Counterparty Credit Risk (2024)

Counterparty credit risk is the risk arising from the possibility that the counterparty may default on amounts owned on a derivative transaction.

Derivatives are financial instruments that derive their value from the performance of assets, interest or currency exchange rates, or indexes. They may include structured debt obligations and deposits, swaps, futures, options, caps, floors, collars, and forwards, either singly or in various combinations.

A bank's loan portfolio is typically its largest asset and predominate source of revenue. Consequently, it is also one of the greatest sources of risk, making effective portfolio management a key factor in bank safety and soundness.

References

Credit Derivatives—Guidelines for National Banks (OCC 1996-43, August 1996)
Covers derivative products and provides guidance on supervisory issues related to participation in the credit derivative market

Risk Management of Financial Derivatives (BC 277, October 1993)
Covers financial institutions' policies, procedures, and risk management systems for financial derivatives

Risk Management of Financial Derivatives and Bank Trading Activities—Supplemental Guidance (OCC 1999-2, January 1999)
Summarizes key lessons and fundamental control issues reaffirmed by experiences of financial institutions since mid-1997

Counterparty Credit Risk (2024)

FAQs

Counterparty Credit Risk? ›

Counterparty risk is the probability that the other party in an investment, credit, or trading transaction may not fulfill its part of the deal and may default on the contractual obligations.

What is a counterparty credit risk example? ›

Counterparty risk refers to the likelihood that a transactor might default on its contractual obligation. In the case of a lender like a bank, one example of counterparty risk would be the borrower's credit score.

How to calculate counterparty credit risk? ›

A typical method for bilateral credit adjustments when only one of the two counterparties has a credit exposure is to compute the market value of the credit risk by adding up the discounted risk-neutral mean default loss, period by period, over the life of the positions between these two counterparties.

What are the counterparty credit risk rules? ›

The counterparty is exposed to the risk that the bank defaults and the cash that the bank posted as collateral is insufficient to cover the loss of the security that the bank borrowed. The bank is exposed to the risk that the counterparty defaults when the derivative has a positive value for the bank.

How to reduce counterparty credit risk? ›

23 Trading swaps on centralized exchanges reduces counterparty risk. Swaps traded on exchanges have the exchange as the counterparty. The exchange then offsets the risk with another party.

What are the three types of credit risk? ›

Lenders must consider several key types of credit risk during loan origination:
  • Fraud risk.
  • Default risk.
  • Credit spread risk.
  • Concentration risk.
Oct 17, 2023

What does a counterparty credit risk analyst do? ›

Implements market risk analysis and participates in implementing risk management systems and processes to minimize market risk. Applies experience and seasoned knowledge, skills, and practices to perform a variety of assignments.

How to monitor counterparty credit risk? ›

The five important areas when evaluating financial counterparties are:
  1. Credit quality What is the probability of default? ...
  2. Liquidity If the bank's circ*mstances deteriorate, does the bank have enough cash in hand to pay us and all others queuing for their money? ...
  3. Capital adequacy Is the bank sufficiently capitalised?

What is standard approach to counterparty credit risk? ›

The standardized approach for counterparty credit risk (SA-CCR) is the capital requirement framework under Basel III addressing counterparty risk for derivative trades. It was published by the Basel Committee in March 2014. See Basel III: Finalising post-crisis reforms.

What is the current exposure method of counterparty credit risk? ›

The current exposure method (CEM) is a way for firms to manage counterparty risk associated with derivatives transactions. CEM uses a modified replacement cost calculation with a weighting mechanism that will depend on the type of derivative contract held.

What is Type 1 and Type 2 counterparty risk? ›

Type 1 aims to cover exposures primarily of the sort that might well not be diversified and where the counterparty is likely to be rated (e.g. reinsurance arrangements), whilst Type 2 aims to cover exposures primarily of the sort that are usually diversified and where the counterparty is likely to be unrated (e.g. ...

What is a counterparty risk most associated with? ›

Counterparty risk comes in many different forms but is often referred to in relation to equity and bonds. Investors are exposed to counterparty risks when they invest in bonds – and the risk often correlates with the potential returns.

What is the counterparty credit risk margin? ›

Margin agreement is a contractual agreement or provisions to an agreement under which one counterparty must supply variation margin to a second counterparty when an exposure of that second counterparty to the first counterparty exceeds a specified level.

What is an example of a counterparty credit risk? ›

Counterparty risk examples

Venture capitalists seeking to invest. P2P lending firms and their clients. Policyholders and their insurance contracts. Traders dealing with market movements.

How do you hedge against counterparty risk? ›

Owning silver and gold is a good way to hedge against counterparty risk.

What is the first line of defense in credit risk? ›

First Line of Defense – Management

The first line of defense lies with the business and process owners. Operational management is responsible for maintaining effective internal controls and for executing risk and control procedures on a day-to-day basis.

What is counterparty with example? ›

In the case of a purchase of goods from a retail store, the buyer and retailer are counterparties in the transaction. In terms of financial markets, the bond seller and bond buyer are counterparties.

What is an example of a counterparty settlement risk? ›

Settlement risk is the risk that arises when payments are not exchanged simultaneously. The simplest case is when a bank makes a payment to a counterparty but will not be recompensed until some time later; the risk is that the counterparty may default before making the counterpayment.

What is an example of a credit risk situation? ›

A consumer may fail to make a payment due on a mortgage loan, credit card, line of credit, or other loan. A company is unable to repay asset-secured fixed or floating charge debt. A business or consumer does not pay a trade invoice when due. A business does not pay an employee's earned wages when due.

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