The FME, the Icelandic equivalent of the FSA (Financial Services Authority) decided to create a new bank model and announced today in a press release its course of action after the near total collapse of its commercial banking sector.
Iceland’s government has taken control of not one, but three commercial banks, namely Landsbanki, Glitnir and recently Kaupting -the country’s largest bank – in the past few days in an effort to ensure continued commercial bank operations.
Iceland’s banking industry collapsed all together under the weight of $61 billion of foreign debt that was carrying on their shoulders. Now, I know that the more we hear huge numbers, the more we are getting used to them and they end up meaningless. To give you an idea what the Icelandic bank model used to be just think about this for a minute: the amount of foreign debt is 12 times the size of the economy as a whole.
Obviously, it is practically impossible especially in the current market conditions for the government to cover these losses. Instead, the FME has decided to separate the domestic from the international businesses of Landsbanki, taking over the operations of the domestic bank. They actually managed to keep all branches open and to guarantee deposits.
The new domestic bank is called “New Landsbanki” and this bank takes over the bulk of the assets relating to domestic operations, such as loans and deposits. More information about the ifnal asset versus liability settlement will be made public within 30 days.
What remains to be seen, is whether they will apply this new bank model to their other acquisitions, ie Kaupting and Glitnir? Makes sense…
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3 Comments
Icelandic Stockmarket Collapse | What the Finance
October 14, 2008[...] « Melting Iceland’s… ‘New Bank’ Model October 14, [...]
Banker looking for a job
October 23, 2008You were right! The creation of 'new Kaupthing" has been confirmed and the model is indeed very similar to what wwe have seen with the other two Icelandic banks, namely Landsbanki and Glitnir. You Finance Mistress!
The What Girl
October 23, 2008Dear Banker looking for a job.... I hope you are enjoying your time off and that you won't be looking for long! With regards to Kaupthing, most of the old Kaupthing's good assets will be transferred to the New Kaupthing, including all domestic deposits. Good news for their domestic banking system. Bad news for international bondholders is that they will stay at the 'old' Kaupthing along with other assets with limited value. So, recoveries are likely to be very low, unless some major political initiative dictates otherwise. Thanks for reading WhattheFinance, your comments are always welcome!