Credit risk exposure

The following table contains an analysis of the credit risk exposure of financial assets, which are subject to ECL. The gross carrying amount of financial assets below also represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk on these assets:

The Group employs a range of policies and practices to mitigate credit risk. The most common of these is accepting collateral for funds advanced. The Group has internal policies on the acceptability of specific classes of collateral or credit risk mitigation. The Group prepares a valuation of the collateral obtained as part of the loan origination process. This assessment is reviewed periodically. Longer-term finance and lending to corporate entities are generally secured; revolving individual credit facilities are generally unsecured.

The Group’s policies regarding obtaining collateral have not significantly changed during the reporting period and there has been no significant change in the overall quality of the collateral held by the Group since the prior period.

Collateral against loans and advances measured at amortised cost is generally held in the form of mortgage interests over property, other registered securities over assets and guarantees. Estimates of fair value are based on the value of the collateral assessed at the time of borrowing. Collateral generally is not held over amounts due from banks, except when securities are held as part of reverse repurchase and securities borrowing activity. Collateral usually is not held against financial assets.

The Group closely monitors collateral held for financial assets considered to be credit impaired, as it becomes more likely that the Group will take possession of the collateral to mitigate potential credit losses.

The table below details the fair value of the collateral, which is updated regularly: