Categories
Browse Banking terms for finance professionals.
A regulatory adjustment to the fair value of derivative instruments to account for counterparty credit risk, as mandated by Basel III. CVA reflects the market value of counterparty default risk on over-the-counter derivatives.
View termA set of laws, regulations, and procedures designed to prevent criminals from disguising illegally obtained funds as legitimate income, as defined by FATF and national authorities.
View termA check guaranteed by the issuing bank, which verifies that sufficient funds exist and sets aside the amount for payment, ensuring payment to the recipient.
View termA risk management contract where an insurer indemnifies another party against specified loss or damage in exchange for a premium, subject to regulatory oversight.
View termA loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment has remained overdue for a specified period (typically 90 days), classified under regulatory norms as impaired or at risk of default.
View termAssets adjusted by a risk weight factor, as prescribed by Basel regulations, to determine the minimum amount of capital that must be held by banks.
View termThe person or entity to whom a payment, such as a check, transfer, or remittance, is made or owed according to the instructions of a financial instrument or contract.
View termAn instruction by an account holder to a bank to refuse payment on a specific check or transaction before it has been processed, subject to banking terms and fees.
View termA variable capital buffer required by regulators during periods of credit growth to protect the banking sector from system-wide risks, as outlined in Basel III.
View termA capital buffer above the minimum requirement, mandated by Basel III, to ensure banks can absorb losses during periods of financial and economic stress.
View termA supplementary capital requirement imposed by regulators on institutions or exposures posing systemic risks to the financial system, as defined under CRD IV and Basel III.
View termA regulatory capital component under Basel III, referring to Tier 1 capital instruments that are not Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) but still qualify to absorb losses while a bank remains a going concern.
View termA class of regulatory capital, recognized under Basel III and IV, that consists of instruments and reserves other than common equity, including certain subordinated debt and hybrid securities, used to absorb losses and support a bank’s resilience beyond Common Equity Tier 1.
View termThe core capital of a bank, consisting of common equity and disclosed reserves, used to absorb losses without ceasing operations.
View termCapital that financial institutions must hold to cover potential losses arising from market risk, such as changes in interest rates, FX rates, or equity prices.
View termCapital that banks are required to hold to cover losses from operational risk events, including process failures, fraud, or system breakdowns, as defined under Basel standards.
View termThe highest quality component of Tier One Capital, consisting primarily of common shares and retained earnings, per Basel III.
View termA payment card issued by a financial institution that enables the holder to borrow funds within a credit limit to make purchases or withdraw cash, subject to repayment with interest as per contractual terms.
View termA payment card linked directly to a checking or savings account, enabling electronic access to funds for purchases or cash withdrawals, governed by network and regulatory standards.
View termA time deposit issued by a bank with a fixed maturity date and specified interest rate; early withdrawal typically incurs a penalty. Used for capital preservation and interest income.
View termA demand by a clearinghouse or counterparty for additional collateral to cover current exposures resulting from changes in the market value of derivatives positions. Required under regulatory margining rules to mitigate credit risk.
View termA mechanism whereby a central counterparty (CCP) interposes itself between trading parties in derivatives and securities markets, guaranteeing the terms of a trade and reducing counterparty risk.
View termThe act of meeting all regulatory requirements set out under Basel IV, covering risk-weighted assets, capital adequacy, and disclosure standards.
View termThe process of verifying the identity of clients and assessing their suitability, risks, and background to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
View termA bank or investment account held by two or more individuals with equal rights to deposit, withdraw, and manage funds. Each holder is jointly liable for account activities and obligations as per banking regulation and contract.
View termA type of deposit account that typically pays higher interest and offers limited check-writing privileges, subject to regulatory transaction limits and money market fund investment rules.
View termA dematerialized account used to hold securities such as shares and bonds in electronic format, enabling seamless trading and settlement, primarily in regulated markets.
View termA deposit account from which funds may be withdrawn at any time without advance notice, primarily used for checking accounts under banking regulations.
View termA legal arrangement where a third party holds assets, funds, or documents on behalf of transacting parties until all contractual conditions are fulfilled.
View termA type of interest-bearing bank account allowing the account holder to write checks against deposited funds, commonly found in the US under regulatory exception.
