The Government and Reserve Bank of New Zealand are considering options for maintaining confidence in New Zealand's financial system once the retail deposit guarantee expires at the end of this year, Finance Minister Bill English says.
The Government does not favour compulsory insurance, but one option the Reserve Bank will discuss is the option of 'Open Bank Resolution' (OBR) with the country's retail banks over coming months, English said in a media release.
A spokesman for the Reserve Bank told interest.co.nz it would be releasing consultation documents on OBR early next week.
"An open bank resolution is an option whereby the bank is open for (full-scale or limited) business on the next business day after its temporary closure following an insolvency event or an event that triggered putting it under statutory management, and is able to provide customers with full or partial access to their accounts and other bank services," the spokesman said.
The extended retail deposit guarantee scheme, under which covered institutions can offer guaranteed and unguaranteed deposits, is due to end on December 31. Institutions currently covered by it are Combined Building Society (the merged entity of Marac Finance, Canterbury Building Society and Southern Cross Building Society), Fisher & Paykel Finance, Wairarapa Building Society, and PGG Wrightson Finance.
The guarantee covers just over NZ$2 billion of the NZ$210 billion New Zealanders have on deposit.
See the release from Finance Minister Bill English:
The Government is considering options for maintaining confidence in the financial system when the Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme expires at the end of this year, Finance Minister Bill English says.
“During the global financial crisis, many countries sought to reassure retail depositors that their savings in financial institutions were safe,” he says. “In New Zealand, we did that through the Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
“As markets stabilised, those measures have been unwound. New Zealand’s deposit guarantee was extended last year under tighter terms and conditions, covering only a handful of institutions.
"It now protects only $2 billion of the $210 billion New Zealanders have on deposit and will not be extended beyond 31 December this year.
Looking ahead, the Government is considering a number of permanent options to manage any future financial market difficulties.
“The Government does not favour compulsory deposit insurance. This is difficult to price and blunts incentives for both financial institutions and depositors to monitor and manage risks properly.
“One option for minimising disruption of the financial system and maintaining investor confidence is referred to as Open Bank Resolution. This aims to provide continuity of core banking services, allow the banking system to get back to normal and limit the costs to taxpayers.
“The Reserve Bank will discuss this option with banks over coming months.
“Open Bank Resolution permits banks to continue functioning while full resolution is worked through.
“This option has been available to the Reserve Bank for a number of years. This next stage is about engaging with the banks to ensure it could be implemented effectively if required,” Mr English says.
The Reserve Bank will shortly release details of the Open Bank Resolution consultation process.
(Updates with RBNZ comment)
9 Comments
Have to laugh...English blathering about protecting peasant savings when he is busy debasing the currency 5% plus this year alone and charging tax on any interest earned on those savings peasants might get...while Bollard bashes savers in the other earhole with his ocr club....
The Kiwi$ is down nearly 11% since the US banking scam hit the wall in 08. By 2021 your 2008 $1000 will be worth approximately 40% to 50% less.....just $500....woooppeeee.
There must be other solutions to the constant fear of banking collapse and sovereign defaults, which fear is inflicted on people and economies in many (most) countries.
One idea to go to the root of the problem by Jesus Huerta de Soto, Austrian economist at the University of Madrid, contributer to the Ludwig von Mises Institute:
Rules for international money reform
Govt should do what Germans have done or are going to do Charge the banks a levy based on profit I think the minimum was 10% of profit put into a slush fund as a backup should there be bank runs.
Also wonder if English and co covering their collective butts when the covered bonds start up as they will take priority over domestic depositors?
Why would we need to save failed Aussie banks? That's Australia's problem!
Aussie failed banks might find it hard to keep trading while people like myself smash their windows etc to peices IF this event ever comes about much like they did in Argentina.
Don't even think of saving these banks here Bill using NZ taxpayer dollars. Unlike wimpy Americans we will bring em down
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