RBI proposes removing cap on interest rates for micro-lenders

The regulator has proposed to offer a reality sheet on pricing to the borrower by the lending establishments for sustaining transparency.

The Reserve Financial institution of India (RBI) has proposed a slew of measures to guard micro-finance debtors from over-indebtedness and allow aggressive forces to deliver down the rates of interest. In a consultative doc launched on Monday, RBI has proposed to take away the ceiling on rates of interest for micro-finance lenders, amongst different key measures.

At present, the margins for NBFC MFIs are capped at 12% over and above its price of funds. Equally, RBI has steered to not cost any pre-payment penalty from debtors. It mentioned there must be no requirement of collateral for giving loans. The Reserve Financial institution has advocated a larger flexibility within the frequency of repayments for all micro-finance loans. Amongst different key measures, RBI has proposed to hyperlink the mortgage quantity to family earnings when it comes to debt-income ratio.

“Contemplating the low financial savings of those households, a minimum of half of their earnings must be obtainable to fulfill their different bills,” RBI mentioned in its consultative doc on micro-finance. “Present loans to the households which aren’t complying with the restrict of fifty% of the family earnings, shall be allowed to mature,” the regulator additional mentioned. It has additionally proposed to get rid of two lender publicity guidelines for a borrower. At present, no more than two NBFC-MFIs can lend to the identical borrower as per RBI’s laws.

The central financial institution additionally noticed that every one lenders are inclined to cost excessive rates of interest consistent with charges charged by NBFC-MFIs. Finally, the debtors are disadvantaged of the advantages from enhanced competitors in addition to economic system of scale, even in a falling rate of interest regime.

The prescribed ceiling on lending price for NBFC-MFIs has had an unintended consequence of not permitting competitors to play out and most lenders have comparable ranges of pricing.

The regulator has proposed to offer a reality sheet on pricing to the borrower by the lending establishments for sustaining transparency.

The steered framework within the consultative doc is meant to be made relevant to the micro-finance loans offered by all entities regulated by the Reserve Financial institution. It’s aimed toward defending debtors of such loans from over-indebtedness in addition to enabling aggressive forces to deliver down the rates of interest by empowering the debtors to make an knowledgeable determination, RBI mentioned.

The feedback and options on the consultative doc will be despatched by July 31, 2021.