
RISK AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY
MANAGEMENT AND RISK
POSITION
PRINCIPLES AND ORGANISATION OF RISK
AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
The POP Bank Group’s strategy outlines the Group’s
risk appetite. Business activities are carried out at
a moderate risk level so that the risks can be man-
aged in full. The purpose of Bonum Bank’s risk man-
agement is to ensure that all risks are identified,
measured and monitored and that they are propor-
tionate to Bonum Bank’s and the amalgamation’s
risk-bearing capacity and capital adequacy posi-
tion. Risk management processes must be able to
identify all significant risks of the business opera-
tions and assess, measure and monitor these reg-
ularly. The most significant risks associated with
Bonum Bank’s operations are credit risk, liquidity
risk and interest rate risk.
As the central institution, POP Bank Centre coop
supervises the sufficiency and functioning of the
risk management systems at the level of the mem-
ber credit institutions and the amalgamation and
is liable for the Group’s risk and capital adequacy
management in accordance with section 17 of the
Amalgamation Act. The central institution of the
amalgamation issues binding instructions concern-
ing risk and capital adequacy management, corpo-
rate governance and internal control to the mem-
ber credit institutions to secure their solvency and
capital adequacy. Furthermore, common business
controlling thresholds have been established for the
member institutions to ensure that the risks taken
by an individual member institution are within ac-
ceptable limits.
Bonum Bank is the central credit institution and a
member credit institution of the amalgamation of
POP Banks. Bonum Bank’s risk management’s goal
is to ensure that the bank complies with laws, de-
crees, instructions and regulations issued by the
authorities, their own rules and the internal binding
guidelines issued by the central institution of the
amalgamation in its activities. In addition to central
institution’s independent functions, Bonum Bank
has own separate risk control unit to monitor risk
position and a compliance contact person.
The purpose of capital adequacy management is to
ensure the sufficient amount, type and efficient use
of the capital of the Bonum Bank. A sufficient level
of capital covers the material risks arising from im-
plementation of the bank’s business plan in accord-
ance with its strategy, and also secures the uninter-
rupted operation of the bank in the case of unex-
pected losses. The goal is pursued through a docu-
mented and systematic capital adequacy manage-
ment process that is integrally linked to the strate-
gy process, business planning and management at
the level of the amalgamation.
The amalgamation’s risk management and capital
adequacy management are described in more de-
tail in Note 4 to POP Bank Group’s financial state-
ments. Furthermore, information concerning risks
specified in the EU Capital Requirements Regulation
(EU 2019/876) is presented in a separate Pillar III re-
port. Copies of the financial statements of POP Bank
Group are available online at www.poppankki.fi
or from the office of POP Bank Centre coop, ad-
dress Hevosenkenkä 3, 02600 Espoo, Finland.
BUSINESS RISKS
CREDIT RISKS
Bonum Bank’s credit risk exposure grew during the
financial period. Balance sheet items exposed to
credit risk totalled EUR 460,510 (340,175) thou-
sand at the end of 2023. Bonum Bank’s off-bal-
ance sheet credit commitments totalled EUR
171,533 (160,498) thousand, consisting mainly of
unrestricted credit facilities related to card cred-
it and the POP Banks’ liquidity facilities. Bonum
Bank’s most significant credit risks are related to
investment activities and unsecured credits.
At the end of the financial period, Bonum Bank’s
investment assets totalled EUR 259,963 (163,890)
thousand. The investment asset items in the li-
quidity reserve include debt securities issued by
governments, municipalities, credit institutions
and companies. Some of these debt securities are
accepted as collateral by the ECB. The credit risk
related to investment activities is managed main-
ly by limiting the creditworthiness of investments
and distributing investment assets across sectors,
counterparties and instrument classes.
Bonum Bank Plc’s Board of directors’ report and financial statements 1 January - 31 December 2023 12