Which regulation dictates how much banks can lend?

• A. Capital requirements
• B. Liquidity requirements
• C. Reserve requirements
• D. Interest rate controls

Answer: (A)

Capital requirements set the minimum amount of capital a bank must hold against its assets, especially risk-weighted assets. This capital acts as a cushion to absorb losses, so regulators limit how much lending a bank can undertake relative to its available capital. The more a bank lends, the more capital it needs to support those potential losses, which directly constrains lending volume to maintain solvency and financial stability.

Liquidity requirements focus on having enough liquid assets to meet short-term obligations, not on the total amount a bank can lend. Reserve requirements mandate holding a portion of deposits as reserves with the central bank, affecting liquidity but not the primary mechanism for setting lending caps. Interest rate controls influence borrowing costs and demand rather than establishing a direct cap on lending.