Archis Mohan, Abhijit Lele

Stories by Archis Mohan, Abhijit Lele

Singapore-based DBS Bank plans to trim India branches in 2-3 years

Singapore-based DBS Bank plans to trim India branches in 2-3 years

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2021

The combined deposits of its Indian operations stood at SGD 9 billion and net advances were at SGD 5.6 billion at the end of December 2020.

The Politics behind the Budget

The Politics behind the Budget

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

The BJP would want that by March 2022, when UP votes, the economy starts looking up and it heads into the polls with no other issue distracting from its main poll plank of the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Cash was king in 2020 even as digital transactions increased

Cash was king in 2020 even as digital transactions increased

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2021

The hoarding of cash accentuated from the very start of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic started taking hold the world over, and fear of the pandemic prodded people to remain liquid for emergency use.

'Economy well placed to capitalise on recovery in 2021'

'Economy well placed to capitalise on recovery in 2021'

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2021

'The financial sector's performance in the first two quarters was a revelation.' 'It clearly showed the clean-up had been done in the past one-and-a-half years and that capital brought in was significantly stronger.'

From loan moratorium to digitisation, 2020 saw major shifts in banking

From loan moratorium to digitisation, 2020 saw major shifts in banking

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2020

While lenders create a hype around the services offered on digital platforms, customers think otherwise, given that frustration due to the quality of service has only increased, over the years.

Pros and cons of Indian banks' cross-selling initiatives

Pros and cons of Indian banks' cross-selling initiatives

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2020

In a bid to gain a bigger share of the customer's wallet, banks are ramping up their cross-selling initiatives.

Why it makes sense to take personal loans from PSBs

Why it makes sense to take personal loans from PSBs

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2020

The interest rate offered by PSBs like SBI, BoB and BoI hover around 8.9 per cent-10.50 per cent. For private banks, the range is between 10.49 per cent and 12 per cent.

ATM-isation of banking is here

ATM-isation of banking is here

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2020

But what do banks gain by opening their apps for all? The answer -- rival bank's customers under their fold.

'Demand for home loans is rising steadily'

'Demand for home loans is rising steadily'

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2020

'We tightened our risk frameworks once the Covid crisis started.' 'We are slowly lightening this as we see economic activity pick up, salaries getting restored, and people getting back into jobs.'

'After Covid, demand will be back with a vengeance'

'After Covid, demand will be back with a vengeance'

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2020

'When there is unlocking, there is demand revival.' 'This is going to be the main growth engine in this kind of an economic scenario.'

Tata, Birla, Bajaj, and Piramal Group may lead race for bank licence

Tata, Birla, Bajaj, and Piramal Group may lead race for bank licence

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2020

NBFCs with a proven track record, supported by the brand values of reputed corporate, can play a key role in bringing the benefits of banking and economy to the underserved and newer segments of India.

'Congress has shifted from general ward to ICU'

'Congress has shifted from general ward to ICU'

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2020

It is likely that the party's allies in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, two of the five states going to the polls in April-May, might insist on allocating fewer seats than they did in 2016, reports Archis Mohan.

The bank branch is dead; long live the branch

The bank branch is dead; long live the branch

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2020

Banks now ride on what is defined as a "banking outlet". This is a fixed-point service unit, manned by either the bank's staff or its business correspondent (BC), where all kinds of services - acceptance of deposits, encashment of cheques, cash withdrawal or lending of money - are provided for a minimum of four hours per day, for at least five days a week. Banks are now turning to reposition the manner in which they acquire customers, report Abhijit Lele and Raghu Mohan.

Chirag Paswan has the BJP-JD-U worried, and rightly so

Chirag Paswan has the BJP-JD-U worried, and rightly so

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2020

Insiders say the BJP is now concerned the LJP putting up a good fight against the JD-U would mean benefitting the MGB in those seats. Moreover, Chirag and Tejaswi are known to be friends, and the former is battling for his political survival.

Kalrock to invest Rs 1K crore as Jet readies to take wings

Kalrock to invest Rs 1K crore as Jet readies to take wings

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2020

The winning bid attracted over 99 per cent votes, with lenders overwhelmingly voting for a revival instead of recovery through liquidation.

How SBI plans to keep YONO ahead of the curve

How SBI plans to keep YONO ahead of the curve

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2020

Apart from fulfilling banking services, one can access more than 100 e-commerce sites, book tickets, and even pay for small value groceries through the app. The bank is now proposing to allow other banks to use this to serve their own customers.

Will PNB acquire beleaguered Lakshmi Vilas Bank?

Will PNB acquire beleaguered Lakshmi Vilas Bank?

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2020

PNB has rich experience in the integration of commercial banks.

How Lakshmi Vilas Bank eroded its wealth amid controversy and losses

How Lakshmi Vilas Bank eroded its wealth amid controversy and losses

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2020

It has been a year since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated prompt corrective action (PCA), an exercise that puts weak banks under central bank scrutiny, against the 94-year-old Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB). But recently, this low-profile Chennai-headquartered bank found itself attracting some unwonted publicity when 60 per cent of its shareholders voted against a proposal to re-appoint seven directors, including one of the promoters, K R Pradeep (who holds around 2 per cent), and the company's managing director & chief executive officer S Sundar.

Home, auto loan inquiry back to 2019 level

Home, auto loan inquiry back to 2019 level

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2020

The public sector lenders saw the biggest rebound in inquiries in July and August 2020, most likely because they were early in recommencing operations than their private and finance counterparts.

SBI, 25 other major Indian banks figure in suspicious transactions list

SBI, 25 other major Indian banks figure in suspicious transactions list

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2020

Banks say they themselves red-flagged the transactions to RBI. It must be noted that these transactions are not outright evidence of fraud or proof of nefarious activities.