IFRS 9 : Step by Step Guide

Deepanshu Bhalla 3 Comments
IFRS 9 Summary

This article provides a detailed and simplified explanation of IFRS 9, along with a comparison to BASEL and CECL.

Introduction : IFRS 9

International Financial Reports Standards (IFRS) are a set of accounting standards being implemented by financial organizations across more than 110 countries in the world.

IFRS 9 is adopted by various countries from Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas (excluding the US). In US, financial organizations are required to follow CECL (Current Expected Credit Loss) method proposed by the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Some US based financial entities with dual filing requirements may need to provision based on both IFRS 9 and CECL.

'9' in IFRS-9 refers to the ninth edition of the International Financial Reporting and Assurance Standards.
Objective of IFRS 9

The objective of IFRS 9 is to improve the accounting and reporting of financial assets and liabilities post 2008 global financial crisis. In simple words, IFRS 9 helps companies predict and recognize financial losses earlier to prevent issues like those seen in the global recession.

When was IFRS 9 effective?

In July 2014, International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) published IFRS 9 which replaced old International Accounting Standards IAS 39 with a unified standard. Financial entities had timelines to implement in the period beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

What changes did IFRS 9 introduce to improve the accounting standards?

IFRS 9 brought in changes in the three main sections. They are as follows :

  • Classification and measurement : Under old accounting standard IAS 39, financial asset classification and measurement was based on the financial asset's characteristics and management's intention in relation to the asset. However as per IFRS-9 accounting standards, financial asset classification and measurement is based on the cash flow characteristics and entity’s business model in relation to the financial assets.
  • Impairment : If you are novice in finance and wondering what impairment means, this is the simple definition for you "A loan is called impaired when it is highly likely that bank will be unable to collect the full amount that borrower need to pay in terms of principal and interest." During the financial crisis, IASB realised that the incurred loss model in IAS 39 contributed to the delayed recognition of credit losses. To fix this issue, they introduced a forward-looking expected credit loss model. Under IFRS 9, the expected credit loss (ECL) model will require more timely recognition of credit losses.
  • Hedge accounting : The objective of the new hedge accounting model is to provide useful information about risk management activities that an entity undertakes using financial instruments.
IFRS 9 Impairment Methodology

Under old accounting standard IAS 39, financial entities needed to set aside amount to cover losses (i.e. 'provision' in accounting world) when there was a realized impairment. This results in delay of loss recognition. In IFRS-9 Banks are asked to take forward-looking approach for provision for the portion of the loan that is likely to default, even shortly after its origination.

As per IFRS 9, there are three stages in which impairment of loan is recognised. They are as follows :

Stage 1 (Performing) Stage 2 (Underperforming) Stage 3 (Credit Impaired)
Low Credit Risk Significant deterioration of credit quality. Increase in credit risk since initial recognition (not impaired) Credit quality deteriorated to a level at which credit loss actually incurs (credit impaired)
12-month expected credit losses Lifetime expected credit losses Lifetime expected credit losses
Effective interest rate on gross carrying amount Effective interest rate on gross carrying amount Effective interest rate on net book value

IFRS 9 and Credit Risk Models

It is important to go through the above table which shows credit stages prior to reading this section. Based on the credit stages, a loan is categorized into either 12 month Probability of Default (PD) or lifetime PD.

  1. 12-month ECLs (Stage 1): It is applied to all the loans since initial recognition as long as there is low credit risk
  2. Lifetime ECLs (Stages 2 and 3): It is applied when a significant increase in credit risk has taken place

Question arises how to decide whether a significant increase in credit risk has occurred or not.
In IFRS-9, the definition of 'significant increase in credit risk' is not stated clearly. Hence banks need to decide it themselves. There are many ways we can decide credit quality. Some of them are as follows:

