The Capital Requirements (Capital Buffers and Macro-prudential Measures) Regulations 2014

Countercyclical buffer rate

10.—(1) The FPC must assess and set a buffer rate for the United Kingdom.

(2) The purpose of the buffer rate is to enable institutions with exposures located in the United Kingdom to calculate their institution-specific countercyclical capital buffers.

(3) The buffer rate must be assessed and set on a quarterly basis, taking into account—

(a) the buffer guide calculated in accordance with regulation 9(1);

(b) any current guidance maintained by the ESRB in accordance with Articles 135(1)(a), (c) and (d) of the capital requirements directive;

(c) any recommendation issued by the ESRB on setting buffer rates for the countercyclical capital buffer; and

(d) any other variables that the FPC considers relevant for addressing cyclical systemic risk.

(4) The buffer rate must be expressed as a percentage of the total risk exposure of institutions with exposures located in the United Kingdom.

(5) Total risk exposure must be calculated in accordance with Article 92(3) of the capital requirements regulation.

(6) The buffer rate must be—

(a) set between 0% and 2.5%, except where the matters referred to in paragraph (3) justify a higher rate; and

(b) an integer multiple of 0.25%.