The Systemic Risk Buffer for UK Banks: A Response to the Bank of England’s Consultation Paper

Abstract

The article responds to the Bank of England’s (BoE) consultation paper of January 2016 on the systemic risk buffer for UK ring-fenced banks. It argues that, contrary to its proposed policy, the BoE should apply the highest permitted buffer rate—3 per cent of risk-weighted assets of common equity—to all large ring-fenced banks. The BoE’s reasons for lowering its estimate of optimal equity capital requirements are assessed critically.