The Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposed a rule to strengthen the leverage ratio standards for the largest, most systemically significant U.S. banking organizations.

Under the proposed rule, bank holding companies with more than $700 billion in consolidated total assets or $10 trillion in assets under custody (covered BHCs) would be required to maintain a tier 1 capital leverage buffer of at least 2% above the minimum supplementary leverage ratio requirement of 3%, for a total of 5%. Failure to exceed the 5% ratio would subject covered BHCs to restrictions on discretionary bonus payments and capital distributions.

In addition to the leverage buffer for covered BHCs, the proposed rule would require insured depository institutions of covered BHCs to meet a 6% supplementary leverage ratio to be considered “well capitalized” for prompt corrective action purposes. The proposed rule would currently apply to the eight largest, most systemically significant U.S. banking organizations.

The FDIC Board also approved a capital interim final rule and the OCC approved a final capital rule identical in substance to the final rules issued by the Federal Reserve Board on July 2, 2013.

A strong capital base at the largest, most systemically significant U.S. banking organizations is particularly important because capital shortfalls at these institutions have the potential to result in significant adverse economic consequences and contribute to systemic distress both domestically and internationally, the Fed said. Higher capital standards for these institutions will place additional private capital at risk before the federal deposit insurance fund and the federal government’s resolution mechanisms would be called upon, and reduce the likelihood of economic disruptions caused by problems at these institutions.

The agencies are proposing a substantial phase-in period for the rule with an effective date of January 1, 2018. The NPR will be published in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period.

To read the full report click here.