposure from the scope of calculation specified in this section. 4. Any item or portion of an item that is required to be deducted from CET1, AT1, or Tier 2 capital under any requirements of BPR110 must be excluded from the calculation of total credit risk RWAs. Navigating credit risk RWA methodology The requirements relating to the various components of credit risk are set out in separate documents. In addition to this document, the following documents are relevant: a. BPR131: Standardised credit risk RWAs: b. BPR132: Credit risk mitigation: c. BPR133: IRB credit risk RWAs: d. BPR134: IRB minimum system requirements: e. BPR160: Insurance, securitisation, and loan transfers. Guidance: A full list of the BPR documents setting out the capital adequacy framework, and their applicability to standardised and IRB banks, are set out in section A1.3 of BPR100.
BPR130 5 Calculation of credit risk RWAs by standardised banks Overview Calculation of credit risk RWAs and application of credit risk mitigation
BPR130 6 (d) credit derivatives. However, credit risk mitigants are recognised only if they meet the documentation and all other requirements set out in BPR132, and only the specified forms of credit risk mitigation (CRM) may be taken into account in determining the risk weight for an exposure. Further, no transaction in which CRM is recognised should receive a higher capital requirement than the same transaction where no CRM is recognised. Collateral may be recognised for CRM purposes using either the simple or comprehensive approach. In the simple method, the risk weight of collateral is substituted for the risk weight of the counterparty for the collateralised portion of an exposure, generally subject to a risk weight floor of 20%. The comprehensive method allows fuller offset of collateral against exposures by effectively reducing the exposure amount by the value ascribed to the collateral. On-balance sheet netting is recognised by reducing the exposure amount. In the case of guarantees and credit derivatives, the risk weight of the protection provider is substituted for that of the underlying counterparty. For all eligible forms of collateral, various adjustments are required for features such as mismatches between the currency or the maturity of the underlying exposure and the mitigant. Calculation of credit risk RWAs by IRB banks Overview Accreditation to use IRB approach
BPR130 7 c. maintain a compendium of approved models with the Reserve Bank. Components of credit risk RWA calculation for IRB banks
BPR130 8 2. Section C1.2(3) applies to such calculations. 3. To avoid doubt, the requirements of this section are in addition to, not in place of, the requirements of section C1.2. Calculation of total credit risk RWAs by IRB banks
BPR130 9 using the IRB approach are included in total credit risk RWAs under section C1.4, and form part of the denominator in the capital ratio calculation. The bank must also calculate expected loss (EL) from credit risk exposures within a modelled exposure class. The calculation method for EL is set out in Part F of BPR 133 and applies a different formula to some of the same components used in the UL calculation of RWAs. The calculated EL amount is reflected in the bank’s capital adequacy ratios by increasing or decreasing total capital (see section F1.5 of BPR 133). Capital is the numerator in the capital ratio calculation. Definition of modelled and non-modelled exposure classes
BPR130 10 Table C1.5B: Modelled and non-modelled exposure classes on and after 1 January 2022 Modelled exposure classes Non-modelled exposure classes Corporate (Excluding Community housing providers and Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation) Sovereign Retail (excluding reverse RMLs) Bank Farm lending exposures Equity SME lending Reverse RMLs Other Community housing providers Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Guidance: Part C of BPR133 sets out the RWA calculation methodology for the corporate, sovereign and bank exposure classes, and Part D sets out the methodology for the retail exposure class. With effect from 1 January 2022, the methodology in Part C of BPR133 is no longer available for exposures in the sovereign or bank exposure classes, and RWAs must be calculated for those exposure classes using BPR131. Alignment of non-modelled exposure classes to standardised approach
BPR130 11 c. the counterparty credit risk RWAs arising from trades settled on a central counterparty in the different circumstances summarised in section A1.8 of BPR131, except where the riskweighting requires an IRB model approach. 5. For the IRB exposure classes that will be non-modelled on and after 1 January 2022, the corresponding standardised risk-weighting categories and risk-weighting approach are as shown in Table C1.6. Table C1.6: IRB exposure classes that map to standardised treatment IRB exposure class IRB exposure class subcategory Standardised RWA treatment Sovereign exposure class Sovereigns Sovereigns (section C2.2 of BPR 131) Lowest-risk MDBs and supranationals Lowest-risk MDBs and supranationals (section C2.4(1) of BPR131) Bank exposure class Other development banks Other development banks (section C2.4(2) of BPR131) Public sector entities Public sector entities (section C2.3 of BPR131) IRB bank exposure subclass (including banks and NBDTs) Banks (sections C2.5, C2.6, and C2.9 to C2.11 of BPR131) NBDTs are treated as corporates in the standardised approach (sections C2.7 to C2.10 of BPR131) Guidance: The standardised treatment for exposures to banks is only applicable to banks, and if an IRB bank has included any NBDTs within an accredited model for the IRB bank exposure subclass, those NBDT exposures must be treated as corporates under the standardised approach from 1 January 2022. Standardised equivalents to IRB corporate and retail exposure classes
BPR130 12 3. The definitions of residential mortgage loan (RML) and of the sub-categories of RML set out in sections C3.2 to C3.4 of BPR131 apply equally to the standardised and IRB risk-weighting approaches, and accordingly an IRB bank must apply the standardised RML RWA approach in subpart C3 of BPR131 to any exposure that qualifies as an RML. Guidance: Under the IRB approach, an RML must also meet the general criteria for retail exposures to be given the IRB risk-weighting approach for RMLs. Subsection (3) means that if an IRB bank has an exposure that meets the specific criteria for an RML but not for the IRB retail exposure class, it will not be risk-weighted as an RML for IRB purposes, but must be risk-weighted as an RML for calculating standardised equivalent RWAs. Apart from the common RML definitions, there is no exact map from the IRB corporate and retail exposure classes to corresponding standardised risk weight treatments. For example, an SME exposure may be treated within an IRB bank’s retail SME exposure class, but would fall within the corporate category under the standardised approach (unless it also qualifies as an RML).