LIBOR Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, is expected to be fully phased out by June 30, 2023. This has implications for investors and consumers alike as LIBOR is the reference rate for many different types of products. We've compiled this information to help you understand how LIBOR's discontinuation may impact you.

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LIBOR stands for the London Interbank Offered Rate. It's a variable interest rate based primarily on quotes for unsecured loans that large international banks would be willing to provide to each other. LIBOR is used globally as a reference rate in a wide variety of financial products and contracts.

LIBOR was historically based on quotes rather than actual transactions. In June 2012, multiple settlements by a prominent U.K. bank revealed significant fraud and collusion by member banks connected to the rate submissions. U.K. and U.S. regulators have determined LIBOR is no longer fit for its purpose and needs to be replaced because there are not enough actual transactions to support the volume of products and contracts that use LIBOR as a benchmark.

On Monday, November 30, 2020, U.S. and U.K. regulators and LIBOR's administrator made a series of announcements about the end of LIBOR. Financial regulators encouraged financial institutions to stop entering into new contracts that use LIBOR as a reference rate as soon as practicable or by December 31, 2021, at the latest. They also supported June 30, 2023, as the date for USD LIBOR to be fully phased out.

LIBOR affects both consumers and financial institutions in countries around the world.  The index is tied to a myriad of retail and institutional products and directly impacts rate of return and cost of funds.

The following are products that may have exposure to LIBOR:

  • Securities-based lines of credit
  • Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs)
  • Margin loans
  • Floating-rate bonds
  • Shares of preferred securities
  • Certain mutual funds
  • Certain exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
  • Certain exchange-traded notes (ETNs)

The Federal Reserve's Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has recommended the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as the preferred alternative to LIBOR. SOFR was chosen because its actual transactions average approximately $1 trillion a day (versus less than $1 billion a day for LIBOR).

While SOFR will be used for many types of products (e.g., derivatives and mortgages), alternative indices may be used for other products. Schwab is carefully monitoring the situation and will ensure our products conform to accepted market practices.

More information can be found on the Alternative Reference Rates Committee site.

The vast majority of Schwab clients do not have direct LIBOR exposure. Generally, you have exposure to LIBOR if you own a particular class of securities (e.g., floating-rate bonds or certain preferred securities) or have a loan with an interest rate tied to LIBOR (e.g., an ARM).

If you're investing in a product that references LIBOR (see “What should I do if I have LIBOR exposure from a floating-rate bond or preferred security?” and “How do I know if I have exposure from money market funds, ETFs, or mutual funds? And if I do, what should I do?” below for examples), you should review the investment documentation (e.g., the prospectus of a bond fund). Generally, you should be able to find the investment documentation by searching the SEC's Edgar system (https://www.sec.gov/edgar). If you are unable to find the documentation or have additional questions, our contact information is provided below.

We encourage clients to locate the fallback language listed in the contract.  Most can be placed into one of the two primary categories.

  • The issuer, trustee, or calculating agent can choose an alternate reference rate (e.g., SOFR, Prime, Fed Funds, etc.), or
  • The security will remain floating rate utilizing the LIBOR Act.

The value of the investment could be impacted. You should carefully review the fallback language and revisit characteristics of preferred securities and floating-rate bonds to determine if it is acceptable to you.

Money market funds: Yes, they have exposure to LIBOR. However, they also have a short weighted-average life. So, as the market adopts alternative rates (e.g., SOFR), we expect money market funds to replace LIBOR-based assets with acceptable reference rates prior to the discontinuation of LIBOR. We do not recommend any specific action for money market funds.

Other funds: It depends. Many types of funds (e.g., mutual funds, ETFs, and ETNs) invest in underlying instruments with ties to LIBOR. Any fund could, in theory, invest in an instrument tied to LIBOR, but only certain types of funds have broad exposure. In general, we expect the issuers of mutual funds and ETFs exposed to LIBOR to transition their funds to SOFR-based products without any action needed from you. If you have specific concerns about your mutual fund or ETF investments, we suggest you reach out to your advisor, a Schwab representative, or the issuer of the mutual fund/ETF for more information.

Examples of funds exposed to LIBOR include, but are not limited to:

  • Preferred securities
  • Derivative-heavy funds
  • REIT funds
  • Bond funds
  • Funds that hold bank stocks

Shares in equities, fixed-rate bonds, and most mutual funds and ETFs do not have direct exposure to LIBOR.

New loans based off LIBOR are no longer offered to avoid increased exposure to an index that is being discontinued. For example, Schwab Bank expects new Pledged Asset Line® (PAL) loans will be priced off SOFR.

In addition, for existing PAL loans, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) has recommended the Refinitiv USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallback rate as its replacement.

As a result, the one-month LIBOR index for your PAL will be replaced by the one-month USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallback index.  The index will be comprised of:

  • One-month CME Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus,
  • A spread adjustment that bridges the difference between LIBOR and SOFR

The spread adjustment will be dynamic during a one-year transition period immediately following LIBOR cessation and will become static at the end of the transition period.  This approach was created to help ensure your rate remains substantially similar to what it would have been if LIBOR was not being discontinued.  The replacement of LIBOR will not change other terms of your PAL, such as the timing of reset dates.

The mortgage industry relies on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to establish standards related to mortgages. On February 5, 2020, these agencies directed the market to transition to SOFR-based adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) no later than October 1, 2020 (see "what will replace LIBOR" listed above). As of that date, Schwab Bank's home loan provider, Rocket Mortgage, uses SOFR as the reference rate for new ARM products originated after that date.

On December 22, 2022, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced replacement rates for its legacy LIBOR contracts. Existing mortgages with a rate change after June 30, 2023 will see their index change from LIBOR to a relevant Refinitiv USD LIBOR Consumer Cash rate recommended by the Federal Reserve Board.

As a result, the LIBOR index for your ARM will be replaced by the USD IBOR Consumer Cash Fallback index.  The index will be comprised of:

  • CME Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus,
  • A spread adjustment that bridges the difference between LIBOR and SOFR

The spread adjustment will be dynamic during a one-year transition period immediately following LIBOR cessation and will become static at the end of the transition period.  This spread-adjustment was created to help ensure your rate remains substantially similar to the prior LIBOR rate.  The replacement of LIBOR will not change other terms of your ARM, such as the maximum interest rate you pay during the term or the timing of any interest rate resets.  Your original interest index and the amount of the margin were specified in the documents you signed at closing.

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