Reporting Form ARF 394.0
Personal Finance
Instruction Guide
The purpose of this survey is to provide monthly statistics on the provision of finance to individuals for personal (non-business) use. The statistics are used by APRA for regulatory purposes, and may be provided to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for policy and statistical purposes. Published aggregate statistics from this collection are used for research and policy formulation by economists, State and Federal Governments and the housing industry.
A separate form for personal finance in all eight states should be completed.
- ARF 394.0.1 Personal Finance in NSW;
- ARF 394.0.2 Personal Finance in VIC;
- ARF 394.0.3 Personal Finance in QLD;
- ARF 394.0.4 Personal Finance in SA;
- ARF 394.0.5 Personal Finance in WA;
- ARF 394.0.6 Personal Finance in TAS;
- ARF 394.0.7 Personal Finance in NT; and
ARF 394.0.8 Personal Finance in ACT.
General directions and notes
Reporting entity
This form is to be completed by all locally incorporated banks and foreign authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) on a Domestic books basis.
The Domestic books of the locally incorporated banks and foreign ADI relates to the Australian books of the Australian ADI and has the following scope:
- is an unconsolidated report of the Australian licensed ADI's operations/ transactions that are booked inside Australia;
- exclude offshore branches of the Australian licensed ADI from this reporting unit;
- exclude offshore banking units based overseas from this reporting unit;
- do not consolidate Australian and offshore controlled entities or associated entities that are not ADIs;
- include Australian based offshore banking units of the licensed ADI; and
- include transactions with non-residents recorded on Australian books.
This form should be completed by all Credit Unions, Cairns Penny Savings & Loans Limited, Building Societies and Specialist Credit Card Institutions (SCCIs) on a licensed ADI basis. SCCIs that operate as branches in Australia are required to complete this form for the Australian branch only.
Note: SCCIs that engage only in credit card acquiring activities are not required to complete this form.
Licensed ADI
This refers to the operations of the reporting ADI on a stand-alone basis.
Securitisation deconsolidation principle
Except where stated otherwise on this form, reporting entities must treat any securitisation program vehicles (SPVs) in which the ADI (or a member of its consolidated group) participates in accordance with APRA’s clean sale and separation requirements as non-consolidated independent third parties. As a result, for reporting purposes all assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of these SPVs must be excluded from the ADI’s reported amounts. Where relevant, report on this form any exposure to or other transaction between the ADI and any such SPV as if such transaction was conducted with an independent third party, regardless of whether the SPV or its assets is consolidated for accounting purposes.
APRA's clean sale and separation requirements are set out in APS 120 Funds Management and Securitisation and related Guidance Notes AGN 120.3 Purchase and Supply of Assets (including Securities Issued by SPVs) and AGN 120.1 Disclosure and Separation. Whenever the clean sale and separation requirements are not met, all the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the SPV are to be consolidated with the ADI’s reported amounts.
Reporting period
The information provided in this form should be for the calendar month up to and including the last day of the reporting month. Locally incorporated banks, Foreign ADIs, Credit Unions, Cairns Penny Savings & Loans Limited, Building Societies and SCCIs should submit the completed form to APRA within 10 business days after the end of the relevant reporting month.
Unit of measurement
Amounts denominated in foreign currency are to be converted to AUD in accordance with AASB 121 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates (AASB 121).
The general requirements of AASB 121 for translation are:
- foreign currency monetary items outstanding at the reporting date must be translated at the spot rate at the reporting date;[1]
- foreign currency non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost in a foreign currency must be translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction;[2]
- foreign currency non-monetary items that are measured at fair value will be translated at the exchange rate at the date when fair value was determined.
Transactions arising under foreign currency derivative contracts at the reporting date must be prepared in accordance with AASB 139 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (AASB 139). However, those foreign currency derivatives that are not within the scope of AASB 139 (eg some foreign currency derivatives that are embedded in other contracts) remain within the scope of AASB 121.
For APRA purposes equity items must be translated using the foreign currency exchange rate at the date of investment or acquisition. Post acquisition changes in equity are required to be translated on the date of the movement.
As foreign currency derivatives are measured at fair value, the currency derivative contracts are translated at the spot rate at the reporting date.
Exchange differences should be recognised in profit and loss in the period which they arise. For foreign currency derivatives, the exchange differences would be recognised immediately in profit and loss if the hedging instrument is a fair value hedge. For derivatives used in a cash flow hedge, the exchange differences should be recognised directly in equity.
The ineffective portion of the exchange differences in all hedges would be recognised in profit and loss; and
- translation of financial reports of foreign operations.
A foreign operation is defined in AASB 121 as meaning an entity that is a subsidiary, associate, joint venture or branch of a reporting entity, the activities of which are based or conducted in a country or currency other than those of the reporting entity.
Exchange differences relating to foreign currency monetary items that form part of the net investment of an entity in a foreign operation, must be recognised as a separate component of equity.
Translation of financial reports should otherwise follow the requirements in AASB 121.
Basis of preparation
Unless otherwise specifically stated, information reported on this form should comply with Australian accounting standards.
Definitions
A separate form for personal finance in all eight states should be completed. Where the entity has no activity in any state, check the “nil form” box. The form requests details of new commitments to provide personal finance to individuals for personal (non-business) use. Only the Australian activities of the business should be included on the form. If exact figures are not available please provide careful estimates. Please note that the items listed under ‘Including’ and ‘Excluding’ are examples and should not be taken as a complete list of items to be included or excluded.
What is a “commitment”?
A commitment is a firm offer to provide finance which has been accepted by the client. A commitment generally exists once a loan application has been approved, and a loan contract or letter of offer has been issued to the borrower.
With the exception of unsecured loans for alterations and additions (Question 6) and unsecured loans for owner-occupied housing (Question 7), commitments are to be reported regardless of whether they are secured or unsecured and, if secured, regardless of the type of security.
Include:
- new lending commitments which have also been cancelled during the month;
- commitments to provide finance to your employees; and
- commitments for revolving credit loans secured by mortgage (mortgage backed overdrafts) on residential properties where the stated purpose at application is as a personal line of credit (see III. Home Equity Loans - Guidelines).
Exclude:
- commitments to non-residents;
- commitments to secured loans for the construction or purchase of dwellings intended for owner occupation or for alterations and additions to owner-occupied dwellings, which should be reported on ARF 392.0 Housing Finance;
- commitments to individuals for use in connection with a business carried on by them, which should be reported on ARF 391.0 Commercial Finance; and
- commitments for revolving credit loans secured by mortgage where the primary purpose at application is for the purchase of owner-occupied residential property (see III. Home Equity Loans).
What is a ‘dwelling’?
A dwelling is a place of residence which is:
- contained in a building which is an immobile structure;
- private (i.e. not generally accessible to the public); and
- self contained (i.e. includes bathing and cooking facilities).
Specific instructions
Part A: Commitments for fixed loans - by purpose
The purpose of the loan is that specified by the borrower. Multi-purpose loans should be split and each component reported in the appropriate purpose classification. Where this is not possible, the whole loan should be classified to the major purpose.
Fixed loans generally involve:
- a commitment for a fixed period for a specific purpose; and
- repayments over that fixed period which reduce the loan, but do not make further finance available.
- Purchase of motor cars
Include:
- cars, station wagons, 4WD and forward control passenger vehicles/vans.
Exclude:
- trucks, buses, special vehicles, utilities, panel vans (include in Question 3); and
- motor cycles/scooters (include in Question 2).
- Purchase of other motor vehicles
Include:
- trucks, buses, special vehicles, utilities and panel vans.
Exclude:
- motor cycles/scooters (include in Question 2).
- Unsecured loans for alterations and/or additions to dwellings
Include:
- all structural and non-structural changes to dwellings (e.g. garages, carports, pergolas, re-roofing, re-cladding etc.).
Exclude:
- repairs and maintenance, swimming pools, and other home improvements that do not involve building work (include in Question 13).
- Debt consolidation
Include:
- commitments where the principal purpose is to consolidate and pay out amounts owing by borrowers to third parties.
Exclude:
- commitments for the principal purpose of refinancing existing personal loans (include in Question 11).
- Refinancing
Include:
- commitments for the principal purpose of refinancing existing personal loans.
Exclude:
- commitments where the principal purpose is to consolidate and pay out amounts owing by borrowers to third parties (include in Question 9); and
- refinancing of personal investment loans (include in Question 12).
- Loans for personal investment purposes
a) Dwellings for rent/sale
Include:
- only commitments for dwellings to be occupied by persons other than the owner.
b) Other personal investments
Include:
- commitments for the purchase of shares and other investment assets.
c) Refinancing
Include:
- refinancing of loans for personal investments, e.g. purchase of shares and other investment assets, purchase of dwellings for rent/resale.
Exclude:
- refinancing of personal loans for the purposes listed in Question 1-10 and Question 13, these should be reported in Question 11.
- Other
Include:
- commitments for swimming pools and home improvements (other than alterations and additions), motor accessories and any other purpose not covered above.
Part B: New commitments for revolving credit loans
Revolving credit facilities involve a commitment for a credit or borrowing limit and where the extent of the borrowings used at any one time may be for any amount up to the authorised limit. Repayments (other than of charges and/or interest) reduce the borrowings thereby increasing the amount of unused credit available e.g. overdraft limits, secured revolving credit facilities (mortgage backed overdrafts), credit card facilities and other personal lines of credit.
