China's biggest banks face a daunting task in meeting new global standards designed to prevent taxpayer bailouts of lenders, as their reliance on deposit funding — ordinarily considered a source of strength — puts them at a disadvantage.
The Financial Stability Board, which makes policy recommendations to the Group of 20 large economies, on Monday confirmed its final proposals for requiring global banks to hold a special debt known as Total Loss Absorbing Capacity (TLAC).
The aim is to make the biggest lenders resilient enough to weather economic or financial turmoil without spreading contagion to the broader financial system and to avoid future government bailouts. The requirements are part a broad suite of global reforms enacted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
