Base Rate 2.2.

1 The Base Rate system has replaced the BPLR system with effect from July 1, 2010. Base Rate shall include all those elements of the lending rates that are common across all categories of borrowers. Banks may choose any benchmark to arrive at the Base Rate for a specific tenor that may be disclosed transparently. An illustration for computing the Base Rate is set out in Annex 1. Banks are free to use any other methodology, as considered appropriate, provided it is consistent and is made available for supervisory review/scrutiny, as and when required.

2.2.2 Banks may determine their actual lending rates on loans and advances with reference to the Base Rate and by including such other customer specific charges as considered appropriate. The actual lending rates charged should be transparent and consistent and be made available for supervisory review/scrutiny, as and when required. 2.2.3 In order to give banks some time to stabilize the system of Base Rate calculation, banks were permitted to change the benchmark and methodology any time during the initial six month period, i.e. end-December 2010. This period was extended by a further period of six months i.e. upto June 30, 2011. 2.2.4 There can be only one Base Rate for each bank. Banks have the freedom to choose any benchmark to arrive at a single Base Rate which should be disclosed transparently. 2.2.5 Changes in the Base Rate shall be applicable in respect of all existing loans linked to the Base Rate, in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. 2.2.6 Since the Base Rate will be the minimum rate for all loans, banks are not permitted to resort to any lending below the Base Rate. Accordingly, the stipulation of BPLR as the ceiling rate for loans up to Rupees 2 lakh stands withdrawn. It is expected that the above deregulation of lending rate will increase the credit flow to small borrowers at reasonable rate so that direct bank finance will provide effective competition to other forms of high cost credit. 2.2.7 Banks are required to review the Base Rate at least once in a quarter with the approval of the Board or the Asset Liability Management Committees (ALCOs) as per the banks practice. Since transparency in the pricing of lending products has been a key objective, banks are required to exhibit the information on their Base Rate at all branches and also on their websites. Changes in the Base Rate should also be conveyed to the general public from time to time through appropriate channels. Banks are required to provide information on the actual minimum and maximum lending rates to the Reserve Bank on a quarterly basis, as hitherto. 2.2.8 Even after introduction of the Base Rate system, banks would have the freedom to offer all categories of loans on fixed or floating rates. Where loans are offered on fixed rate basis, notwithstanding the quarterly review of the Base Rate, the rate of interest on fixed rate loans will continue to remain the same subject to the condition that such fixed rate should not be below the Base Rate at the time of sanction. If the base rate is revised upward thereafter

Applicability of Base Rate 2.3.1 With effect from July 1, 2010, all categories of loans should be priced only with reference to the Base Rate. Accordingly, the Base Rate system would be applicable for all new loans and for those old loans that come up for renewal. Existing loans based on the BPLR system may run till their maturity. In case existing borrowers want to switch to the new system, before expiry of the existing contracts, an option may be given to them, on mutually agreed terms. Banks, however, should not charge any fee for such switch-over. 2.3.2 However, the following categories of loans could be priced without reference to the Base Rate: (a) DRI advances (b) loans to banks own employees including retired employees (c) loans to banks depositors against their own deposits 2.3.3 In those cases where subvention is available to borrowers, it is clarified as under: (i) Interest Rate Subvention on Crop Loans a) In case of crop loans up to Rupees three lakh, for which subvention is available, banks should charge farmers the interest rates as stipulated by the Government of India. If the yield to the bank (after including subvention) is lower than the Base Rate, such lending will not be construed a violation of the Base Rate guidelines.

b) As regards the rebate provided for prompt repayment, since it does not change the yield to the banks [mentioned at (a) above] on such loans, it would not be a factor in reckoning compliance with the Base Rate guidelines. (ii) Interest Rate Subvention on Export Credit Interest rates applicable for all tenors of rupee export credit advances will be at or above the Base Rate. In respect of cases where subvention of Government of India is available, banks will have to reduce the interest rate chargeable to exporters as per Base Rate system by the amount of subvention available. If, as a consequence, the interest rate charged to
5 DBOD MC on Interest Rates on Advances - 2012

