BR-A BR-A Introduction
BR-A.1 BR-A.1 Purpose
Executive Summary
BR-A.1.1
The purpose of this Module is to set out the Central Bank of Bahrain's (CBB') reporting requirements applicable to the banks as part of the CBB's on-going supervision activities.
Amended: January 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.1.2
This Module provides support for certain other parts of the Rulebook, mainly:
(a) Principles of Business;(b) Public Disclosure;(c) Credit Risk Management;(d) Operational Risk Management;(e) Financial Crime;(f)Capital Adequacy ;(g) High-Level Controls;(h) Business and Market Conduct; and(i) Audit Firms.Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.1.3
Unless otherwise stated, all reports referred to in this Module should be addressed to Banking Supervision Directorate of the CBB.
Amended: October 2010
October 2007Legal Basis
BR-A.1.4
This Module contains the CBB's Directive (as amended from time to time) relating to reporting requirements of the CBB and is issued under the powers available to the CBB under Article 38 of the Central Bank of Bahrain and Financial Institutions Law 2006 ('CBB Law'). The Directive in this Module is applicable to
conventional bank licensees .Amended: January 2011
October 2007BR-A.1.5
For an explanation of the CBB's rule-making powers and different regulatory instruments, see Section UG-1.1.
October 07BR-A.2 BR-A.2 Key Requirements
Power to Request Information
BR-A.2.1
In accordance with Article 111 of the CBB Law, all licensed banks must provide all information that the CBB may reasonably request in order to discharge its regulatory obligations.
Amended: October 2010Regular Reporting — Annual Requirements
BR-A.2.2
All
Bahraini Conventional Banks Licensees in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to submit to the CBB their annual audited financial statements (in compliance with the provisions set out under Section BR-1.1) no later than 3 months of the end of the bank's financial year. In addition, these banks are also required to submit supplementary information (as listed under Section BR-1.1) to the CBB.Amended: April 2019
Amended: October 2010
April 2008
October 2007BR-A.2.3
All Bahrain
branches of foreign banks are required to submit to the CBB their annual audited financial statements (in compliance with the provisions set out under Section BR-1.2) no later than the end of 3 months from the financial year end. In addition, these banks are also required to submit supplementary information (as listed under Section BR-1.2) to the CBB.Amended: April 2016
Amended: October 2010
October 2007Regular Reporting — Semi-annual Requirements
BR-A.2.4
All Bahrain retail
branches of foreign banks are required to submit to the CBB their Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Accounts (in compliance with the provisions set out under Section BR-2.1) no later than the end of 2 months from the reporting period end.Amended: April 2016
Amended: April 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007Regular Reporting — Quarterly Requirements
BR-A.2.5
All
Bahraini Conventional Banks Licensees in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to submit to the CBB the following information on a quarterly basis:(a) PIR Forms and auditors reviews thereon (in accordance with the provisions set out under Section BR-3.1); and(b) Reviewed (unaudited) quarterly financial statements (in accordance with the provisions set out under Section BR-3.1).Amended: April 2019
Amended: October 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.6
All Bahrain
branches of foreign banks are required to submit to the CBB PIR Forms (in accordance with the provisions set out under Section BR-3.2).Amended: July 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.7
[This Paragraph was deleted July 2011].
Regular Reporting — Monthly Requirements
BR-A.2.8
All banks licensed by the CBB in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to submit to the CBB monthly statistical returns (as required under Section BR-4.1).
Amended: January 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.8A
All banks licensed by the CBB in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to report monthly to the CBB of all payments and transfers of funds amounting to BD 3,000 or above from accounts held by the bank for charitable organisations registered in the Kingdom of Bahrain (as required under Paragraphs BR-4.1.5 and FC-1.6.4).
Added: October 2011BR-A.2.9
All
Bahraini Conventional Banks Licensees listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange are required to report to the Capital Markets Supervision Directorate of the CBB, on a monthly basis, information relating to theirDirectors' interests in the shares ofBahraini Conventional Banks Licensees listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange and submit exposures to connected counterparties to Banking Supervision Directorate (in accordance with the provisions set out under Section BR-4.3).Amended: April 2019
Amended: October 2010
October 2009
October 2007IIS Reporting Requirements
BR-A.2.9A
All banks licensed by the CBB are required to complete online non-financial information related to their institution by accessing the CBB's institutional information system (IIS) (as required under Section BR-4A.1).
