Gap analysis is a technique used to evaluate interest rate risk and liquidity risk. It involves comparing interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities within set time periods to identify gaps that could impact earnings if interest rates change. Gap analysis was widely adopted in the 1980s and uses simple maturity and repricing schedules to measure how changes in interest rates would affect a bank's current earnings and economic value. Limitations of gap analysis include that it does not account for variations in income from non-interest sources, differences in asset and liability pricing spreads, or changes in the overall interest rate environment.

1. GAP ANALYSIS
Gap analysis is technique of asset liability management that can be used to assess
interest rate risk or liquidity risk.
Gap analysis was widely adopted by financial institutions during the 1980’s when
used to manage interest rate risk, it was used in duration analysis. Both techniques have
their own strengths and weaknesses.
Simple maturity /repricing schedules can be used to generate simple indicators of the
interest rate risk sensitivity of both earnings and economic value to changing interest
rates. When this approach is used to assess the interest rate risk of current earnings, it is
typically referred to as gap analysis. Gap analysis was one of the first methods
developed to measure a bank’s interest rate risk exposure, and continues to be widely
used by banks.
To evaluate earnings exposure , interest rate- sensitive liabilities in each time band are
subtracted from the corresponding interest rate –sensitive assets to produce a
repricing gap for that time bank. This gap can be multiplied by an assumed change in
interest rates to yield an approximation of the change in net interest income that would
result from such and interest rate movement . the size of the interest rate movement
used in the analysis can be based on a variety of factors, including historical
experience, simulation of potential future interest rate. Movements, and the judgment
of bank management.

2. •A negative , or liability-sensitive gap occurs when liabilities exceed assets in
a given time band . This means that an increase in market interest rates could
cause a decline in net interest income.
•Conversely, a positive, or asset-sensitive gap occurs when assets exceed
liability’s in a given time band.
•Moreover, gap analysis ignores differences in spreads between interest
rates that could arise as the level of market interest rates changes
•In addition, it does not take into account any changes in the interest rate
environment. Thus, it fails to account for differences in the sensitivity of
income that may arise from option-related positions .

3. • most gap analysis fail to capture variability in non-interest revenue and
expenses, a potentially important source of risk to current income.
The various items of rate sensitive assets an liabilities and off-balance sheet
items are to be classified in the various time buckets such as 1-28 days, 29
days and up to 3 months etc and items non-sensitive to interest based on the
probable date for change in interest.
The gap is the differences between rate sensitive assets (RSA) and Rate
sensitive liabilities(RSL) in various time buckets. The positive gap indicates
that it has more RSAS than RSLS whereas the negative gap indicates that it
has more RSLS. The gap reports indicate whether the institution is in a
position to benefit from rising interest rates by having a positive gap (RSA>
RSL) whether it is in a position to benefit from declining interest rate by a
negative gap (RSL>RSA).