Cajas de ahorros, seguridad y posición frente a Basilea II

Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine the safety of the Spanish banking system and, more specifically, of the savings banks. After explaining the theoretical meaning of the concept and determining the reasons justifying public intervention to assure it, it considers that minimum capital requirements are a necessary prerequisite for achieving it. After studying the regulatory instruments used by the supervisors to evaluate the safety of the system, in particular the Basel Agreement of 1988 (Basel I) and examining its weaknesses as a formula of measurement, it goes on to point out the most notable changes in the New Agreement (Basel II) and to offer a quantitative approach to the effects of its future implementation. In conclusion, we should mention that the Spanish savings banks have acted as very safe institutions and it does not seem likely that the new regulation may have noticeable effects on their conduct.