Today, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia Council held its fourteenth session, at which the Report on the Risks in the Banking System in the third quarter of 2016 was discussed

Today, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia Council held its fourteenth session, at which the Report on the Risks in the Banking System in the third quarter of 2016 was discussed, concluding that the expectations of the economic agents gradually stabilized, which led to positive movements in the foreign exchange market and soothing of the developments in all the segments of the deposit market.

Stabilizations in the third quarter had a positive impact in the overall banking operation.  Quarterly increase is registered both in corporate deposits and “household” deposits sector, and denar and foreign currency deposits registered almost equal contribution to the development of the total deposits growth. However, the previously registered process of denarization decelerated, and sight deposits made the largest contribution in the quarterly growth of deposits.

Risk reduction in the third quarter is viewed from the increase of the liquid assets of banks by 5.5% in the third quarter. The growth enabled almost full recovery of the liquid assets used during the second quarter for the depreciation of the crisis episode with the deposits’ outflow.  

The loans of non-financial entities register a quarterly increase by 0.2%, and an annual by 2.9%. If we exempt the effects of the mandatory transmission of part of non-performing loans, the quarterly increase of credit activity will amount 0.5%, and 7.4% annually. The factors that could influence credit risk realization are primarily the concentration level in credit portfolios of banks, inability to collect established collateral requirements at an acceptable price and presence of the credits where the financial problems of the consumers are harder to identify on time.    

Banks are also exposed to the risk of the future increase of the interest rates, but the wide application of the adjustable interest rates in loan agreements and deposits replace this risk with exposure to the legal and regulatory risk, thus undertaking indirect credit risk as a result to the sensitivity of the creditworthiness of the consumer from the upward changes of the interest rates.  

During the first ten months of 2016, banks showed higher amount of the profit from operation compared to the same period of the previous year, thus improving the return rates of the capital and assets.

Bank solvency indicators in the third quarter of 2016 showed a small improvement. The capital adequacy ratio at the end of the third quarter of 2016 was 15.7% and enabled enough space to absorb the eventual unexpected bank losses. The dominant place of the core capital in the structure of fixed assets is also a favorable fact.

At today’s session, the adopted Decision for amending the Decision on the methodology for determining capital adequacy was also discussed. This decision is adopted for the harmonization of the domestic regulations with the reforms of the international capital standard Basel 3, as well as with the provisions of the European Regulation 575/2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment companies, in the structure of banks’ own funds. The most significant changes are related to the strengthening own fund quality, both in terms of their structure, and in terms of the criteria that certain positions should meet in order to become a part of the banks’ own funds. Also, the existing restrictions in terms of the share of individual elements in own funds are replaced with legally required minimum rates of the weighted assets according to the risks, including: 4.5% for regular core capital, 6% for core capital and 8% for own funds. Thus, the greatest importance is given to the positions of the regular core capital (shares, reserves, retained undistributed gain), as capital positions with the highest quality. Also, a new component of own funds is introduced: additional core capital, where instruments which, among others, contain a clause for their conversion in instruments of regular core capital are included or for their write-off on timely or permanent basis (reduction of the value of their principal), if a so-called critical event takes place. 

At the session the Council also adopted the Plan of Activities
of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia for 2017, which contains a detailed review of activities planned for the next year. Regarding the regulations pertaining to the operations of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia for the next year, the Council discussed and adopted the Plan of Activities of the Internal Audit Department for 2017 and the Medium-term Plan of Activities of the Internal Audit Department for the period 2017 - 2019. At today's session, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia Council reviewed and adopted the Financial Plan, the Investment Plan and the Public Procurement Plan for 2016.

The National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia Council, based on the planned schedule and pace of activities, also adopted the Decision on issuing and the Decision on putting into circulation the collector coin set “Triptych” in 5000 pieces. The collector coin set “Triptych” includes the following collector coins: “Jesus Christ”, “Mother of God” and “Nicholas the Wonderworker“. The coins will be issued in a denomination of 10 denars.

The Council also discussed other matters within its jurisdiction.  

Governor's Office