Capital buffers

One of the most important innovations introduced by Basel III standards are capital buffers. Capital buffers are additional Common Equity Tier 1 capital that banks are obliged to maintain above the prescribed regulatory minimum. Their introduction has several advantages: the buffers increase the resilience of banks to losses, reduce excessive or underestimated exposures and restrict the distribution of capital. These macroprudential instruments should limit systemic risks in the financial system, which can be cyclical (capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer) or structural (capital buffer for a systemically important bank and systemic risk buffer).

Capital buffers in Serbia Current rate  Notes
Capital conservation buffer 
(Section 434 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy)		 2.5%

The Decision on Capital Adequacy of 15 December 2016 sets out that a bank is obliged to maintain a capital conservation buffer on an individual and consolidated basis equal to 2.5% of its risk-weighted assets. The capital conservation buffer may consist only of Common Equity Tier 1 capital and applies as of 30 June 2017.
Countercyclical capital buffer 
(Section 435 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy)		 0%

The Decision on the Countercyclical Buffer Rate for the Republic of Serbia of 8 June 2017, applied as of 30 June 2017, sets the rate at 0%.

At its meeting of 12 June 2025, the NBS Executive Board decided to keep the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) rate for the Republic of Serbia at 0%, having in mind that:

  • the reference guide for the CCyB rate is 0%;
  • the credit-to-GDP ratio is 74.0%;
  • the deviation of credit-to-GDP ratio from its long-term trend (credit-to-GDP gap) is 1.0 pp.

Explanation: The credit-to-GDP ratio in Q1 2025 was above its long-term trend, but below the 2 pp bound,[1] which represents the reference value above which credit growth would be considered excessive. By keeping the CCyB rate at 0%, the NBS supports the lending market amid persistent uncertainty in the international environment and global market fragmentation.
Capital buffer for a systemically important bank 
(Section 452 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy)		 1–2%

The Decision on Establishing a List of Systemically Important Banks in the Republic of Serbia and Capital Buffer Rates for Those Banks of 12 June 2025 establishes systemically important banks and the capital buffer rates that those banks are obligated to maintain as of 30 June 2025.
Systemic risk buffer 
(Section 446 of the Decision on Capital Adequacy)		 3%

The Decision on the Rate and Manner of Maintaining the Systemic Risk Buffer of 8 June 2017, with changes from 11 January 2018, sets the systemic risk buffer, applied as of 30 June 2017. 

  • The systemic risk buffer rate is equal to 3% of total foreign currency and foreign currency-indexed placements of a bank approved to corporates and households in the Republic of Serbia. 
  • All banks whose share of foreign currency and foreign currency-indexed placements approved to corporates and households in the Republic of Serbia in total placements of that bank approved to corporates and households in the Republic of Serbia exceeds 10% are obliged to maintain the systemic risk buffer.

Explanation: The systemic risk buffer is introduced to limit the risk of euroisation, one of the key structural non-cyclical systemic risks to the stability of the financial system of the Republic of Serbia. 

Exposures: The systemic risk buffer recognises exposures in the Republic of Serbia.

1 Recommendation of the European Systemic Risk Board of 18 June 2014 on guidance for setting countercyclical buffer rates (ESRB/2014/1), Annex Part II.