Depositor preference and deposit insurance schemes — challenges for regulatory convergence and regulatory coordination in Asia

Abstract

This article examines the main challenges for achieving regulatory convergence and coordination for depositor preference rules and explicit deposit insurance schemes at the regional level in Asia. The increasing regionalisation and integration of banking activities in Asia, as reflected in initiatives such as the ASEAN Banking Integration Framework, suggest a need for co-operation in the area of depositor protection in order to maximise the benefits of banking integration and achieve regional financial stability. However, the level of integration and financial stability is likely to be limited by national regulatory sovereignty and control over depositor protection mechanisms and the absence of a political commitment for ex ante cost-sharing and burden-sharing at the regional level.