View termA bank account that automatically transfers (sweeps) amounts above or below a certain threshold into a higher interest-bearing investment or to cover shortfalls, optimizing liquidity and returns for account holders.
View termA legally recognized financial agreement, such as a derivatives, repo, or securities lending contract, that is granted special protections under insolvency and resolution regimes (e.g., Dodd-Frank, ISDA protocols).
View termFunds held in cash or low-yield accounts that are not actively invested or used for operational purposes, resulting in opportunity cost and reduced returns for individuals or institutions.
View termA bank deposit account that is repayable on demand without advance notice, typically used for liquidity management in corporate or interbank operations, and earns interest at a variable rate.
View termA deposit in a bank or financial institution that has a fixed term and typically offers a higher interest rate, with withdrawals only allowed at maturity or with penalty.
View termA bank account from which funds may be withdrawn at any time without notice, typically used for day-to-day liquidity management and accessible via checks, debit, or electronic transfer.
View termA legal right or claim by a creditor over an asset of a debtor as collateral to secure a debt or obligation, enforceable until the obligation is satisfied.
View termA regulatory requirement obligating banks and financial institutions to verify the identity and assess the risk of customers as part of AML/CFT controls.
View termAn item, such as a loan payment or bill, that has not been paid by its due date and is classified as overdue per banking regulations and credit reporting standards.
View termA list of individuals, entities, or countries subject to financial and economic sanctions, used by financial institutions to screen transactions for compliance with international and domestic regulations.
View termThe total value a bank is exposed to when a borrower defaults, representing the outstanding amount at the moment of default under regulatory capital calculations.
View termThe total potential loss a bank or financial institution faces from counterparty default on loans, credit facilities, or other exposures.
View termThe complete repayment of an outstanding loan balance, including principal, interest, and any accrued charges, thereby closing the loan obligation as per contract.
View termA Basel III standard that measures the amount of stable funding a bank has relative to its liquidity profile over a one-year time horizon.
View termA regulated investment vehicle pooling funds from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of securities managed by a professional asset manager.
View termA mutual fund that invests in short-term, high-liquidity, low-risk money market instruments such as Treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. Used for cash management by institutions and individuals.
View termA standardized structure for financial messages exchanged over the SWIFT network, defined by SWIFT and used for global payments, securities, and trade finance transactions.
View termSupervisory recommendations and expectations provided to banks regarding internal risk management and capital assessment under Pillar 2 of the Basel framework.
View termThe process by which banks and regulators apply the risk-based capital, liquidity, and leverage standards outlined in the Basel III framework.
View termThe ratio of a bank's total capital (Tier 1 and Tier 2) to its risk-weighted assets, as defined under Basel III and CRR/CRD, used to assess capital adequacy and regulatory compliance.
View termA regulatory metric under Basel III requiring banks to hold sufficient high-quality liquid assets to cover total net cash outflows over a 30-day stress scenario.
View termRegulatory disclosure requirements under Pillar 3 of the Basel framework, mandating banks to publish information on their capital structure, risk exposures, and risk assessment processes to promote market discipline.
View termNegative data on a borrower's credit report such as late payments, defaults, or bankruptcies, which adversely affect credit assessment and lending decisions.
View termA formal document issued by a bank guaranteeing payment to a beneficiary on behalf of the applicant, provided that specific terms and conditions are met, widely used in international trade.
View termA revolving credit facility offered by a financial institution that allows a borrower to draw funds up to a specified limit at any time, repaying and reborrowing as needed.
View termA standardized electronic message format for financial transaction card originated messages, used primarily in card payment systems and ATMs globally.
View termA methodology under Basel II/III allowing banks to use their own risk assessment systems to calculate capital requirements for credit risk, subject to supervisory approval.
View termThe global transition of payment, securities, and trade messages from legacy SWIFT formats (MT) to ISO 20022 XML-based messaging, aiming to improve interoperability and data richness.
View termA long-term loan secured by real estate property, repaid in installments, and subject to specific interest rates and collateral requirements as defined in banking regulations.
View termA unique, permanent, alphanumeric identifier issued by the national tax authority to individuals or entities for tax reporting and regulatory compliance, especially in India (PAN).
