Standards Comparison

    ISO 37001

    Voluntary
    2025

    International standard for anti-bribery management systems

    VS

    Basel III

    Mandatory
    2010

    Global framework for bank capital, leverage, and liquidity standards.

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 37001 offers voluntary anti-bribery certification for all organizations, mitigating legal risks through due diligence. Basel III mandates capital and liquidity rules for banks, ensuring financial stability. Companies adopt ISO 37001 for ethics and trust; banks follow Basel III for regulatory compliance.

    Anti-Bribery/Compliance

    ISO 37001

    ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Certifiable anti-bribery management system standard
    • Risk-based bribery risk assessment and controls
    • Mandatory third-party due diligence requirements
    • Leadership commitment and compliance function
    • PDCA cycle for continual improvement
    Financial Risk Management

    Basel III

    Basel III Prudential Regulatory Framework

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    18-24 months

    Key Features

    • Strengthened CET1 capital requirements and buffers
    • Non-risk-based leverage ratio backstop
    • Liquidity Coverage Ratio for 30-day stress
    • Net Stable Funding Ratio for structural resilience
    • Enhanced Pillar 3 disclosure templates

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 37001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 37001 is the international certifiable standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). It specifies requirements to prevent, detect, and respond to bribery risks across organizations of any size or sector. Adopting a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach, it focuses on bribery (direct/indirect, public/private) while integrating with other ISO standards.

    Key Components

    • **Clauses 4-10Context, leadership, planning, support, operations, evaluation, improvement.
    • Core controls: policy, risk assessment, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting.
    • Built on Harmonized Structure (HS) for integration.
    • Optional third-party certification with audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mitigates legal risks (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act), reduces liability via evidence of "reasonable steps". Drives efficiencies (15% compliance cost cuts), boosts reputation, enables market access. Builds stakeholder trust, supports ESG.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, control design, training, audits. Scalable for SMEs/multinationals; 6-12 months typical. Certification involves Stage 1/2 audits, surveillance.

    Basel III Details

    What It Is

    Basel III is the international prudential regulatory framework developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) post-2007-09 financial crisis. It strengthens bank regulation through enhanced capital quality/quantity, leverage constraints, and liquidity standards, applying a risk-based plus non-risk-based multi-metric approach to individual and systemic resilience.

    Key Components

    • **Three PillarsPillar 1 (capital ratios: CET1 4.5%, Tier 1 6%, Total 8%; leverage ratio 3%; LCR/NSFR); Pillar 2 (supervisory review/ICAAP); Pillar 3 (disclosures for comparability).
    • Buffers (CCB 2.5%, CCyB, G-/D-SIB).
    • Output floor (72.5% standardized RWA), revised risk approaches.
    • No fixed controls; compliance via national implementation.

    Why Organizations Use It

    Banks adopt for regulatory compliance (mandatory in most jurisdictions), resilience against shocks, reduced leverage/liquidity risks, improved market discipline via disclosures. Enhances funding costs, stakeholder trust, strategic asset allocation.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased enterprise transformation: gap analysis, data/system builds, model governance, training. Targets internationally active/large banks globally; ongoing supervisory audits, no central certification.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 37001
    Bribery prevention, detection, response via ABMS
    Basel III
    Bank capital, leverage, liquidity resilience

    Industry

    ISO 37001
    All sectors, organizations worldwide
    Basel III
    Internationally active banks primarily

    Nature

    ISO 37001
    Voluntary certifiable management standard
    Basel III
    Mandatory prudential regulatory framework

    Testing

    ISO 37001
    Third-party certification audits, annual surveillance
    Basel III
    Supervisory review, stress tests, disclosures

    Penalties

    ISO 37001
    Loss of certification, no legal penalties
    Basel III
    Fines, asset caps, enforcement actions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 37001 and Basel III

    ISO 37001 FAQ

    Basel III FAQ

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