Amended: April 2012
Added: January 2011Ad-hoc Reporting and Notification
BR-A.2.10
All banks licensed by the CBB in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to notify and report to the CBB on the following matters in Section BR-5.1:
(a) Largeexposures ;(b) Changes in strategy and/or corporate plan;(c) Changes in management;(d) [This sub-paragraph was deleted in July 2019];(e) Appointment of a Compliance Manager/Officer;(f)Money laundering and suspicious transactions;(g) [This sub-paragraph was deleted in October 2022];(h) Authorised signatories;(i) Material losses through loan write-offs, fraud or other events;(j) Material transfers of assets or liabilities; and(k) Enforcement actions imposed by host regulators on overseas subsidiaries and branches.Amended: October 2022
Amended: October 2020
Amended: July 2019
Amended: October 2011
Amended: October 2010
April 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.11
All
Bahraini Conventional Banks Licensees are required to give the CBB immediate written notification of any actual breach by such bank of the minimum Risk Asset Ratio(s) (RAR) and to consult with the CBB prior to entering into any term borrowing arrangements (Section BR-5.2).Amended: April 2019
Amended: April 2012
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.12
All retail banks licensed by the CBB in the Kingdom of Bahrain are required to notify the CBB on the introduction of new and expanded customers and products (Section BR-5.3).
Amended: October 2011
Amended: October 2010
October 2007BR-A.2.13
Conventional bank licensees must clearly indicate the purpose of any communication addressed to the CBB. In cases of lack of response to such communication by the CBB, the licensee must not infer or assume implied acceptance, approval or acknowledgement of the contents of such communication.Added: October 2019BR-A.3 BR-A.3 Module History
BR-A.3.1
This Module was first issued in July 2004 by the BMA as part of the conventional principles volume. All regulations in this volume have been effective since this date. Any material changes that have subsequently been made to this Module are annotated with the calendar quarter date in which the change is made: UG-3 provides further details on Rulebook maintenance and version control.
October 07BR-A.3.2
When the CBB replaced the BMA in September 2006, the provisions of this Module remained in force. Volume 1 was updated in October 2007 to reflect the switch to the CBB; however, new calendar quarter dates were only issued where the update necessitated changes to actual requirements.
October 07BR-A.3.3
The most recent changes made to this Module are detailed in the table below:
Summary of Changes
Module Ref. Change Date Description of Changes BR-5.1.13 01/04/05 Notification of fraud. BR-5.1 01/10/05 New threshold for reporting of transfers by charities and prior approval of appointment of compliance officer /manager. BR-5.1.4 01/01/06 Addition of contact details to management information details. BR-3.3, BR-4.1 & BR-5.1.14 01/04/06 Revised statistical returns instructions and new notification requirement for material losses. BR-3.3 and BR-4.1 01/07/06 Submission of Form SR-6 is a monthly requirement. BR-4.1 01/07/06 Deletion of references to precious metals and commodities returns. Transfer of reserve requirements material from BR-4.2 to BR-4.1. BR-4.2 01/07/06 Deletion of reserve requirements material (moved to BR-4.1). BR-4.1.3 01/07/06 Revised date for submission of statistical forms BR-5.1.9 01/07/06 Minor changes reflecting change of Compliance Unit to Directorate BR-A.1 10/2007 New Rule BR-A.1.4 introduced categorising this Module as a Directive. BR-6 10/2007 New Rule allowing access to premises per the provisions of the CBB Law BR-A.2, BR-1.1, BR-4.1, BR-5.2 04/2008 New reporting deadlines, new 7% reserves ratio, new paragraph on reporting of write-offs BR-3.1.6 01/2009 New Agreed Upon Procedures report