Rating Methodologies for Banks

The three major rating agencies are reassessing banks’ credit risk in the light of the recent crisis. So far, this has resulted in material downgrades, especially of European and US institutions, and increased agreement about banks’ overall level of creditworthiness and their greater dependence on public support than in the past. The agencies are also making efforts to enhance the transparency of bank ratings and the role of official support. Agency assessments of regulatory initiatives may affect policymakers' communication with financial markets.