Author : Muzammal Rahim

Navigating IFRS 9: Model Validation Requirements for Saudi Banks

In the evolving landscape of Saudi Arabia’s financial sector, the transition to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments has shifted the paradigm from “incurred loss” to a forward-looking Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework. For Saudi banks, this isn’t just an accounting change; it’s a rigorous regulatory mandate overseen by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Ensuring these complex […]

5 Ways Estimator9 Meets SAMA’s IFRS 9 Requirements

The implementation of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments brought significant changes to how financial institutions in Saudi Arabia account for expected credit losses (ECL). The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has stringent requirements, moving beyond basic compliance to demand robust, transparent, and auditable ECL frameworks. For many institutions, meeting these detailed requirements manually or with fragmented systems […]

Common IFRS 9 Compliance Gaps Found in SAMA Inspections

The adoption of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments marked a significant shift for the Saudi Arabian financial sector, moving from an “incurred loss” model to a forward-looking Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework. While Saudi banks and insurance companies have matured in their implementation, recent inspections by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) continue to highlight specific areas […]

Stress Testing Credit Portfolios with IFRS 9 in a Kenya Bank

The financial landscape for banks globally, and particularly in emerging markets like Kenya, has been significantly reshaped by the introduction of IFRS 9. This international financial reporting standard, which mandates a forward-looking approach to credit risk provisioning, has necessitated a more robust and dynamic framework for managing credit portfolios. A critical component of this framework […]

Using Alternative Data (e.g., mobile money) for Credit Models in Kenya

For decades, the “unbanked” population in Kenya faced a Catch-22: they couldn’t get credit because they had no credit history, and they had no credit history because they couldn’t get credit. However, the rise of mobile money—led by Safaricom’s M-Pesa—has created a massive digital footprint that is now being used to bridge this gap. By […]

Expected Credit Loss (ECL): A Comprehensive Global Framework for Credit Risk Measurement

Expected Credit Loss (ECL) represents a fundamental shift in how financial institutions recognize and manage credit risk. Unlike traditional accounting approaches that recognized losses only after they occurred, ECL requires institutions to anticipate and provision for potential credit losses over the life of a financial asset. This forward-looking framework enhances transparency, strengthens financial resilience, and […]

ECL Segmentation Strategy: How Kenya Lenders Should Segment Portfolios

Under IFRS 9, Expected Credit Loss (ECL) modeling is no longer just a compliance checkbox it is a critical tool for capital preservation. For Kenyan lenders, the challenge lies in balancing the diversity of the local market (from mobile micro-loans to large corporate syndications) with the technical requirements of the standard. A “one-size-fits-all” approach to […]

IFRS 9 for Mobile-Lending and Fintech Lenders in Kenya

The financial landscape in Kenya has been rapidly transformed by the rise of mobile lending and fintech solutions. These innovative platforms have democratized access to credit, reaching millions of Kenyans previously underserved by traditional banks. However, this growth brings with it increased scrutiny and the need for robust financial reporting, particularly concerning IFRS 9 (International […]

Overlay Adjustments and Management Judgement under IFRS 9 in Kenya

Implementing IFRS 9 (International Financial Reporting Standard 9) in Kenya has been a transformative journey for the financial sector, shifting the focus from historical “incurred” losses to a forward-looking Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework. While the standard is designed to be quantitative and data-driven, the reality of the Kenyan economic landscape often requires a delicate […]

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