Abhijit Lele, Anupreksha Jain

Stories by Abhijit Lele, Anupreksha Jain

Forex Reserves See Sharp Weekly Fall

Forex Reserves See Sharp Weekly Fall

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2026

The previous largest weekly decline was recorded in the week ended November 15, 2024.

India's household debt rises to 41.3% of GDP, above 5-yr avg

India's household debt rises to 41.3% of GDP, above 5-yr avg

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2026

India's household debt climbed to 41.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of March 2025, marking a sustained rise from its five-year average of 38.3 per cent, with consumption-related loans accounting for bulk of the borrowings, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its Financial Stability Report.

PSBs rework branch plan to pare costs

PSBs rework branch plan to pare costs

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2025

In order to optimise branch efficiency, public sector banks (PSBs) are reworking their strategies to streamline operations and reduce cost amid changing customer behaviour. The strategies include closing or merging low traffic branches and reducing their size in smaller centres.

'BoB Is Well Placed To Manage Shift To ECL'

'BoB Is Well Placed To Manage Shift To ECL'

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2025

'Bank has a robust capital adequacy base. Along with balance sheet preparation, the bank is focusing on strengthening risk management for the new regime.'

M&A financing the new frontier for banks, but RBI's watching

M&A financing the new frontier for banks, but RBI's watching

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2025

Mint Road's proposals on banks' M&A funding are cautious even as entrants root for more elbow room, and weigh business models.

Bajaj Finance expects AUM from MSME business to grow 10-12% in FY26

Bajaj Finance expects AUM from MSME business to grow 10-12% in FY26

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2025

Bajaj Finance's shares fell more than 7 per cent on Tuesday after it trimmed growth guidance for FY26, from 24-25 per cent projected earlier to 22-23 per cent.

Digital Rupee Faces Delay Over Banks' Tech Hurdles

Digital Rupee Faces Delay Over Banks' Tech Hurdles

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2025

'There are no additional benefits for banks and market participants to use CBDC...'

Credit quality of companies likely to remain stable in H2

Credit quality of companies likely to remain stable in H2

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2025

Credit quality of Indian corporate is expected to be stable in the second half of the current financial year (H2FY26), supported by easing monetary cycle, and declining inflation, coupled with income-tax relief and rationalisation of the goods and service tax (GST) rates, among others.

Private banks' mcap fell in Jul-Sep: S&P

Private banks' mcap fell in Jul-Sep: S&P

Rediff.com   7 Oct 2025

Private sector banks slipped in market capitalisation (mcap) during the July-September quarter, underperforming their government-owned peers as trade uncertainties dragged market sentiment, said S&P Global Market Intelligence. According to its analysis, HDFC Bank shed 4.8 per cent in mcap during the third quarter, while ICICI Bank's dropped 6.7 per cent.

Banks, NBFCs Light Up Season With Special Offers

Banks, NBFCs Light Up Season With Special Offers

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2025

Banks and NBFCs are launching festival offers, including lower loan rates, cashback, EMI schemes and GST-linked benefits to tap rising demand ahead of Diwali

It's time to get started, put money in deals: M&A financing opens up

It's time to get started, put money in deals: M&A financing opens up

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2025

Last fortnight, State Bank of India Chairman C S Setty lifted the veil on a subject long spoken of in corporate corridors: Why can't our banks finance mergers and acquisitions (M&As)? Change is in the air: Indian Banks' Association (of which Setty is the chairman) is to "make a formal request" to Mint Road to make way for it. Thus far the exclusive turf of foreign banks even though its funding remains offshore - as in, it's not on these entities rupee-book (and a few select shadow banks) - a most lucrative segment in the investment banking suite, M&As, will be homeward-bound.

Tax cut may bolster credit growth in H2

Tax cut may bolster credit growth in H2

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2025

After a subdued first quarter of 2025-26 (Q1FY26), banks are now betting big on the festive season, rolling out attractive loan offers to boost credit growth in the second half of the current financial year (H2FY26) - a trend likely to be further accentuated by the second-order effects of the good services tax (GST) cuts.

India Inc meeting capex need with own cash, says SBI chief C S Setty

India Inc meeting capex need with own cash, says SBI chief C S Setty

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2025

India Inc, which is sitting on cash balances of 13.5 trillion, is using the funds to meet capital expenditure as well as brownfield expansion, resulting in 'anaemic' demand for bank loans, State Bank of India (SBI) chairman CS Setty said at an event on Monday. He added that a slowdown in corporate credit is mainly due to lack of demand.

Why PSBs are raising home loan rates

Why PSBs are raising home loan rates

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2025

Some public sector banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India, Canara Bank, and Bank of India, are increasing the spread on home loans for new customers to protect margins.

Bank asset quality: Slippages rise 26% in Q1 on stress in unsecured loans

Bank asset quality: Slippages rise 26% in Q1 on stress in unsecured loans

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2025

Commercial banks in India reported 26 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in slippages at Rs 63,000 crore during the first quarter ended June 2025 (Q1FY26). This was predominantly due to stress in microfinance and unsecured retail portfolios of select lenders.

India May Wait Out Trump Tariffs

India May Wait Out Trump Tariffs

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2025

'Just as we cannot surrender the interests of our farmers and dairy industry, Trump is also looking for markets for the produce of the farmers in the Midwest, which are his support base.'

Coming Soon! Simplified Bank Customer Claim Rules

Coming Soon! Simplified Bank Customer Claim Rules

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2025

The move is aimed at making settlement of claims or return of articles from a locker smooth for relatives after the death of a customer.

NPAs in agriculture sector stay high amid loan-saturation concerns

NPAs in agriculture sector stay high amid loan-saturation concerns

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2025

Bad loans in the agriculture sector remain elevated, with several public-sector banks (PSBs) reporting higher slippages in the April-June quarter of FY26. For many banks, non-performing assets (NPAs) in farm lending were 5 per cent or more, with some nearing double digits.'

Why Banks Are Speaking Local Languages

Why Banks Are Speaking Local Languages

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2025

State-owned banks are prioritising local language skills in their hiring to improve customer service and reduce language barriers.

SBI eyes spot among world's top 10 banks by market value in 5 years

SBI eyes spot among world's top 10 banks by market value in 5 years

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2025

Country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) is looking to be among 10 top global banks in market capitalisation terms in the next five years, chairman CS Setty said on Wednesday. "The scope for value creation for the stakeholders is potentially very high. So the larger ambition is if the market supports whether we can be part of the top 10 global banks in terms of the market capitalisation (five years)," he said after listing of shares issued under Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) at NSE.