for PIR BR-1.1 01/2009 Enhanced guidance on supplementary information and references to annual financial statements BR-3.1 01/2009 Reference to consolidated and non-consolidated basis dropped as only 1 PIR form is required. BR-4.1.4b 07/2009 The minimum daily cash reserve balance with the CBB brought back to 5% from 7%. BR- A.2 and BR- 4.3.4 10/2009 New reporting arrangements for exposures to connected counterparties. BR-A.2.10 and BR-5.1.16 04/2010 Approval for material transfers of assets or liabilities BR-A.2.2 10/2010 Due date changed to 3 months to be consistent in the Rulebook. BR-1.1.3 10/2010 Required information updated to be consistent in the Rulebook. BR-1.2.5 10/2010 Wording changed to be consistent in the Rulebooks. BR-3.1.2 10/2010 Reference to legal entity deleted. BR-3.1.3 10/2010 Reference changed to be consistent with IAS and IFRS. BR-3.1.4 10/2010 Wording changed to be consistent in the Rulebook. BR-3.1.5 10/2010 Changed to Guidance. BR-A.2.4, BR-2.1.2 and BR-3.1.8 10/2010 Due date changed to 2 months to be consistent in the Rulebook. BR-3.2.5 and BR-5.1 10/2010 References corrected. BR 10/2010 Minor changes to formatting and spelling to be consistent in the Rulebook. BR-A.1.4 01/2011 Clarified legal basis. BR-A.2.9A 01/2011 Added reference to IIS Reporting Requirements BR-4A 01/2011 Added new Chapter on other reporting requirements and refer to IIS reporting requirements. BR-A.2.4 04/2011 Corrected order or wording. BR-1.1.3 04/2011 Added report on controllers required under paragraph GR-5.1.9. BR-1.2.3 and BR-3.1.10 04/2011 Clarified due date. BR-4.3.2 04/2011 Corrected reference to licensed exchange. BR-4.3.3 04/2011 Clarified reference to calendar days. BR-5.1.1, BR-5.1.2 and BR-5.1.3 04/2011 Clarified to whom Rules apply. BR-5.1.7 04/2011 Clarified due date for notification. BR-5.1.10 04/2011 Clarified reference to calendar days. BR-A.2.7, BR-3.3 and BR-4.1 07/2011 Clarified that all statistical returns must be filed monthly BR-1.1.3 (h) 07/2011 Deleted incorrect cross reference. BR-A.2.6 and BR-3.2.2 07/2011 Corrected reference for quarterly reporting by branches of foreign banks. BR-5.1.16 07/2011 Regulation under consultation. BR-5.1.17 07/2011 Added additional notification requirements. BR-A.2.5, BR-A.2.8A and BR-A.2.10 10/2011 Key requirements amended to reflect current reporting requirements. BR-A.2.12 10/2011 Clarified language to be in line with references in BR-5.3 and BC-4.7. BR-1.1.3 and BR-2.2 10/2011 Clarification of existing requirement for the Agreed Upon Procedures Report and setting a deadline for the submission of the report. BR-3.1.10 10/2011 This Paragraph was deleted as requirement is now part of Form PIR. BR-3.1.12 and BR-3.2.6 10/2011 New requirements for reporting of complaints in accordance with BC-9.7.1. BR-4.1.5 and BR-5.1.15 10/2011 Updated to reflect change in reporting requirement from ad-hoc to monthly. BR-6 10/2011 Updated Chapter to be consistent with other Volumes of the Rulebook. BR-6.1 and BR-6.4 01/2012 Added Sections to be consistent with other Volumes of the CBB Rulebook. BR-A.2.9A 04/2012 Corrected cross reference. BR-1.1.3 and BR-1.1.5 04/2012 Minor amendments. BR-1.2.3(d) and BR-1.2.3A 04/2012 Amended due date of head office's annual audited financial statements. BR-2.1.2 04/2012 Clarified what interim semi-annual statements are to be submitted by retail branches of foreign banks. BR-A.2.11 and BR-5.2.4 04/2012 Requirement for locally incorporated banks to consult with CBB prior to entering into any term borrowing arrangements. BR-5.1.4 and BR-5.1.5 04/2012 Paragraph BR-5.1.4 deleted and BR-5.1.5 amended as any changes to approved persons must receive CBB prior approval as per Paragraph LR-1A.1.23. BR-5.3.3 04/2012 Added cross reference to Section BC-6.1 on installation or removal of off-site ATM in Bahrain. BR-3.1.7 07/2012 Clarified the exemption status for requirements under Paragraph BR-3.1.6 BR-5.1.11 