This chapter applies to all credit unions.

1. (1)

   The following are included in the meaning of 'capital' for the purposes of this chapter:

   1. (a)

      audited reserves;

   2. (b)

      interim net profits;

   3. (c)

      subordinated debt meeting the requirements set out at CRED 8.2.1 R (4);

   4. (d)

      initial capital.

2. (2)

   Audited reserves are audited accumulated profits or losses, or both, retained by a credit union after payment of tax and dividends. Reserves also include other realised gains and gifts of capital - for example from a sponsoring organisation.

3. (3)

   Interim net profits are interim profits net of tax and anticipated dividends.

4. (4)

   To be included in the calculation of capital, subordinated debt must meet the following conditions:

   1. (a)

      the maturity of the loan must be more than five years from the date on which the loan is made;1

   2. (b)

      the subordination provisions provide that the claims of the subordinated creditors rank behind those of all unsubordinated creditors including the credit union's shareholders;

   3. (c)

      to the fullest extent possible creditors waive their rights to set off amounts they owe the credit union against subordinated amounts owed to them by the credit union;

   4. (d)

      the only events of default are non-payment of any interest or principal under the debt agreement or the winding-up of the credit union;

   5. (e)

      the remedies available to the subordinated creditor in the event of default in respect of the subordinated debt are limited to petitioning for the winding up of the credit union or proving for and claiming in the liquidation of the credit union;

   6. (f)

      the subordinated debt must not become due and payable before its stated final maturity date except on an event of default complying with (d);

   7. (g)

      the terms of the subordinated debt must be set out in a written agreement or instrument that contains terms that provide for the above conditions;

   8. (h)

      the debt must be unsecured and fully paid up.

5. (5)

   Initial capital is a credit union's capital at the time it is given Part IV permission to accept deposits, but this does not apply in cases where the credit union is treated as having such a permission on credit unions day. Initial capital consists of a credit union's assets less its liabilities other than the liabilities set out in CRED 8.2.1 R(a)-(c).

Negative reserves and any interim net losses must be deducted from capital.

The amount of any subordinated loan counting towards a credit union's regulatory capital must, over its final four years to maturity, be written down by 20% of the amount of the loan per year. (See Table 8.2.4R.)

1. (1)

   1When a credit union makes a subordinated loan to another credit union qualifying as capital under CRED 8.2.1 R(4)(a), the full amount of the loan (not the amount counting towards the borrower's capital under CRED 8.2.4 R) must be deducted from the lender's capital.

2. (2)

   A subordinated loan within CRED 8.2.1 R(4)(a) is not an investment under CRED 7.2.1 R.

A version 1 credit union must at all times maintain a positive amount of capital.

A version 1 credit union must establish and maintain a general reserve.

If, at the end of any year of account, the amount in its general reserve stands at less than 10% of its total assets, such a credit union must transfer to its general reserve at least 20% of its profits for that year (or such lesser sum as is required to bring the amount in its general reserve up to 10% of its total assets).

For the purposes of CRED 8.3.5 R 'profits' means the profits resulting from the operations of a credit union in the year of account in question after deduction of all operating expenses (including payment of interest) and after making provision for the depreciation of assets, for tax liabilities and for bad and doubtful debts, but before the payment of any dividend.

A credit union may not transfer from its general reserve where its general reserve stands at less than 10% of its total assets.

A version 1 credit union must have initial capital of at least £1,000.

1. (1)

   A version 1 credit union must not make a loan of an amount greater than £5,000in excess of the borrowing member's shareholding unless it has a capital to total assets ratio of at least 5%.

2. (2)

   A credit union which is owed by a member a total amount greater than £5,000 in excess of that member's shareholding must maintain at all times, while such an amount is outstanding, a capital to total assets ratio of at least 5%.

A version 1 credit union with total assets of more than £5 million or a total number of members of more than 5,000, or both, must maintain at all times a capital to total assets ratio of at least 5%.

1. (1)

   A version 1 credit union with total assets of more than £10 million or a total number of members of more than 10,000, or both, must maintain at all times a risk-adjusted capital to total assets ratio of at least 8%.

2. (2)

   'Risk-adjusted capital' has the same meaning as in CRED 8.4.1 RCRED 8.4.2 R (Risk-adjusted capital requirements for version 2 credit unions).

1. (1)

   A version 2 credit union must maintain at all times a risk-adjusted capital to total assets ratio of at least 8% unless CRED 8.4.3 R applies.

2. (2)

   Risk-adjusted capital is calculated as follows:Capital + (provisions - balance of the net liability of borrowers where their loans are 12 months or more in arrears - 35% of the net liability of borrowers where their loans are 3-12 months in arrears).

In calculating risk-adjusted capital:

1. (1)

   the maximum net figure for provisions (after deduction of the stipulated amounts for loans in arrears) that can be included is 1% of total assets;

2. (2)

   'provisions' includes specific provisions and general provisions; and

3. (3)

   mortgage loans and provisions in respect of mortgage loans must not be included in calculating the loan balances to be deducted from, and the provisions to be added to, the amount of capital.

A version 2 credit union must have initial capital of at least £5,000.