CNB leaves countercyclical capital buffer rate at 2.5%

The CNB Bank Board decided today to leave the countercyclical capital buffer rate for exposures located in the Czech Republic at 2.5%.

When making its decision, the Bank Board took into account the current position of the Czech economy in the financial cycle, the size of accumulated credit risks in the banking sector’s balance sheet and the evolution of its vulnerability. It also took into consideration the persisting uncertainty regarding future geopolitical and economic developments, which is creating potential for increased and faster materialisation of the cyclical risks accumulated in the financial system.

The countercyclical capital buffer was introduced as an important macroprudential policy instrument in the European Union in 2014. Obliged institutions are required to create this buffer on the basis of the regulator’s instructions in periods of excessive growth in lending. Excessive lending growth usually increases financial imbalances and leads to a rise in systemic risk. By contrast, at times of falling economic activity, accompanied by rising credit losses, this buffer should be released so that non-financial corporations and households continue to have access to loans without excessively tight conditions.

More details on this decision are available in the Provision of a general nature on setting the countercyclical capital buffer rate for the Czech Republic I/2023, which will be published on 10 March 2023.[1] In this context, the Bank Board also decided that the CNB will publish the justification for decisions to leave the countercyclical capital buffer rate unchanged in an official information document from June 2023 onwards.

Petra Krmelová
Director of the Communications Division and CNB Spokesperson


[1] NOTES FOR JOURNALISTS: