An investigation into regulatory capital adequacy of South African banks under the Basel Accords

Abstract

One objective of the BCBS is to implement minimum supervisory capital standards in the banking sector. Basel I to Basel III attempted to maintain a minimum capital standard for credit risk, market risk and operational risk. Many loopholes were highlighted through years when political and economic disturbances occurred and caused volatility in the financial markets. This study analysed five major South African banks from 2002–2012 to determine the size of these disturbances on the regulatory capital levels. The empirical portion of this study comprised of statistical models to be applied to the quantitative observations of capital levels. These measurements served as the bases of comparison between the five banks. After the investigation it was evident that the capital levels of these five banks first decreased as the South African economy prevailed in a boom phase and banks were at ease. When the 2007–2009 financial crisis struck, the capital levels increased again in respect of the three risks. Global volatility surfaced as economic and political factors were introduced into the markets