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Concerned about the potential impacts of the proposed risk-based capital rules, known as Basel II, Congress mandated that GAO study U.S. implementation efforts. This report examines (1) the transition to Basel II and the proposed changes in the United States, (2) the potential impact on the banking system and regulatory required capital, and (3) how banks and regulators are preparing for Basel II and the challenges they face. To meet these objectives, GAO analyzed documents related to Basel II and interviewed various regulators and officials from banks that will be required to follow the new rules.

Basel II, the new risk-based capital framework based on an international accord, is being adopted by individual countries. It includes standardized and advanced approaches to estimating capital requirements. In the U.S., bank regulators have finalized an advanced approach rule that will be required for some of the largest, most internationally active banks and proposed an optional standardized approach rule for non-core banks that will also have the option to remain on existing capital rules. This report examines: (1) the markets in which banks compete; (2) how new capital rules address U.S. banks' competitive concerns; and (3) actions regulators are taking to address competitive and other potential negative effects during implementation. Illus.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act directed a study of the role of leverage in the current financial crisis and federal oversight of leverage. The objectives were to review: (1) how leveraging and deleveraging by financial institutions may have contributed to the crisis; (2) regulations adopted by federal financial regulators to limit leverage and how regulators oversee compliance with the regulations; and (3) any limitations the current crisis has revealed in regulatory approaches used to restrict leverage and regulatory proposals to address them. To meet these objectives, the auditor reviewed relevant laws and regulations and academic and other studies, and interviewed regulators and market participants. Includes recommend. Illus.