Canadian banks not immune from pressure of regulatory change, says EY

Striking a balance between sales and risk culture critical

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - According to EY's annual risk management survey of major financial institutions around the world, regulatory changes – combined with other risks – are placing increased pressure on traditional business models, and Canadian banks are not immune.

"Canadian banks have been at the forefront of an industry-wide effort to more effectively manage risk culture," says Andre de Haan, EY's Canadian Financial Services Leader. "Still, shifting accountability for risk into the front-office and ensuring controls are in place and effective are ongoing challenges."

According to Shifting focus: Risk culture at the forefront of banking more than half of banks (56%) say achieving a balance between a sales-driven front-office culture and a risk culture is the key obstacle to strengthening culture.

"The front-office is under intense pressure to boost the bottom line," says de Haan. "Traditionally, the front office has been focused on revenue targets and the risk responsibilities have been confined to not breaching limits."

Many banks surveyed, however, believe the tools and clarity around accountabilities are not sufficient to make front office responsibility for risk real.

"Ensuring the front office owns the risks and feels responsible for the entire process requires changes to culture, systems and structures," explains de Haan. "Especially with investors not willing to accept lower ROEs, striking a balance between a sales culture and a risk culture remains a challenge."

According to the survey, 82% of banks around the world have been reducing target ROE since before the crisis and more than half have reduced it further since last year.

Other key findings from EY's survey include:

• 72% of banks are strengthening risk roles and responsibilities and 68% indicate they are working to reinforce accountability regarding risk management
• 58% of banks report they are having difficulty moving firm-wide risk appetite into the businesses and 70% are still struggling to link business decisions to the risk appetite
• 58% of banks are aligning compensation with risk-adjusted performance metrics

"Coming out of the financial crisis, Canadian banks were an example of sound risk culture," says de Haan. "But banks here can't afford to rest on their laurels. Strengthening risk culture is an ongoing process, and essential to making overall risk appetite effective."

Background to the survey

EY's 2014 risk management survey of major financial institutions, Shifting focus: risk culture at the forefront of banking, was completed in cooperation with the Institute of International Finance. The survey took place from January 2014 to April 2014 and involved participation from 53 IIF member firms in 27 countries. In top member firms by assets, CROs and other senior risk executives completed online quantitative surveys and participated in telephone interviews.

About EY

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SOURCE: EY (Ernst & Young)

For further information: Erika Bennett, [email protected], 416 943 5497; Sarah Shields, [email protected], 604 648 3607; Julie Fournier, [email protected], 514 874 4308