Wednesday, February 5

Digital Lending

lending

Transparency in Digital Lending: RBI’s New Draft Guidelines for Loan Aggregators
BFSI, Digital Lending, Goverment Notice/Circulars, Lending, Regtech

Transparency in Digital Lending: RBI’s New Draft Guidelines for Loan Aggregators

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently unveiled a draft circular that outlines a framework for loan product aggregation by lending service providers (LSPs). The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance transparency for borrowers in the credit intermediation process. Let’s delve into the details of this significant development. Background and Challenges In the digital lending space, LSPs play a crucial role by offering aggregation services for loan products. These LSPs, or even regulated entities (REs) acting as LSPs, establish outsourcing arrangements with multiple lenders. Their digital lending apps/platforms (DLAs) match borrowers to suitable lenders. However, a critical challenge arises: borrowers often lack upfront information about the potential lender. I...
Decoding RBI’s Draft Guidelines on Digital Lending- 26th April 2024
BFSI, Blog, Digital Lending, Goverment Notice/Circulars, Lending, Review

Decoding RBI’s Draft Guidelines on Digital Lending- 26th April 2024

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued draft guidelines to ensure transparency in the aggregation of loan products from multiple lenders. This move is aimed at enhancing customer centricity and ensuring complete transparency for borrowers in the credit intermediation process. Key Highlights of the Draft Guidelines: Aggregation Services: Many Lending Service Providers (LSPs) offer aggregation services for loan products. An LSP or a Regulated Entity (RE) acting as an LSP may have outsourcing arrangements with several lenders. The Digital Lending App/Platform (DLA) of the LSP/RE matches the borrower to one of the lenders. In cases where an LSP has arrangements with multiple lenders, the identity of the potential lender may not be known upfront to the borrower. Prior Information t...
India’s Journey from Crisis to Confidence: Decoding the Shaktikanta Das’s Vision
BFSI, Banking, Blog, Digital Lending, Finance, Fintech, Goverment Notice/Circulars, NBFC, Payments, Review, Technology

India’s Journey from Crisis to Confidence: Decoding the Shaktikanta Das’s Vision

In a recent speech, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das outlined India's remarkable journey from crisis to confidence. Drawing on historical events and economic data, Das paints a picture of a nation that has overcome numerous challenges to emerge as a global economic powerhouse. Overcoming the 1991 Crisis Das begins by acknowledging the various crises India has faced in recent decades, including the 1991 balance of payments crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the crucial role played by the RBI in steering the economy through these turbulent times. The 1991 balance of payments crisis was a defining moment for India. With dwindling foreign exchange reserves and a ballooning fiscal deficit, the country faced the threa...
Co-lending Model: A Collaborative Approach to Financial Inclusion in India, 2024
Blog, Banking, Digital Lending, Lending, Microfinance, NBFC

Co-lending Model: A Collaborative Approach to Financial Inclusion in India, 2024

The co-lending model has emerged as a significant innovation in the Indian financial landscape, aiming to bridge the credit gap and promote financial inclusion. This model involves collaboration between banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), leveraging their respective strengths to offer wider access to credit for underserved segments. Stakeholders and their involvement: Banks: Contribute their robust risk management expertise, regulatory compliance, and access to low-cost funds. They typically originate the loan and conduct due diligence on borrowers. NBFCs: Bring their domain expertise in specific sectors, strong customer relationships, and agility in loan processing. They often handle customer acquisition, credit assessment, and loan servicing. Borrowers: Benefit...
RBI Bars Kotak Mahindra Bank From Onboarding New Customers Via Online, Mobile Banking
Banking, BFSI, Digital Lending, Goverment Notice/Circulars, NBFC, Regtech

RBI Bars Kotak Mahindra Bank From Onboarding New Customers Via Online, Mobile Banking

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a decisive step by prohibiting Kotak Mahindra Bank from onboarding new customers through its online and mobile banking channels. Additionally, the bank is barred from issuing fresh credit cards. However, existing customers, including credit card holders, will continue to receive services from the bank. The regulatory action comes in response to significant concerns arising from the RBI’s IT examination of Kotak Mahindra Bank for the years 2022 and 2023. The central bank identified serious deficiencies and non-compliances in various critical areas: IT Inventory Management: The bank’s management of IT assets was found lacking. Patch and Change Management: Inadequate processes for managing software updates and changes. Us...
Evergreening in the Lending Ecosystem in India: Understanding the Practice and its Implications
Lending, BFSI, Digital Lending, Microfinance, NBFC, Regtech

