Countercyclical Capital Buffer

The Countercyclical Capital Buffer (CCyB) aims to promote a sustainable provision of credit to the economy by making the banking system more resilient and less pro-cyclical.

By increasing regulatory capital requirements when times are good, in line with the cyclical systemic risk environment, the CCyB looks to ensure additional capital is in place to absorb losses when risks materialise. In addition, the release of the CCyB during a downturn looks to limit the potential that regulatory capital requirements act as an impediment to the supply of credit to the economy.


CCyB Rate on Irish Exposures - 1.5%

This rate was applicable from 7 June 2024

Read the June 2025 CCyB Rate Announcement (PDF 1.26MB)


The Central Bank is the designated authority for setting the CCyB rate in Ireland and as such reviews the CCyB rate for Irish exposures on a quarterly basis. Within the Single Supervisory Mechanism the ECB assesses the CCyB decisions of national authorities and if necessary has the power to set a higher rate. As such, the CCyB rate set by the Central Bank is done, having consulted with the ECB.

The Central Bank’s primary objective for the CCyB is to promote resilience in the banking sector – proportionate to the risk environment - with a view to facilitating a sustainable flow of credit to the economy through the macro-financial cycle. In meeting this objective:

  • The Central Bank will look to build-up the CCyB rate to 1.5 per cent when risk conditions are deemed to be neither elevated nor subdued. This strategy acknowledges the inherent uncertainty in assessing the degree of risk facing the banking system and the time lags in implementing the CCyB.
  • Should cyclical risk conditions, as reflected by indicators across credit, the domestic economy, asset prices (including real estate), risk appetite and global conditions reflect emerging imbalances or an elevated risk environment, the CCyB rate is expected to be above 1.5 per cent.
  • The CCyB rate would be partially or fully reduced in cases where a materialisation of cyclical systemic risk or a downturn is identified, to facilitate the banking system to absorb losses and maintain the supply of lending to the economy.

Relevant Documents

See also

  • CCyB Rate Announcement February 2025
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2024
  • CCyB Rate Announcement August 2024 
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2024
  • CCyB Rate Announcement March 2024
  • CCyB Rate Announcement November 2023
  • CCyB Rate Announcement August 2023
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2023
  • CCyB Rate Announcement February 2023
  • CCyB Rate Announcement November 2022
  • CCyB Rate Announcement August 2022
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2022
  • CCyB Rate Announcement March 2022
  • CCyB Rate Announcement November 2021
  • CCyB Rate Announcement August 2021
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2021
  • CCyB Rate Announcement February 2021
  • CCyB Rate Announcement November 2020
  • CCyB Rate Announcement September 2020
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2020
  • CCyB Rate Announcement March 2020
  • CCyB Rate Announcement February 2020
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2019
  • CCyB Rate Announcement October 2019 I pdf 270KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement July 2019 | pdf 2.6MB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement April 2019 | pdf 1MB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2018 | pdf 290KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement September 2018 | pdf 800KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement July 2018 | pdf 720KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement March 2018 | pdf 600KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2017 | pdf 720KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement September 2017 | pdf 580KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement June 2017 | pdf 150KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement March 2017 | pdf 530KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2016 | pdf 570KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement September 2016 | pdf 540KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement July 2016 | pdf 430KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement April 2016 | pdf 340KB
  • CCyB Rate Announcement December 2015 | pdf 340kb
  • Current CCyB Rates set in Europe

    Material Third Countries for the Irish Banking System

    2024 Review: List of Material Third Countries

    • United Kingdom, United States of America and Switzerland