- New credit limits and increases to existing credit limits approved during the month
a) Secured
Include:
- mortgage backed overdrafts where the primary purpose of the commitment at application is NOT owner-occupied residential property. (Refer III. Home Equity Loans – Guidelines).
Exclude:
- mortgage backed overdrafts where the primary purpose of the commitment at application is owner-occupied residential property. (Report on ARF 392.0). (Refer III. Home Equity Loans – Guidelines).
- Cancellations of and reductions in previously approved credit limits
Include:
- the actual value of credit limits cancelled and the value by which existing credit limits were reduced during the month.
Exclude:
- amounts used as balancing or adjustment items (such as adjustments between states). These should be reported in Question 19; and
- repayments which reduce the used portion of the credit facility, but not the total credit available. These should be excluded from the form altogether.
- Balancing item (+/-)
If the previous month’s ‘total credit limits available’ (Q16 last month) plus (+) ‘total new limits approved’ (Q15c) minus (-) ‘cancellations’ (Q18) does not equal the current month’s ‘total credit limits available’ (Q16), please provide the amount and reason for this discrepancy.
Part C: Comments
- Please provide comments
- on any of the information you have supplied on this form;
- on any questions which caused problems; and
- if you would like to suggest improvements to this form.
Home equity loans - guidelines
Introduction
The increasing use of home equity loan products by individual (household sector) borrowers as a source of funding has necessitated some additional clarity in how these products should be treated in reporting to ARF 392.0 and ARF 394.0 Personal Finance (ARF 394.0). Please contact APRA for further advice on these guidelines.
Home equity loans
A home equity loan is a secured revolving credit facility which is secured by the borrower's equity in the home. In effect, the assets of the borrower (in equity in the home) are freed up so as other activities may be funded.
A home equity loan may be taken to fund a range of activities, including the purchase of a property (for owner occupation), the refinancing of the borrower's existing home (as for all home loan refinancing, this would only be reported if the refinancing involved changing the lender), or any other activity - investment purchases (shares or property), household consumption spending (cars, boats, holidays) or working capital for a small business. A feature of home equity loans which causes reporting difficulties for lenders is that often the borrower intends to use the home equity loan for a combination of the purposes mentioned.
Reporting of home equity loans on ARF 392.0 and ARF 394.0
- Attach one of two major (or primary) purposes to each home equity loan commitment- either "Housing" (for Owner Occupation) or "Other" (than housing for owner occupation).
- Primary purpose "Housing" commitments to be reported under Question 10 (Part C) - Secured Revolving Home Loans - on ARF 392.0.
- Primary purpose "Other" commitments to be reported as secured personal revolving credit (Question 15) on ARF 394.0, with all drawdowns, re-payments and re-borrowing of principal in subsequent months to be reflected in the value of Credit Used (Question 17).
- Where it is not possible to isolate the Credit Used (Question 17) for ARF 394.0 on a sub-group of all home equity loan commitments, then some manipulation must be undertaken to ensure the reported value of Credit Used is conceptually consistent with the total value of Used and Unused Credit (Question 16), and previously reported values of new revolving credit commitments on ARF 394.0.
The intention of the table which forms Question 1a-1e on ARF 392.0 is to monitor the total "stock" of all commitments not advanced. New commitments to lend are added to the stock while advances of commitments and cancellations are removed from the stock. With a fixed term amortising loan, the commitment is either advanced when the finance is settled, or the commitment lapses and is cancelled. Where only part of the initial commitment is advanced, then it may be necessary to report a value advanced and a value cancelled, so that the (previously reported) commitment is wholly removed from the stock of all commitments not advanced. Some lenders may not cancel lapsed commitments until many months after the commitment is made. We prefer that lapsed commitments are reported as cancellations as regularly as possible. Once a commitment is cancelled or advanced, it plays no further role in the table in Questions 1a-1e of ARF 392.0.
The treatment of home equity loan commitments in Questions 1a-1e is problematic. Given that a home equity loan commitment will be reported for ARF 392.0 only if its primary purpose is the purchase of owner-occupied housing, it is reasonable to assume that the majority of the commitment will be advanced in a comparable timeframe as for a regular standard variable loan commitment. As for all new commitments, the new home equity loan commitment should be added to the stock of undrawn commitments (Question 1b). Any amount advanced (for the purchase of owner-occupied housing) in the same or subsequent months should be reported as an Advance (Question 1c); at the same time the balance of the commitment (if any) reported as a Cancellation (Question 1d). The home equity loan commitment (like all housing finance commitments) will take no further part in reporting to ARF 392.0.
Where it is impossible to identify the timing of the drawdown of a home equity loan for the purchase of owner-occupied housing, it is acceptable to assume that the entire value of the commitment is drawn down in the month of the commitment, so that the internal consistency of the Question 1 is preserved.