View termA formal, legal instruction from an account holder to their financial institution to halt payment on a specific check or transaction before it is processed.
View termThe person or entity that issues or makes a payment, typically by check, transfer, or direct debit, according to contractual or banking instructions.
View termA financial institution or corporate entity that is registered and authorized to send and receive financial messages over the SWIFT network, in accordance with SWIFT’s standards and regulations.
View termThe share of an asset that is lost by a lender when a borrower defaults, expressed as a percentage of exposure at default, used in credit risk calculations.
View termAn individual entrusted with prominent public functions, whose position exposes them to a higher risk of involvement in bribery or corruption, as defined in FATF and Wolfsberg guidance.
View termA trading platform regulated under Dodd-Frank and CFTC rules where multiple participants can execute and trade swaps in a transparent and standardized manner.
View termA numeric or alphanumeric code used to authenticate the holder of a payment card, ATM card, or secure banking access, mandated by EMV and PCI DSS standards.
View termA short-term, high-interest unsecured loan designed to cover the borrower's expenses until the next payday; subject to specific regulatory controls due to consumer risk.
View termThe likelihood that a borrower will default on its financial obligations within a specified time horizon, used in credit risk modeling under Basel frameworks.
View termA regulatory procedure (Pillar 2 of Basel framework) in which supervisors evaluate a bank’s internal capital adequacy assessment and risk management processes.
View termA numerical rating derived from a borrower’s credit history, used by lenders to assess creditworthiness and risk in granting loans or credit products.
View termA regulatory system establishing limits on banks’ exposures to individual counterparties or groups, designed to prevent concentration risk as per Basel and EBA guidelines.
View termHighly liquid financial assets that are not cash but can be easily converted to cash within a short period, such as treasury bills, certificates of deposit, or money market instruments.
View termA personal finance measure that compares an individual's total monthly debt payments to their gross monthly income, used by lenders to assess repayment capacity and credit risk.
View termA regulatory standard requiring banks to maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total leverage exposure, irrespective of risk weighting, under Basel III.
View termThe minimum amount of collateral required to open a position in a derivatives contract, set by clearinghouses or regulators to cover potential future exposures from market movements.
View termThe lowest amount of capital a bank is required to hold by regulators to cover its risks and protect depositors, as specified by Basel III/IV and national regulations.
View termThe risk that the counterparty to a financial contract will default before the final settlement of the transaction’s cash flows.
View termThe risk that changes in market interest rates will adversely affect a bank’s earnings or the economic value of its assets and liabilities. It is a core element of bank risk management under Basel and regulatory frameworks.
View termThe minimum amount of money required to be maintained in a bank account to avoid fees or maintain account privileges, as specified in the account terms.
View termA hypothetical adverse event or set of conditions used to assess the resilience of a bank’s capital, liquidity, or risk profile under severe but plausible scenarios.
View termA credit facility that allows a bank account holder to withdraw more money than the current account balance, creating a temporary negative balance within pre-approved limits.
View termA situation or scenario in which a bank faces significant cash outflows or restricted market funding, testing its ability to meet short-term obligations.
View termA risk management technique where banks identify scenarios that could cause business failure, working backwards to pinpoint vulnerabilities and test resilience.
View termA status indicating a credit or loan account has exceeded its approved credit limit, potentially incurring fees and regulatory action according to card or credit agreements.
View termThe supervisory function by which central banks and regulators monitor, assess, and enforce safety, efficiency, and reliability in payment systems as per global regulatory standards.
View termThe benchmark interest rate that commercial banks charge their most creditworthy corporate customers, influencing rates for loans, mortgages, and other financial products as set by central bank policy or major banks.
View termThe person or entity that writes and signs a check or bill of exchange, instructing the drawee to pay a specified sum to the payee.
View termAn electronic banking instruction set by the account holder to move funds automatically between accounts on predetermined dates or recurring intervals, commonly used for payments and savings.
View termThe financial institution or party upon whom a check, draft, or bill of exchange is drawn and which is ordered to pay the specified sum to the payee.
View termThe process by which a bank evaluates the adequacy of its capital relative to its risk profile, business model, and regulatory requirements (ICAAP).
View term