07/2012 Added requirement to provide details of what authorised signatories are authorised to sign for. BR-4A.1.1 01/2013 Clarified deadline to update IIS. BR-1.1.3(i) and BR-1.1.3A 04/2013 Clarified due date for report on board meetings to be in line with Paragraph HC-1.3.8. BR-5.1.3 04/2013 Amended to clarify that CBB prior approval is required and also added requests for capital increases. BR-5.1.18 04/2013 Added requirement for CBB prior approval before exercising a call on a subordinated debt, in line with Paragraph CA-2.1.5A. BR-4A.2 07/2013 Added new Section on reporting requirements for internet security measures. BR-1.1.3(l), BR-1.2.3(f), BR-1.3, BR-4A.3 and BR-4A.4 01/2014 New reporting requirements added related to sound remuneration practices for banks. BR-4A.2.2 01/2014 Corrected cross reference. BR-5.1.7 01/2014 Added notification for any changes in financial instrument traders. BR-1.4 04/2014 Added requirement for all retail banks to submit the eligible accounts report for the deposits protection scheme. BR-2.2 04/2014 Added requirement for semi-annual report on private placements issued or promoted by banks. BR-5.1 04/2014 Amended notification requirements. BR-5.2 04/2014 Clarified Rules applicable to Bahraini conventional bank licensees pertaining to SPVs. BR-5.3.4 04/2014 Added notification requirement where retail banks receive funds from an NGO where no valid fund collection license was submitted. BR-1.3.1 07/2014 Changed due date for Details of remuneration paid report. BR-3.1.8A 07/2014 Added quarterly reporting requirements regarding interim financial statements as per 22 January 2014 ad hoc communication letter. BR-3.1.10 to BR-3.1.11A 07/2014 New quarterly reporting requirements added for details of large exposures and overseas subsidiaries and branches. BR-4A.3.1 07/2014 Noted exception to requirement to submit report on the bank's compliance with the remuneration rules. BR-1.1.3(e) 10/2014 Corrected terminology for reporting of restructured loans. BR-1.2.3 10/2014 Reference added to new reporting form Appendix BR-21 for non-performing and restructured loans. BR-2.3 10/2014 New Section added on semi-annual disclosure requirements for all branches of foreign banks. BR-3.1.8A 10/2014 Reference added to new form Appendix BR-20 for quarterly financial review. BR-5.1.18 and BR-5.2.8 10/2014 Clarified that this requirement applies to Bahraini conventional bank licensees, and not to all licensed banks. BR-2.1.3 01/2015 Corrected wording of Rule. BR-4A.2.1 01/2015 Clarified that Rule is applicable to all banks to be consistent with Section OM-6.2. BR-5.2.2 01/2015 Corrected cross reference and terminology. BR-5.2.7 to BR-5.2.11 01/2015 Rules and guidance transferred from Module PCD. BR-5.2.12 01/2015 Corrected cross reference. BR-2.2.4 04/2015 Amended deadline for submission of report on private placements to within three months of the reporting period. BR-3.1.7A 04/2015 Existing exemptions in respect of PIR review will cease as at 31st December 2014 for all Bahraini conventional bank licensees. BR-4A.3 07/2015 Amended Section to allow for CBB-approved consultancy firm to prepare report on the bank's compliance with the remuneration Rules outlined in Chapter HC-5. BR-A.2.3, BR-A.2.4, BR-1.1.2 and BR-1.2.2 04/2016 Clarified due date for financial statements. BR-1.1 04/2016 Added Rule regarding submission of draft year-end financial statements and attendance at CBB meeting with supervisory point of contact and external auditor. BR-1.1.3A 07/2016 Guidance provided on reporting requirements dealing with non-operational subsidiaries. BR-1.1.3B 07/2016 Paragraph renumbered. BR-1.1.5 07/2016 Requirements aligned with PD-1.2.6. BR-1.2.5 10/2016 Amended terminology of annual accounts BR-3.1.6 10/2016 Deleted repetition BR-1.1.3 04/2017 Added sub-paragraph (m) on CPD requirements. BR-1.2.3 04/2017 Added sub-paragraph (g) on CPD requirements. BR-4A.5 04/2017 Added