ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Basel III: Finalising post-crisis reforms

Hey there little buddy! Do you know what a bank is? Well, it’s a place where you can put your money to keep it safe, and also borrow money if you need it. But sometimes, banks can make mistakes or take risks that make them lose money. And that’s not good, especially for the people who put their money in the bank, like you.

So, after a big financial crisis a few years ago, people wanted to make sure that banks were safer and less likely to lose money like that again. That’s where Basel III came in. It’s a set of rules for banks to follow that make them stronger and more able to handle risks without losing lots of money.

Think of it like a set of rules for when you’re building a really tall tower with blocks. You want to make sure it won’t fall over, so you have to make sure each block is in the right place and the tower is sturdy enough to hold everything up. Basel III does the same thing for banks – it makes sure that they have the right ‘blocks’ (like enough money and assets) in the right places, so they won’t collapse like a tower of blocks.

Some of the rules in Basel III include making sure that banks have enough money to cover their risks, and also making sure that they keep an eye on any risky investments they make, so they don’t lose too much money all at once. They also have to be more honest and clear about what they’re doing with people’s money, so everyone knows what’s going on.

Overall, Basel III is like a big set of rules to help make sure that banks are safer, stronger, and less likely to make mistakes that could hurt lots of people. And that’s a good thing, isn’t it?