Recycling Risk: Synthetic Risk Transfers

This paper analyzes the rapid growth and evolving landscape of synthetic risk transfers (SRTs), a securitization tool increasingly used by banks to manage credit risk and optimize capital. Since 2016, over $1 trillion in assets have been synthetically securitized, with recent expansion driven by U.S. banks alongside established European issuers. SRTs enable banks to transfer credit risk on diverse loan pools to investors, facilitating capital relief and supporting additional lending. The paper reviews market trends, common SRT structures, and regulatory frameworks across major jurisdictions. We find that SRTs offer benefits such as enhanced risk management and capital efficiency, and that strengthened prudential requirements and a relatively small SRT market have, for now, contained financial stability risks. However, the rapid growth of SRTs and certain transaction complexities can increase vulnerabilities, including higher leverage in the financial system and exposure to rollover risks. The entry of risk-tolerant investors seeking compelling returns may also weaken credit standards or increase leverage. The paper highlights the importance of close supervisory monitoring, robust reporting, and disclosure to ensure risks are effectively transferred, financial system leverage is contained, and market discipline is maintained as the SRT market continues to expand.