a new Section on On-site Inspection Reporting. BR-1.1.3(k) 07/2017 Deleted sub paragraph (k) and relocated to BR-1.1.3C. BR-1.1.3B 07/2017 Amended wording of Paragraph. BR-1.1.3C 07/2017 Added new paragraph to amend submission deadline of agreed upon procedures report. BR-4A.4.1 07/2017 Amended submission deadline. BR-3.1.9A 10/2017 Added a new paragraph on submission of Largest Country Exposures. BR-1.2.3 07/2018 Amended Paragraph to clarify submission deadline. BR-5.1.7 07/2018 Deleted Paragraph. BR-1.1.3 10/2018 Added a new sub-paragraph (n) on the Financial Advice Programme/course. BR-1.2.3 10/2018 Added a new sub-paragraph (h) on the Financial Advice Programme/course. BR-1.1.3(e) 04/2019 Deleted sub-paragraph. BR-1.2.3(b) 04/2019 Deleted sub-paragraph. BR-2.3 04/2019 Deleted Section. BR Module 04/2019 Changed Locally incorporated to Bahraini Conventional Bank Licensees. BR-3.1.1 04/2019 Amended Paragraph. BR-3.1.7B 04/2019 Added a new Paragraph on Information required for Annual and Interim Financial Review. BR-3.2.5A 04/2019 Added a new Paragraph on Information required for Annual and Interim Financial Review. BR-A.2.10 07/2019 Deleted sub-paragraph (d). BR-4.3.5 07/2019 Added a new Paragraph on new form Appendix BR-23 for Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) Reporting. BR-A.2.13 10/2019 Added a new Paragraph on licensees communications. BR-5.2.9 04/2020 Amended sub-paragraph (e). BR-5.2.9A 04/2020 Added a new Paragraph on SPV reporting. BR-5.2.9A 07/2020 Added a new sub-paragraph (c) on credit facilities granted to SPVs. BR-A.2.10 10/2020 Added a new sub-paragraph (k) on ad-hoc reporting and notification. BR-2.1.2A 07/2021 Added a new Paragraph on submission of documents to the CBB prior publishing. BR-3.1.7B 07/2021 Deleted Paragraph. BR-3.1.8A 07/2021 Amended Paragraph on submission of reporting forms. BR-3.2.5A 07/2021 Amended Paragraph on submission of reporting forms for retail branches of foreign banks. BR-3.2.5B 07/2021 New Paragraph on submission of reporting forms for wholesale branches of foreign banks. BR-4A.6 07/2021 Added a new Section on Reporting of API performance. BR-5.2.6 07/2021 Amended Paragraph on CBB’s prior approval for any proposed capital increase in a subsidiary and for any major changes. BR-1.1.3 01/2022 Deleted Sub-paragraph (n). BR-1.1.3B 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the Board and Committee annual meetings report. BR-1.2.3 01/2022 Deleted Sub-paragraph (h). BR-3.1.4 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the reporting forms. BR-3.2.3 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the quarterly reports. BR-3.2.5A 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the Information Required for Annual and Interim Financial Review and the PIR forms for retail banks. BR-3.2.5B 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the Information Required for Annual and Interim Financial Review and the PIR forms for wholesale banks. BR-4.1.3 01/2022 Amended Paragraph removing the submission of a printed copy of the Appendix BR-2. BR-4A.5.2 01/2022 Amended Paragraph on the submission of the written assessment of the observations/issues raised in the Inspection draft report. BR-5.1.11 01/2022 Deleted Paragraph. BR-3.1.12 04/2022 Amended Paragraph on reporting of complaints. BR-3.2.6 04/2022 Amended Paragraph on reporting of complaints. BR-4A.2 04/2022 Deleted Section. BR-5.1.10 04/2022 Deleted Paragraph. BR-5.3.3 04/2022 Amended Paragraph on ATMs installation. BR-A.2.10(g) 10/2022 Deleted sub-paragraph. BR-5.1.17 01/2023 Amended Paragraph removing reference to OM. BR-1.1.3B 04/2023 Deleted Paragraph. BR-4A.7 04/2023 Added a new Section on Prudential Meeting requirements. BR-4A-3.1 01/2024 Amended reference to HC Module. Effective Date
BR-A-3.4
The contents in this Module are effective from the date shown at the foot of the page or from the date of changes shown in BR-A.3.3.
October 07