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Royal Bank of Canada Canada

RAROC profile and corporate credit pricing model derived from Pillar 3 disclosures.

Last updated: March 2026 · Data source: public Pillar 3 disclosures
Cost-to-income
43.0%
Operating efficiency
Effective tax rate
21.0%
Applied to RAROC numerator
Avg corporate PD
2.34%
Probability of default
Avg LGD unsecured
37.0%
Loss given default

How Royal Bank of Canada prices corporate credit

Royal Bank of Canada is a Canada-based bank with approximately EUR 464bn of corporate credit exposure (EAD) under the Mixed approach to credit risk capital. The numbers below come directly from Royal Bank of Canada's most recent Pillar 3 CR6 regulatory filings and are used to model how this bank prices corporate credit facilities.

What makes Royal Bank of Canada's book distinctive

Royal Bank of Canada is mid-sized by corporate EAD (23 of 59). Its cost-to-income ratio of 43.0% is exceptionally lean (-6.8pp vs the 59-bank cross-section average of 49.8%). The corporate portfolio is mixed-grade, with an EAD-weighted average PD of 2.3% against a cross-bank average of 2.1%.

The consolidated book blends A-IRB and F-IRB sub-portfolios, so the headline PD and LGD averages mask meaningful dispersion between segments — relevant when benchmarking specific sectors or geographies. Unsecured LGD disclosed at 37.0% is +0.2pp against the 36.8% cross-bank average, in line with the peer median.

On the standardised BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan used across every bank profile, Royal Bank of Canada lands in the top half of the pricing ranking (#13 of 59), with a RAROC of 7.70% and a minimum spread of 239bp to reach the 12% hurdle. Within Canada specifically, the bank ranks #1 of 3 on this same calculation.

ParameterValueWhat it means
IRB approachMixedHow the bank computes risk-weighted assets
Cost-to-income ratio43.0%Operating cost share of net revenue
Effective tax rate21.0%Applied to RAROC numerator after EL and funding
Average corporate PD2.34%EAD-weighted probability of default
Avg LGD (unsecured)37.0%Loss share if borrower defaults, no collateral
Avg LGD (secured)20.0%Loss share with eligible collateral
Funding spread15bpBank's wholesale funding cost above risk-free
Corporate EADEUR 464bnTotal exposure at default to corporates

Sample RAROC calculation

On a representative BBB+ rated, 5-year term loan of EUR 25M at 150bp spread with a 20bp commitment fee, Royal Bank of Canada would generate an estimated RAROC of 7.70% against a typical 12% bank hurdle rate. To hit that hurdle on this exact deal, the bank would need a minimum spread of 239bp. This deal is significantly below target — the bank would either reprice it or decline.

ComponentValue
Annual revenue (spread + fees)EUR 385,000
Operating costEUR 154,000
Expected loss (PD × LGD × EAD)EUR 28,750
Capital required (FPE)EUR 2,451,320
RAROC (after tax)7.70%
Min spread to hit 12% RAROC239bp

How Royal Bank of Canada compares to peers

Out of 59 banks in the OpenRAROC dataset, Royal Bank of Canada ranks #13 by RAROC on this sample deal.

RankBankCountryRAROCMin spread
1Qatar National BankQatar9.00%203bp
2DBS GroupSingapore8.18%224bp
3JP MorganUnited States8.12%231bp
4ICBCChina8.06%233bp
5China Construction BankChina8.06%233bp
12NordeaFinland7.73%241bp
13Royal Bank of CanadaCanada7.70%239bp
14TD BankCanada7.70%239bp
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Other Canada banks

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Compare Royal Bank of Canada to peers

Royal Bank of Canada vs TD BankRoyal Bank of Canada vs Scotiabank

Frequently asked questions about Royal Bank of Canada

What is Royal Bank of Canada's average corporate PD?
Royal Bank of Canada discloses an EAD-weighted average corporate probability of default of 2.34% in its most recent Pillar 3 CR6 table, covering roughly EUR 464bn of corporate credit exposure.
How much spread does Royal Bank of Canada need on a BBB+ EUR 25M 5-year term loan?
On that standardised facility, Royal Bank of Canada requires a minimum spread of approximately 239bp to reach a 12% RAROC hurdle, given its disclosed cost-to-income of 43.0%, effective tax rate of 21.0%, and Mixed IRB designation.
Which IRB approach does Royal Bank of Canada use for corporate credit?
Royal Bank of Canada reports corporate credit RWA under the Mixed approach. This determines whether internal LGD models or supervisory LGDs apply, and directly affects the capital required on each facility.
How does Royal Bank of Canada rank versus peers on RAROC?
Out of 59 banks tracked by OpenRAROC, Royal Bank of Canada ranks #13 on the standardised BBB+ term-loan calculation used across every bank profile. Within Canada specifically, it ranks #1 of 3.
Where does OpenRAROC get Royal Bank of Canada's data?
Every number on this page is extracted from Royal Bank of Canada's own public filings: RBC Pillar 3 Report Q4 2025 (Oct 31, 2025) CR6 A-IRB + F-IRB Corporate; FY2025 Annual Results (efficiency ratio, tax). No estimates, no proxies. Source confidence: high.

Data source

RBC Pillar 3 Report Q4 2025 (Oct 31, 2025) CR6 A-IRB + F-IRB Corporate; FY2025 Annual Results (efficiency ratio, tax)

Corporate EAD combines A-IRB (CAD 205.1bn, PD 2.87%, LGD 34.15%), A-IRB Specialised Lending (CAD 38.0bn, PD 3.29%, LGD 30.65%), and F-IRB Large Corporates (CAD 220.9bn, PD 1.69%, LGD 39.96%). Mixed A-IRB/F-IRB per OSFI CAR guidelines. Efficiency ratio 43% reported. Tax rate ~21%.

Confidence: high · Read the full RAROC methodology

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