INDIAN BANKING
Hindenburg has never been a client of the firm, Kotak Mahindra International says
Kotak Mahindra International Limited (KMIL) clarified on Tuesday that Hindenburg has never been a client or investor of the firm. The company made the statement to address any confusion regarding their relationship with Hindenburg.
PSBs on the margins in credit cards, but NPAs ahead by a wide margin
Public sector banks in India are navigating the credit card market, facing challenges with high NPAs. The focus on tier-II and tier-III cities is driving credit card sales, with State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda leading in card spending through subsidiaries. Specialized skills and appealing features are crucial for success, particularly in attracting younger consumers with modern products and reward points.
Banks scanning proprietor A/Cs to spot 'money mules'
Banks intensify scrutiny on new accounts to combat mule activities, adapting to evolving fraud tactics like forming private companies. Vigilant measures include verification visits, latitude data, and washout logic analysis to deter money laundering and digital frauds in the financial system.
For people's man Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, the challenge is to take high-flying SBI to newer heights
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty's upcoming role as the chairman of State Bank of India follows a period of remarkable growth under Chairman Khara's leadership, marked by a substantial increase in the bank's stock price and improved asset quality.
CS Setty gets FSIB approval to head SBI as next chairman
Challa Sreenivasulu Setty has been selected as the next chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) by the Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB). Setty, who has worked at SBI for 35 years, will succeed current chairman Dinesh Khara, who will end his term on August 28.
India Ratings pegs bank credit growth at 15.4% for FY25
India Ratings has forecasted a 15.4% loan growth for banks in FY25. The rating agency believes a turnaround in private capital expenditure could alleviate any pressure on overall credit growth during the fiscal year.
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Banks told to stay vigilant amid intel on cyberattack threat
Apart from continuously checking network activities and server logs to detect malicious intrusions, banks will have to monitor critical payment systems such as SWIFT (the messaging system to confirm cross-border fund transfers), card network (which facilitates card payments), the online local fund transfer frameworks RTGS, NEFT and UPI, the real-time payment system.
Indian banks' gross NPA ratio at multi-year low of 2.8%, net NPA down to 0.6% in FY24: RBI Fin Stability Report
The Reserve Bank of India reported that Indian banks' gross NPA ratio reached a multi-year low of 2.8%, with net NPA at 0.6% by March 2024. The global economy faces risks from geopolitical tensions and high public debt, but India's financial system remains robust, supporting economic growth through sustained credit expansion, the RBI said.
Banks seek clarity from RBI on credit card network norms
Several banks have sought clarity from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding guidelines that mandate offering existing credit card customers a choice of networks like Rupay, Visa, and MasterCard. As per RBI's guidelines issued in March, card issuers must provide this choice both during initial issuance and at the time of renewals. A senior bank executive informed ET that banks have sought clarification on whether this choice of networks should be extended to all existing customers or only implemented during renewal processes.
Punjab & Sind Bank signs pact with Indian Army for salary account
"PSB Gaurav Bachat SB Salary account is exclusively designed to cater to the distinct banking requirement of serving and retired personnels. The product is also strategically aimed to tap Agniveers enrolled in the Agnipath scheme, ensuring a comprehensive financial solution that aligns with distinctive needs of the segment," Punjab & Sind bank MD and CEO Swarup Kumar Saha told PTI.
NBFC lobby group demands dedicated refinance bank, more level playing field with banks
The Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) has urged for a dedicated refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) to reduce NBFCs' reliance on banks and address liquidity challenges. FIDC also seeks harmonisation of regulations with banks for tax benefits and recovery processes. RBI has raised concerns about NBFCs' heavy reliance on bank funding, prompting calls for regulatory alignment and improved access to funds for NBFCs.
Banks draw attention of Govt, RBI to ATM shortage
Banks have alerted the government and the banking regulator Reserve Bank of India about shortages in automated teller machines (ATMs). They have also advocated for clearer procurement norms through the government e-marketplace (GeM) portal. Industry insiders mentioned that the initial low capacity issue is linked to the 'Make in India' guidelines implemented in FY20. Vendors took time to establish operations in India, contributing to the supply constraints.
Banking 'efficiency': Public sector banks beat private peers in new SBI list
The study evaluates efficiency by examining how effectively banks utilise their resources to produce output at an optimal scale.
India's non-banking financial sector grew by 10%; declined globally by 3 %
India's non-banking financial sector grew by 10% as per an SBI report, while the global sector saw a 3% decline. NBFI entities focus on lending and financing without public deposits. The report noted India as the third-largest in the sector, highlighting the banking system's resilience, improved asset quality, macroeconomic fundamentals, and government initiatives for a level playing field. RBI's proactive measures ensured stability, growth, innovation, and advancements in digital banking.
Indian banks are better placed with strong balance sheet, low NPAs and higher profits: CLSA
Indian banks have significantly strengthened their position after enduring government scrutiny and bad loan challenges, according to CLSA. Balance sheets are robust, with profits quadrupling in a decade, and return on equity is at its highest since FY2011. Deposit and loan growth has accelerated, with private banks poised for improved market performance.
