Raghu Mohan, Abhijit Lele

Stories by Raghu Mohan, Abhijit Lele

Private banks leading AI adoption in banking services, says RBI study

Private banks leading AI adoption in banking services, says RBI study

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2024

Private sector banks in India are taking the lead in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in areas like fraud detection, customer segmentation, and chat automation, according to a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) study. The asset size and capital adequacy ratio are influencing the rate of adoption.

India Inc Biggies Plan To Invest $800 Bn

India Inc Biggies Plan To Invest $800 Bn

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2024

Roughly 40% of this projected outlay is expected to go towards emerging industries, including green hydrogen, clean energy, semiconductors, and electric vehicles.

RBI seeks details of select NBFCs' loan book growth

RBI seeks details of select NBFCs' loan book growth

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sought granular data from select non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) on their loan book growth. The details sought are on the outstanding product-wise portfolio and the annualised interest charged on them. The annualised interest slabs mentioned are as follows: less than 10 per cent, 10-20 per cent, 20-30 per cent, 30-40 per cent, 40-50 per cent, and above 50 per cent.

'We focus on smaller ticket sizes loans'

'We focus on smaller ticket sizes loans'

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2024

'Banks may find small ticket size lending economically unviable due to the cost of branch operations.'

After UPI and ULI, banks to set up Unified Recovery Interface

After UPI and ULI, banks to set up Unified Recovery Interface

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2024

Eying benefits from digital banking, lenders are now looking at building Unified Recovery Interface (URI) for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and getting good prices for properties of defaulters. This would be managed by PSB Alliance Ltd, a company set up by all public sector banks in the country. M V Rao, chairman, Indian Banks' Association (IBA), said: "Till now we had Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a product developed by National Payments Corporation Ltd (NPCI).

'Idea behind SROs is not to make them more regulatory'

'Idea behind SROs is not to make them more regulatory'

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2024

'One of the aspects for transparency and fair governance is to give the industry being represented the chance of lobbying with the regulator.'

'Rates to remain elevated for bulk deposits'

'Rates to remain elevated for bulk deposits'

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2024

'In the case of corporate credit, especially to AAA borrowers, lenders will have to take a fresh look at pricing.'

Results review: PSBs' net profit grows 16% to Rs 39,974 crore in Q1

Results review: PSBs' net profit grows 16% to Rs 39,974 crore in Q1

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2024

Public sector banks (PSBs) posted 16.1 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in net profit at Rs 39,974 crore during the June 2024 quarter. While net interest income (NII) showed subdued growth of 7.1 per cent, provisions and contingencies declined by 10.5 per cent Y-o-Y. This aided the bottom line to show steady growth.

Private banks' bottom line remains healthy in Q1, bad loans inch up

Private banks' bottom line remains healthy in Q1, bad loans inch up

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

Private banks' net profit grew 26.3 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 48,982 crore in the first quarter ended June 2024 (Q1FY25) owing to healthy growth in credit and other income. The gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) increased with the end of dispensation granted during the pandemic, according to the data compiled by BS Research Bureau for listed 18 private banks.

Why RBI Flagged Small Loans As Risky

Why RBI Flagged Small Loans As Risky

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2024

In FY24, loans given out by such firms had topped a whopping Rs 146,517 crore, up by 49 per cent year-on-year and spread over 10.19 million accounts (up 35 per cent).

Tyger Capital to list by next year, targets Rs 20,000 crore book

Tyger Capital to list by next year, targets Rs 20,000 crore book

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2024

Bain Capital-backed Tyger Capital is planning to list its shares on the Indian stock exchanges by the next financial year and is targeting to grow its assets under management by four times to Rs 20,000 crore in five years from Rs 5,000 crore now, Gaurav Gupta, MD and CEO of the firm said. In an exclusive interview, Gupta said that keeping with the growing business, the finance company expects to on-board 600 people in the current financial year as it is opening 60-65 new branches for broad-basing its network in the country.

Result preview: Cost of deposits to weigh on banks' margins in Q1

Result preview: Cost of deposits to weigh on banks' margins in Q1

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2024

Despite steady loan growth, the banking sector is expected to report subdued margins in the quarter ending June 2024 (Q1FY25), driven by high demand for deposits amidst tight liquidity conditions. However, according to Bloomberg analysts, listed banks are forecasted to see a 14.5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in net profit. Estimates showed that banks' net interest income (NII), and revenues from interest minus interest expenses might grow 11.9 per cent Y-o-Y.

Payout to top NBFC execs on RBI radar

Payout to top NBFC execs on RBI radar

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2024

Payouts to key management personnel in non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are under the banking regulator's scrutiny. Top industry officials said this is a follow-through on the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) circular of April 29, 2022, which asked NBFCs in the "middle" and "upper" layer of its four-tiered scale-based regulatory (SBR) framework to put in place a board-approved compensation policy.

C S Setty: SBI's New Boss

C S Setty: SBI's New Boss

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2024

'You will see him frequently asking customers -- especially retail -- about service experience, pain points, areas of improvement and suggestions.'

Jio Fin arm plans Rs 36K cr deal with Reliance Retail

Jio Fin arm plans Rs 36K cr deal with Reliance Retail

Rediff.com   27 May 2024

Mukesh Ambani's Jio Financial Services (JFS) is set to seek shareholders' approval for its leasing subsidiary to acquire telecom equipment and devices worth Rs 36,000 crore ($4.33 billion) from Reliance Retail. Jio Leasing Services Limited (JLSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JFS, plans to enter the device leasing business, and the equipment will be deployed in broadband wireless connectivity and other services.

Gold loan business is shining as regulatory scrutiny of sector grows

Gold loan business is shining as regulatory scrutiny of sector grows

Rediff.com   27 May 2024

In mid-March this year, the finance ministry asked state-run banks to review their gold loan portfolio for the two-year period between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2024. This business had grown at a fast clip. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data has it that it grew 15 per cent to Rs 1 trillion in FY24. Now, in recent times, any kind of exuberance in financial services has seen the authorities swoop down - be it pushing the lines on governance or unsecured credit.

'Liquidity will improve in system after elections'

'Liquidity will improve in system after elections'

Rediff.com   24 May 2024

'We may see little softness in liquidity position after the stabilisation of the government.'

ATM Charges To Go Up After Polls

ATM Charges To Go Up After Polls

Rediff.com   16 May 2024

The interchange fee -- paid by the card-issuing bank when a customer swipes at another bank's ATM, including at white-label ATMs -- may be raised to Rs 20 to Rs 23.

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

Rediff.com   13 May 2024

State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to recruit over 15,000 people in 2024-25, increasing the strength of those in the field for marketing. The recruits will be also for deployment in the bank's operations subsidiary and expanding the branch network. The operations subsidiary - State Bank Operations Support Services - became functional last year.

'There Is No Modi Wave'

'There Is No Modi Wave'

Rediff.com   3 May 2024

'I am shocked that the BJP makes so many commitments. What did they deliver as the NDA?'