LCH adds Commonwealth Bank of Australia as first Australian PPS Bank

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Summary
  • Addition of CBA as a PPS bank allows LCH to pay and collect Australian Dollars in the local time zone
  • Underlines LCH’s commitment to growth in Australia and Asia Pacific
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LCH, a leading global clearing house, announced today that Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has become its first Australian Protected Payments System (PPS) Bank. Having an Australian PPS Bank enables LCH to make and receive Australian Dollar payments in the local time zone.

The PPS system is the method by which LCH calls and pays cash margin to its clearing members. As part of the membership criteria for LCH, members are required to maintain a PPS bank account. Overseen by the Bank of England, PPS has been in operation in London for over 20 years, and also operates in New York. The move follows the establishment of LCH’s central bank account with the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2015, and there is the potential to add more Australian banks to the system in the coming months and widen participation to additional members.

Gerard Smith, Director of Collateral Services, LCH, said: “Signing Commonwealth Bank of Australia as our first Australian PPS bank generates more flexibility in making and receiving cash payments in the local timezone. Asia Pacific is a region of strategic importance for LCH and we understand the importance of engaging with local partners to offer the best possible service to our members and their clients.”

Andrew Hinchcliff, Executive General Manager, Markets, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said: “We’re delighted to be the first Australian bank to offer PPS services to LCH. Clearing has gained significant momentum in Australia in recent years and this initiative makes posting cash collateral at LCH more flexible than ever before.”

For further information

Rhiannon Davies, Tel: +44 (0)20 7426 7523
Lucie Holloway, Tel: +44 (0)20 7797 1126

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About LCH

LCH is a group of leading multi-asset clearing houses that provides proven risk management capabilities across a range of asset classes. As demand for robust clearing services continues to grow, LCH is committed to maintaining the highest standards of risk management across all our services.

As the markets’ partner, LCH operates an open access model, offering a choice of execution venues, delivering unprecedented choice and efficiencies to the marketplace.

LCH operates clearing houses around the world, with clearing houses incorporated in the UK, France and the United States with additional offices in the Asia Pacific region. It offers clearing services across asset classes including OTC and listed rates; CDS and FX; fixed income; commodities; cash equities and equity derivatives.

LCH is majority owned by London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L), an international markets infrastructure business that sits at the heart of the world's financial community.
 

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