Evergreening in the Lending Ecosystem in India: Understanding the Practice and its Implications

In the lending ecosystem of India, there are various practices and strategies employed by financial institutions to manage their loan portfolios. One such practice that has garnered attention is "evergreening." Evergreening refers to a process wherein lenders extend new credit or provide additional funds to borrowers who are struggling to repay existing loans, primarily to maintain the appearance of a performing loan. In this article, we will explore the concept of evergreening in the Indian lending ecosystem, its implications, and the regulatory measures in place to address this practice. Understanding Evergreening It involves granting additional credit or restructuring existing loans to borrowers who are facing financial distress, often without addressing the underlying issues causin...
Building Trust and Confidence: The Regulatory Ecosystem of Lending in India
Lending, BFSI, Blog, Digital Lending, Goverment Notice/Circulars, NBFC, Regtech

Building Trust and Confidence: The Regulatory Ecosystem of Lending in India

Lending plays a crucial role in India's financial landscape, providing individuals and businesses with access to capital for various purposes. To ensure the stability, transparency, and fairness of lending practices, the lending space in India operates within a robust regulatory ecosystem governed by multiple authorities and regulations. In this article, we will delve into the key components of the regulatory framework for lending in India, shedding light on the various entities and regulations that shape the lending landscape. Reserve Bank of India (RBI): At the heart of India's lending regulatory framework stands the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). As the central banking institution, the RBI plays a pivotal role in regulating the lending sector. It formulates and implements policies a...
33% of Indian Consumers Unaware of Risks Posed by Illegal Loan Apps: New Study
Digital Lending, Cyber Crime, Finance, Lending

33% of Indian Consumers Unaware of Risks Posed by Illegal Loan Apps: New Study

A recent report by the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) has shed light on the concerning issue of Indian consumers being tricked by illegal loan apps. Despite efforts to raise awareness and enhance consumer protection measures, the report reveals that a significant number of consumers still lack knowledge about digital loans and struggle to identify illegal lending applications. The findings highlight the urgent need for action to address these gaps and safeguard consumers from fraudulent practices. Limited Knowledge and Detection Challenges: According to the report, one-third of high-confidence customers in India have limited understanding of their digital loans and face difficulties in identifying illegal loan apps. Many consumers are unaware of key facts and grievan...
Fueling Inclusive Finance: Microfinance Portfolio Skyrockets by 31% to Rs 4 Lakh Crore
Lending, Digital Lending, Microfinance

Fueling Inclusive Finance: Microfinance Portfolio Skyrockets by 31% to Rs 4 Lakh Crore

India's microfinance sector has experienced a remarkable surge, with the outstanding portfolio reaching a staggering Rs 4 lakh crore. This represents a significant increase of 31% year-on-year, according to the CRIF MicroLend report. The robust growth in the sector highlights the increasing importance of microfinance in providing financial inclusion and support to underserved segments of the population. Impressive Growth Statistics: The CRIF MicroLend report reveals several key growth indicators within the microfinance sector. The number of active loans witnessed a substantial rise of 23.2% year-on-year, reaching a total of 155 million loans. This demonstrates the increasing demand for microfinance products and services among individuals and microenterprises across the country. Loan d...
Freo’s Financial Revolution: Freo’s Revenue z FY24, attains profitability
Banking, Digital Lending, Finance, Fintech, Payments, Startups

Freo’s Financial Revolution: Freo’s Revenue z FY24, attains profitability

Digital banking Platform Freo, operated by Mwyn Tech, has achieved remarkable growth and profitability. Freo reported gross revenue of Rs 350 crore in FY24. The company has been profitable for the last four months since December 2023. Let’s delve into the key highlights: Impressive Revenue Growth: Freo’s gross revenues have surged 5Xover the past five years, reaching the significant milestone of Rs 350 crore. The company’s contribution margins also soared, from 16% in Q4 FY23 to over 40% in Q4 FY24. Diversified revenue streams: Fee-based revenue now accounts for over 45% of total revenue, alongside the 55% from interest-bearing products. User Base Expansion: Freo’s user base grew from 15 million in FY22 to an impressive 25 million by the end of F...