Sucheta Dalal :New banking license announcement is first major reform in two decades
Sucheta Dalal

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New banking license announcement is first major reform in two decades  

February 26, 2010

Private players and non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) have reason to cheer the Budget speech as the finance minister announced that the RBI is open to giving them banking licences if they meet the apex bank’s criteria.

“The RBI is considering new bank licences to promoters in the private sector and also NBFCs, if they meet the eligibility criteria of the RBI,” Pranab Mukherjee said while presenting the annual Budget for 2010-11 in the Lok Sabha.

NBFCs like Indiabulls, Reliance Capital, Religare, IL&FS, IDFC and Aditya Birla Financial Services are likely to apply for bank licences after the RBI norms are in place.

“The Aditya Birla Financial Services Group is already a large non-bank player occupying a significant position across all its verticals. We wholeheartedly welcome this initiative and will definitely apply for a licence. The Aditya Birla Group is confident that we will meet any eligibility criteria that might be set," said Ajay Srinivasan, chief executive (financial services), Aditya Birla Group.

“The finance minister has shared the government's desire to open up the banking sector to NBFCs and the private sector. This is a significant step towards further strengthening and broadening the banking sector and bringing it closer to the aam aadmi,” adds Mr Srinivasan

No new banks have been set up in the past eight years. In fact, no new Indian bank has been set up since the first flush of liberalisation in 1993 when half-a-dozen banking licences were given. This announcement clearly demonstrates the government’s plans for liberalisation of the financial sector.

India has 96 scheduled commercial banks (SCBs)—27 public sector banks 31 private banks and 38 foreign banks—having a combined network of over 53,000 branches. According to a report by ICRA, public sector banks hold over 75% of the total assets of the banking industry, with the private and foreign banks holding 18.2% and 6.5%, respectively.

Unlike banks, all NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits. Only NBFCs which hold a valid certificate of registration with authorisation to accept public deposits can do so. NBFCs that were earlier allowed to be converted into banks were Kotak Mahindra Finance and 20th Century Finance. While Kotak has diversified into various financial services, 20th Century became Centurion Bank; it was taken over by a bunch of private equity investors and eventually merged with HDFC Bank. Two of the other new licensees in the early 1990s—HDFC Bank and UTI Bank (renamed Axis Bank)—have become very successful private banks.

The announcement also cheered the markets. The Sensex gained 175.35 points while the Nifty gained 62.55 points. Religare (an NBFC) inched up 3% to Rs371 from Rs361, Indiabulls shed 1% to close at Rs98.90, and Aditya Birla Nuvo gained 4% to end at Rs842. — Moneylife Digital Team

-- Sucheta Dalal