On April 1, 2016, the Federal Reserve Board finalized a rule to include certain U.S. general obligation state and municipal securities in the type of assets that financial institutions may use to satisfy requirements designed to ensure that such institutions have the capacity to meet liquidity needs during a period of financial stress. The final rule allows investment-grade, U.S. general obligation state and municipal securities to be counted as high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) up to certain levels if such securities meet the same liquidity criteria that apply currently to corporate debt securities. Release. Final Rule.
high-quality liquid assets (HQLA)
Federal Reserve Proposes Adding Additional Asset Types to Meet LCR Requirements
On May 21, the Federal Reserve Board proposed adding certain general obligation state and municipal bonds to the range of assets a banking organization may use to satisfy the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) requirements designed to ensure that large banking organizations have the capacity to meet their liquidity needs during a period of financial stress. Subject to specified limits, the proposed rule would allow investment grade, general obligation U.S. state and municipal bonds to be counted as high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) up to certain levels if they meet the same liquidity criteria that currently apply to corporate debt securities. Release. Proposal.