MAS: Higher Cover For Bank Deposits

MAS Response To Higher Cover For Bank Deposits
source: MAS Newsroom

A writer to the Straits Times Forum asked recently whether MAS would consider raising the $20K cap cover for bank and savings account holders in Singapore. We quote the response from Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Dear Editor
I refer to "Higher cover for bank deposits"
(Straits Times Forum, 4 October 2008)

2. Singapore's banking and financial system remains sound. Depositors and insurance policyholders should be reassured that banks and insurance companies in Singapore are required by the MAS to have assets exceeding their liabilities by an appropriate margin. They are also required to abide by stringent regulations on capital, asset quality and risk concentration, and to put in place sound risk management systems and processes.

3. To protect depositors and policyholders, MAS' approach has been to emphasise stringent regulation and supervision of financial institutions so that weaknesses can be identified and addressed at an early stage. Nevertheless, in the worst case scenario where a bank or insurance company fails, a safety net is provided by deposit insurance and the policyowners' protection fund respectively. Deposit insurance, which is an explicit guarantee on deposits, provides a payout of up to S$20,000 to each individual depositor per bank. For deposits in excess of the payout, individual depositors can also claim from assets of the failed bank. Depositors and policyholders, in the case of an insurance company, would rank ahead of unsecured creditors and shareholders in their claims.

4. Our deposit insurance scheme is funded through premium contributions paid by the industry. A higher coverage limit will come with higher cost which may be passed on to depositors. MAS, together with the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC) that administers the deposit insurance scheme, will review the coverage limit regularly, taking into consideration the objectives of the scheme and international norms.

5. Some countries have recently issued a blanket guarantee on deposits. These are emergency measures taken to combat the threat of a widespread loss of confidence in a country's financial and banking system. The cost will ultimately be paid by taxpayers. The situation in Singapore continues to be stable and does not warrant such measures.

Angelina Fernandez
Director (Communications)
Monetary Authority of Singapore


The bottom line of these statements? Your first $20K of Singapore Dollar savings and deposits is guaranteed. Amounts in excess of that level is NOT guaranteed.

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