Curbing flight of deposits
By Fiona Chan
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
</TD><TD vAlign=bottom>
Recent bank guarantees by governments in the region, including Hong Kong, have 'set off a dynamic' that put pressure on other economies to do the same or else risk disadvantaging their own financial institutions. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
THE Government's move last week to guarantee bank deposits in Singapore was necessary to keep local banks competitive and to prevent deposits from flowing out to other countries, said Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang on Monday.
RELATED LINKS
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY MR LIM HNG KIANG, MINISTER FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE ON GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE ON DEPOSITS
But he does not expect to have to use much - if any - of the $150 billion reserves that is being set aside for the guarantees.
'For the guarantee to be called, two things have to happen: a bank has to fail, and at the same time its assets must be worth so little there is not even enough to repay its depositors,' he said in a statement to Parliament.
Since banks here are sound and closely supervised, there is a very small risk of them failing due to problems in Singapore. Even if one fails, it should have enough assets to pay back depositors, he said.
This is why the $150 billion should be 'ample to meet any eventuality except the most remote', even though Singapore's bank deposits actually total $700 billion (S$998 billion), he added.
Still, the Government had to provide this guarantee in order to ensure 'a level international playing field for banks in Singapore'.
Recent bank guarantees by governments in the region, including Hong Kong, have 'set off a dynamic' that put pressure on other economies to do the same or else risk disadvantaging their own financial institutions.
'If Singapore had not introduced a similar guarantee, there was a real risk that depositors would have shifted some of their deposits out of Singapore banks, to banks in other jurisdictions which guarantee deposits', said Mr Lim.
'The Government has therefore taken a precautionary step to pre-empt and avert any such possibility.'
Guaranteeing bank deposits here also bolsters the public's confidence, helps Singapore's key financial services sector function normally and contributes to restoring confidence in the global financial system, he explained.
Mr Lim also said Singapore is in a good position to provide this guarantee because it is in a strong fiscal position. Even with this $150 billion set aside, MAS will have ample reserves to defend the Singapore dollar if needed, he added.
'The risk of drawing on the guarantee and potential impact on Singapore's reserves are low,' Mr Lim assured. 'Singapore's financial system remains sound and we are well-placed to meet the challenges facing us.'
Summing up, he said: 'This global crisis is unprecedented, and requires Singapore to respond effectively, decisively but also prudently.'
The provision of a Government guarantee on deposits is a necessary temporary measure to protect the interests of Singaporeans and the economy, which are in turn dependent on a strong and competitive financial sector.
'The risk of drawing on the guarantee and potential impact on Singapore's reserves are low.'
'This is a measured, precautionary action that will help us to weather the global economic slowdown and the ongoing financial crisis in international financial markets.'