Accounting discretion of banks during a financial crisis

Accounting discretion of banks during a financial crisis

Author: Mr.Luc Laeven

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2009-09-01

Total Pages: 43

ISBN-13: 1451873549

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This paper shows that banks use accounting discretion to overstate the value of distressed assets. Banks' balance sheets overvalue real estate-related assets compared to the market value of these assets, especially during the U.S. mortgage crisis. Share prices of banks with large exposure to mortgage-backed securities also react favorably to recent changes in accounting rules that relax fair-value accounting, and these banks provision less for bad loans. Furthermore, distressed banks use discretion in the classification of mortgage-backed securities to inflate their books. Our results indicate that banks' balance sheets offer a distorted view of the financial health of the banks.


Financial Instruments and Institutions

Financial Instruments and Institutions

Author: Stephen G. Ryan

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2007-04-10

Total Pages: 616

ISBN-13: 0470139579

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This book is an authoritative guide to the accounting and disclosure rules for financial institutions and instruments. It provides guidance from a “fair value” perspective and demonstrates the simplest and most natural measurement basis for reporting financial instruments, as is relevant for thrifts, mortgage banks, commercial banks, and property-casualty and life insurers.


Enhancing Financial Disclosure Standards in Transitional Economies II

Enhancing Financial Disclosure Standards in Transitional Economies II

Author: Radhakrishna Narasimham

Publisher: Asian Development Bank

Published: 2010-10-01

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 9292547747

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Public and private investors want timely, accurate financial information about institutions before investing. This requires adherence to internationally accepted financial disclosure standards. However, implementing these standards is a particular challenge for economies in transition from the Soviet-era central planning approach toward a market economy. The Asian Development Bank provided a technical assistance grant (TA 6505- REG) to build capacity to enhance financial disclosure standards in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The book is a compendium of the project's findings, activities, results, and recommendations. It discusses the rationale for the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and the enforcement of International Standards on Auditing by legal entities, and explores their use by small and medium-sized enterprises in the three countries. The book is a valuable guide to accountants, auditors, financial institutions, regulators, investors, governments, researchers, and others interested in financial disclosure practices and progress of these transitional nations.


A Central Bank's Guide to International Financial Reporting Standards

A Central Bank's Guide to International Financial Reporting Standards

Author: Mr. Rudy Wytenburg

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-04-05

Total Pages: 145

ISBN-13: 1513563602

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About one-quarter of the world’s central banks apply IFRS with approximately a quarter more looking to IFRS for further guidance where their local standards do not provide enough guidance. Given the varied mandates and types of policy operations undertaken by central banks, there also exists significant variation in practice, style, and the extent of the financial disclosures in both the primary statements and in the note disclosures. By their nature, central banks are unique in their jurisdiction and so do not always have local practices and examples they can follow. Although the major accounting firms have created model disclosures intended for commercial banks, these are often not totally appropriate for a central bank. The application of IFRS across central banks differs based on the mandate of the central bank and the capacity of the accounting profession in the specific jurisdiction. An analysis of international practices, such as those undertaken in preparing these model statements, may help address questions about the structure of the statements themselves as well as the organization of the note disclosures. As a consequence, each central bank following IFRS has largely developed its own disclosures with only limited reference to others. Input from the external auditors has been significant, but some of this has been determined by the approach used by the specific auditor’s style for commercial banks rather than central banks. Auditors do not always fully appreciate the differences between a commercial bank and a central bank, which has a different role and undertakes transactions to meet its policy objectives. This has often led to an over emphasis of items not material in the context of a central bank and insufficient disclosures on operations or accountabilities specific to the functions of the central bank.


Off-Balance Sheet Activities

Off-Balance Sheet Activities

Author: Joshua Ronen

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 1990-11-30

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0313366683

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The objective of Off-Balance Sheet Activities is to gain insights into, and propose meaningful solutions to, those issues raised by the current proliferation of off-balance sheet transactions. The book has its origins in a New York University conference that focused on this topic. Jointly undertaken by the Vincent C. Ross Institute of Accounting Research and New York University's Salomon Center for the study of Financial Institutions at the Stern School of Business, the conference brought together academic researchers and practitioners in the field of accounting and finance to address the issues with the broad-mindedness requisite of a group whose approaches to solutions are as different from each other as their respectively theoretical and applied approaches to the disciplines of finance and accounting. The essays are divided into two sections. The first covers issues surrounding OBS activities and banking and begins with a brief introduction that places the essays into context. OBS activities and the underinvestment problem, whether loan sales are really OBS, and money demand and OBS liquidity are examined in detail. Section two, which also begins with a brief introduction, focuses on issues of securitized assets and financing. A report on recognition and measurement issues in accounting for securitized assets is followed by three separate discussion essays. Other subjects covered include contract theoretic analysis of OBS financing, the use of OBS financing to circumvent financial covenant restrictions, and debt contracting and financial contracting. The latter two contributions are also followed by discussion essays. This unique collection of papers will prove to be an interesting and valuable tool for accounting and finance professionals as well as for academics involved in these fields. It will also be an important addition to public, college, and university libraries.


How to Analyse Bank Financial Statements

How to Analyse Bank Financial Statements

Author: Thomas Padberg

Publisher: Harriman House Limited

Published: 2017-01-30

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 0857195182

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The financial statements of banks differ very much from those of non-banks. The assets and liabilities are mostly financial based, and the equity ratio is far lower than the equity ratios of industrial companies. Banking supervision has a big influence on the financial statements too. Recent years have shown the risks which can evolve from banks, but normal instruments of financial statement analysis are not sufficient to analyse banks and locate these risks: different methods are needed. This book, by experienced bank analyst Thomas Padberg, provides analysts and investors with the tools to analyse bank financial statements, find problems in bank finances, and assess the risks of banks. Examples with real bank financial data are used to show readers the step-by-step methods to follow when looking at bank financial statements. The book covers: - The specific accounting rules that apply to banks - How to analyse bank segment reporting - The ratios to use when analysing bank financial statements - How to analyse bank profit and loss accounts - Equity analysis and stock analysis of banks This is an essential guide for all analysts and serious investors who need to analyse bank financial statements.