Define ALM (Asset Liability Management) and ALCO (Asset Liability Committee).

 ALM: Asset Liability Management (ALM) can be defined as a mechanism to address the risk faced by a bank due to a mismatch between assets and liabilities either due to liquidity or changes in interest rates. Liquidity is an institution‘s ability to meet its liabilities either by borrowing or converting assets. Apart from liquidity, a bank may also have a mismatch due to changes in interest rates as banks typically tend to borrow short term (fixed or floating) and lend long term (fixed or floating).

A comprehensive ALM policy framework focuses on bank profitability and long term viability by targeting the net interest margin (NIM) ratio and Net Economic Value (NEV), subject to balance sheet constraints. Significant among these constraints are maintaining credit quality, meeting liquidity needs and obtaining sufficient capital.

 

 ALCO: Asset Liability Management (ALM) is an integral part of Bank Management; and so, it is essential to have a structured and systematic process for manage the Balance Sheet. Committee comprising of the senior management of the bank to make important decisions related to the Balance Sheet of the Bank (asset-Liability). The committee typically called the Asset Liability Committee (ALCO). As per BB guideline, the committee consists of the following key personnel of a bank:

- Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director

- Head of Treasury / Central Accounts Department

- Head of Finance

- Head of Corporate Banking

- Head of Consumer Banking

- Head of Credit

- Chief Operating Officer / Head of Operations

The committee calls for a meeting once every month to set and review strategies