What are the reporting requirements for financial institutions under the Volcker Rule?

Explore the reporting requirements imposed on financial institutions by the Volcker Rule, detailing the information they must disclose to regulators.


Under the Volcker Rule, financial institutions subject to the rule are required to comply with certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements to ensure that they are in compliance with the rule's provisions. The specific reporting requirements may vary depending on the size and complexity of the financial institution. Here are some of the key reporting requirements associated with the Volcker Rule:

  1. Metrics Reporting: Large and complex banking entities are required to establish and maintain a system to collect and report certain quantitative metrics that provide insight into their compliance with the Volcker Rule. These metrics include data related to trading and market-making activities, risk exposure, and the volume of covered fund activities. The specific metrics can vary, but they often include things like trading desk inventory, risk factor sensitivities, and trading revenues.

  2. CEO Attestation: Banking entities are required to have their Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or an equivalent senior officer provide an annual attestation to the regulatory agencies affirming their compliance with the Volcker Rule. This attestation is intended to ensure that senior management is aware of and takes responsibility for compliance.

  3. Compliance Program Records: Financial institutions are required to maintain records related to their compliance programs, including documentation of policies, procedures, and internal controls that are designed to ensure compliance with the Volcker Rule.

  4. Documentation of Hedging and Market-Making Activities: Banking entities engaged in market-making or hedging activities must maintain documentation demonstrating that these activities are conducted in compliance with the requirements of the rule.

  5. Annual Reports: Financial institutions must submit annual reports to the relevant regulatory agencies that provide detailed information about their covered fund activities, including investments in and relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds.

  6. Recordkeeping: Banking entities are required to maintain records related to their trading and covered fund activities for a specified period to facilitate regulatory examination and enforcement.

  7. Reporting of Material Changes: Banking entities must promptly report to their primary federal regulatory agency any material changes to their activities, investments, or business strategies that could impact their compliance with the Volcker Rule.

It's important to note that the specific reporting requirements and the agencies responsible for overseeing compliance with the Volcker Rule may vary depending on the size and type of the financial institution. The relevant agencies include the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), among others.

Financial institutions subject to the Volcker Rule should consult the regulatory guidance and requirements issued by the relevant agencies to ensure they are meeting their reporting obligations accurately and comprehensively. Additionally, they should stay informed about any updates or changes to the reporting requirements, as regulations can evolve over time.

Reporting Obligations for Financial Institutions under the Volcker Rule.

Financial institutions subject to the Volcker Rule have a number of reporting obligations to the Federal Reserve, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Reporting to the Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve requires financial institutions with $50 billion or more in consolidated trading assets and liabilities to report certain quantitative measurements designed to monitor certain trading activities. These measurements include:

  • Gross notional value of trading positions
  • Net trading positions
  • Value at risk (VaR)
  • Stress test results

Financial institutions with $10 billion or more in consolidated trading assets and liabilities must also report certain qualitative information about their trading activities, including:

  • Policies and procedures for managing proprietary trading risks
  • Processes for identifying and assessing high-risk trading activities
  • Controls to ensure that proprietary trading activities are conducted in a safe and sound manner

Reporting to the CFTC

The CFTC requires financial institutions with $10 billion or more in consolidated trading assets and liabilities to report certain information about their trading activities in the following areas:

  • Proprietary trading
  • Relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Risk management

Reporting to the OCC

The OCC requires financial institutions with $10 billion or more in consolidated assets to report certain information about their trading activities, including:

  • Proprietary trading policies and procedures
  • Risk management controls
  • Relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds
  • Conflicts of interest

Financial institutions must also report any material changes to their trading activities to the Federal Reserve, the CFTC, and the OCC on a timely basis.

The reporting requirements for financial institutions under the Volcker Rule are designed to help the regulators monitor compliance with the rule and to identify any potential risks to the financial system.

In addition to the above reporting requirements, financial institutions may also be required to report certain information about their trading activities to other regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).