Asset Liability Management for Financial Institutions

Book excerpt: The asset liability management (ALM) of a financial institution requires informed decisions coupled with strategy in order to meet financial objectives. Combined with a range of risks and constraints, effective ALM requires the formulation, implementation, monitoring and revision of strategies on a daily basis. Asset liability management in the banking industry has come to the fore since the beginning of the Credit Crunch in mid 2007, with overexposed financial institutions collapsing or being propped up by governments and taxpayers ultimately footing the bill. The evidence suggests that the pain is not over with banks lacking commitment and confidence in terms of lending in Europe and the US. Without mending the balance sheet and formulating new strategies, few banks will be able to commit to new opportunities and become takers of qualified risk in the near future. Aimed primarily at risk managers/analysts within financial institutions, but also of significant interest to treasurers, pension fund managers, auditors, controllers, regulators, legal and compliance, Asset Liability Management for Financial Institutions helps build the knowledge base with a back-to-basics approach, in the context of the turmoil in the banking sector. This multi-author volume covers key areas such as fund transfer pricing product, problem-loan assumptions, understanding and applying funds transfer pricing, derivatives, measuring interest rate risk, stress testing and modeling of market risk.