The Nigerian Central Bank (CBN) has made it illegal for any bank in the country to accept foreign currency as collateral for Naira loans.
The apex bank disclosed this on Monday in a letter to all commercial banks signed by its Director Banking Supervision Department, Adetona Adedeji.
However, the new guidelines gave exception to Eurobonds issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria and Guarantees of foreign banks, including Standby Letters of Credit.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria has observed the prevailing situation where bank customers use Foreign Currency (FCY) as collaterals for Naira loans.
“Consequently, the current practice of using foreign currency-denominated
collaterals for Naira loans is hereby prohibited, except, where the foreign currency collateral is: Eurobonds issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria; or Guarantees of foreign banks, including Standby Letters of Credit.
“In this regard, all loans currently secured with dollar-denominated collaterals other than as mentioned above should be wound down within 90 days, failing which such
exposures shall be risk-weighted 150 per cent for Capital Adequacy Ratio computation, in addition to other regulatory sanctions,” CBN stated.
The development comes in the wake of the recently announced minimum capital requirements for all banks.
For months, CBN’s governor, Olayemi Cardoso had continued to roll out policies to defend the Naira and Nigeria’s economy.