  • Past History : Loan which has been 30+ or 60+ Days Past Due or defaulted in the past 12 months from the reporting month should be considered a significant deterioration of credit quality and should fall into Stage 2 credit risk.
  • Absolute or percentage change between 12 Month PD model at reporting month and 12 month PD model at the time of origination. High value change in the accounts can be considered as 'high risk' accounts.
  • Inclusion of Macro economic variables Develop 12 Month PD Model after including macro economic variables such as GDP, Unemployment rate, Interest and Inflation rate, Housing price index etc. and compare the model at reporting month with the model at the time of origination. High absolute or percentage change in the accounts can be considered as 'high risk' accounts.
  • Comparison of Year on Year Marginal Probability of Default: Increase in reporting month marginal PD curve as compared to origination marginal PD curve shows increase in credit risk and can be used as a method for identifying high risk accounts.
  • Step change in grading scale for corporate loans.

Probability of Default Model from IFRS-9 point of view

Many risk analysts consider Basel 12-month PD model as a starting point for IFRS 9 PD model. But we need to consider factors which are important for building IFRS 9 12-month PD Model.

  • Point-in-time (PIT) PD : As per IFRS 9 there should be point-in-time (PIT) PD which means consideration of both current macro-economic factors and risk attributes of borrower. Idea is to incorporate current macro economic conditions while calculating PD. In essence PIT PD moves up as macro-economic conditions deteriorate and moves down as macro-economic conditions improve.
  • Best Estimate PD : PD estimates should be unbiased which means exclusion of optimism or conservatism (i.e. downturn) in estimation
  • It is required to monitor PDs on a continuous basis and perform recalibration when required. PD monitoring reports are essential.

Key Differences between IFRS 9 and CECL

IFRS 9
  • IFRS 9 is accounting and financial reporting standards published by IASB.
  • It's a global standards for accounting, used by all the major countries except US.
CECL
  • CECL is accounting standards published by FASB.
  • It's used in United States.

Similarities between IFRS 9 and CECL

Both IFRS 9 and CECL were designed with the goal of establishing accounting and financial reporting standards. Both are forward-looking taking the most latest available data of macro economic indicators and borrowers' attributes to forecast losses from default.

Comparison of IFRS 9, BASEL and CECL

IFRS 9 and CECL focuses on how banks set provisions (money set aside) to cover expected losses from defaults. Whereas BASEL covers both expected and unexpected losses.

Most banks subject to IFRS 9 and CECL are also subject to Basel norms.
IFRS 9 CECL BASEL
PD 12 month PD (Stage 1)
Lifetime PD (Stage 2 and 3)
Lifetime PD 12 months
PD Point-in-time PD Point-in-time PD Through the cycle
LGD/EAD Best Estimate Best Estimate Downturn Estimate

How IFRS 9 is different from Basel III?

Yes, they are different but both requires building PD, LGD and EAD models. See the difference between them below.

Parameters Basel III IFRS 9
Objective Expected + Unexpected Loss Expected Loss
PD One year PD 12 month PD for stage 1 assets, Lifetime PD for stage 2 and 3 assets
Rating Philosophy TTC rating philosophy PIT rating philosophy
LGD Downturn LGD (both direct + indirect costs) Best estimate LGD (only direct costs)
EAD Downturn EAD Best estimate EAD
Expected Loss /Expected Credit Loss (ECL) EL=PD*LGD*EAD EL=PD*PV of cash shortfalls
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About Author:
Deepanshu Bhalla

Deepanshu founded ListenData with a simple objective - Make analytics easy to understand and follow. He has over 10 years of experience in data science. During his tenure, he worked with global clients in various domains like Banking, Insurance, Private Equity, Telecom and HR.

Post Comment 3 Responses to "IFRS 9 : Step by Step Guide"
  1. Will be fantastic if we have a credit portfolio example in excel sheet....

    ReplyDelete
  2. WE LOVE YOU IF YOU DEVELOP A MODEL PD, LGD, EAD FOR IFRS9

    ReplyDelete
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