Blanket 5% infra provisions to hurt both lenders and project viability: Banks to RBI
Bankers have said the norms be subsumed within new provisioning rules that will require lenders to pre-empt assessment on potential losses. “RBI is also in the process of finalising the expected credit loss (ECL) based provisioning guidelines,” said a senior bank executive. "So, there is a suggestion that these infrastructure norms be subsumed into those.”
Deposits lag credit growth as savers look for higher returns elsewhere
Deposit growth had fallen from a peak of 18% in fiscal ended March 2020 to 10% in March 2022 as savers looked for better returns after a sharp fall in deposit rates due to the extraordinary interest rate cuts by RBI post-Covid. Though subsequent rate hikes have improved deposit growth, it is still low at 14% compared to its peak.
Public sector banks pin hopes on new Govt for higher PLI for employees
State-run banks are optimistic about a more lucrative performance-linked incentive (PLI) for employees and are advocating for a five-day banking week as a new coalition government takes charge. Bank unions and employee associations seek a review of the current PLI scheme, introduced in 2020, which currently offers up to 15-days salary for growth exceeding 15%. Recent wage settlements have included a 17% salary increase and proposed a five-day week, pending government approval. Banks' cumulative profit exceeded ₹1.4 lakh crore in FY 2024.
Moody's maintains stable outlooks on three Indian public sector banks
Moody's affirmed Baa3 ratings on Indian public sector banks BOB, Canara Bank, and PNB with stable outlooks, citing improved credit metrics, strong profitability, and adequate liquidity buffers. The banks are headquartered in Mumbai, Bangalore, and New Delhi.
IBA chief explains what bank frauds really are, stresses on critical 'golden hour'
As per the RBI's recent annual report, fraud cases surged to 36,075 in FY24, marking a significant rise from 13,564 reported in the previous fiscal year. The report highlighted that a majority of these frauds, in terms of volume, were related to digital payments, including card and internet transactions.
Banks seek one more month to comply with international card spend rule
Indian lenders are seeking a one-month extension from the government to comply with the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) for international credit card spends. The scheme allows Indian residents to remit up to $250,000 abroad in a financial year for permissible purposes such as education, travel, and investment. Last year, the government announced that forex transactions through credit cards would be covered under the scheme and charged 20% tax collected at source (TCS) beyond the threshold of ₹7 lakh per fiscal.
Large Indian banks are expected to improve their asset quality in the current fiscal: S&P
India's top banks are set for asset quality improvement in the fiscal year, driven by record profits, which will enhance their balance sheets and underwriting standards. Despite a rise in HDFC Bank's nonperforming loans post-merger, all major banks reported record profits. Retail loans drive growth amid moderating credit expansion expectations.
Greater transparency: No indemnity clause in NPA sale pact between banks and ARCs
High-street banks and stressed asset firms in Mumbai adopted a 'model agreement' for selling loans but couldn't agree on 'indemnity'. Lenders can declare an account 'fraud' post-sale to ARCs. The industry body approved the Model Assignment Agreement and Model Trust Deed for adoption by banks, financial institutions, finance companies, and ARCs.
Indian Overseas Bank plans to open 88 new branches in FY24
Indian Overseas Bank is set to establish 88 new branches across India in FY24. The bank recently opned a new branch in Nagapattinam and its 126th ATM in Puducherry. Managing Director and CEO Ajay Kumar Srivastava said that the bank's expansion strategy aimed to serve unbanked rural areas with innovative products. The bank's total business has surpassed Rs 5 lakh crore.
PSBs ask US to route advisories via finance ministry
Executives from some of the top lenders, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank, met with a six-member US Treasury delegation last month. The discussions focused on Russian payments and a possible breach of the internationally imposed $60 a barrel purchase price on Russian crude.
Indian banking sector pips IT as net profit tops Rs 3 lakh crore in FY24, rises 39% YoY
India's banking sector reached a historic milestone with a net profit surpassing Rs 3 lakh crore in FY24. The combined profit of listed public and private sector banks surged by 39%, totaling Rs 3.1 lakh crore compared to Rs 2.2 lakh crore in FY23. This amount roughly equals the cumulative quarterly profits of all listed companies in the initial three quarters of the fiscal year.
Banks' underwriting standards at risk amid rapid consumer loan growth, Fitch says
Fitch Ratings warns of potential challenges to Indian banks' consumer loan quality due to rapid growth and "untested risks." Concerns include lower transparency in retail underwriting data and reliance on unsecured credit for margin expansion. While RBI measures aim to mitigate risks, their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
Indian banks to step up IT spends as regulatory scrutiny rises
Banks were earlier spending between 6%-8% of total operating expenditure on technology, sharply below the global average of 10%-12%.
Indian Bank aims to make over Rs 1 lakh crore digital transactions: MD & CEO Shanti Lal Jain
Indian Bank on Monday reported a 55 per cent jump in its net profit to Rs 2,247 crore for the January-March 2024 quarter as compared to a net profit of Rs 1,447 crore made last year.
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