exporters goes below the Base Rate, such lending will not be construed a violation of the Base Rate guidelines. Floating Rate of Interest on Loans Banks have the freedom to offer all categories of loans on fixed or floating rates, subject to conformity to their Asset-Liability Management (ALM) guidelines. The methodology of computing the floating rates should be objective, transparent and mutually acceptable to counter parties. The Base Rate could also serve as the reference benchmark rate for floating rate loan products, apart from external market benchmark rates. The floating interest rate based on external benchmarks should, however, be equal to or above the Base Rate at the time of sanction or renewal. This methodology should be adopted for all new loans. In the case of existing loans of longer / fixed tenure, banks should reset the floating rates according to the above method at the time of review or renewal of loan accounts, after obtaining the consent of the concerned borrower/s. 2.5 Levying of Penal Rates of Interest Banks are permitted to formulate a transparent policy for charging penal interest with the approval of their Board of Directors. However, in the case of loans to borrowers under priority sector, no penal interest should be charged for loans up to Rupees 25,000. Penal interest can be levied for reasons such as default in repayment, non-submission of financial statements, etc. However, the policy on penal interest should be governed by well-accepted principles of transparency, fairness, incentive to service the debt and due regard to genuine difficulties of customers. 2.6 Enabling Clause in Loan Agreement 2.6.1 Banks should invariably incorporate the following proviso in the loan agreements in the case of all advances, including term loans, thereby enabling banks to charge the applicable interest rate in conformity with the directives issued by RBI from time to time: 7

DBOD MC on Interest Rates on Advances - 2012

"Provided that the interest payable by the borrower shall be subject to the changes in interest rates made by the Reserve Bank from time to time." 2.6.2 Since banks are bound by the Reserve Bank's directives on interest rates on loans and advances, which are issued under Sections 21 and 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, banks are obliged to give effect to any revision of interest rates whether upwards or downwards, on all the existing advances from the date the directives / revised interest rate come into force, unless the directives specifically provide otherwise. 2.7 Withdrawals Against Uncleared Effects 2.7.1 Where withdrawals are allowed against cheques sent for clearing, i.e. uncleared effects (e.g. uncleared local or outstation cheques) which are in the nature of unsecured advances, banks should charge interest on such drawals as per the directive on interest rates on advances. 2.7.2 As a measure of customer service, the above instruction will not apply to the facility afforded to depositors for immediate credits in respect of cheques sent for collection. 2.8 Loans under Consortium Arrangement Banks need not charge a uniform rate of interest even under a consortium arrangement. Each member bank may charge a rate of interest on the portion of the credit limits extended by it to the borrower, subject to the condition that such rate of interest is determined with reference to its Base Rate. 2.9 Charging of Interest at Monthly Rests 2.9.1 Banks were advised to charge interest on loans/advances at monthly rests with effect from April 01, 2002. Interest at monthly rests shall be applied in case of all new and existing term loans and other loans of longer / fixed tenor. In the case of existing loans of longer / fixed tenor, banks shall move over to application of interest at monthly rests at the time of review of terms and conditions or renewal of such loan accounts, or after obtaining consent from the borrower. 2.9.2 Instructions on charging interest at monthly rests shall not be applicable to agricultural advances and banks shall continue to follow the existing practice of charging / compounding of interest on agricultural advances linked to crop seasons. As indicated in circular RPCD.No.PLFS.BC.129/ 05.02.27/97-98 dated June 29, 1998, banks should charge interest on agricultural advances
ASSET CLASSIFICATION 4.1 Categories of NPAs Banks are required to classify nonperforming assets further into the following three categories based on the period for which the asset has remained nonperforming and the realisability of the dues: i. Substandard Assets ii. Doubtful Assets iii. Loss Assets 4.1.1 Substandard Assets With effect from 31 March 2005, a substandard asset would be one, which has remained NPA for a period less than or equal to 12 months. In such cases, the current net worth of the borrower/ guarantor or the current market value of the security charged is not enough to ensure recovery of the dues to the banks in full. In other words, such an asset will have well defined credit weaknesses that jeopardise the liquidation of the debt and are characterised by the distinct possibility that the banks will sustain some loss, if deficiencies are not corrected. 4.1.2 Doubtful Assets With effect from March 31, 2005, an asset would be classified as doubtful if it has remained in the substandard category for a period of 12 months. A loan classified as doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in assets that were classified as sub-standard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values highly questionable and improbable. 4.1.3 Loss Assets

4 DBOD-MC On IRAC Norms-2012

A loss asset is one where loss has been identified by the bank or internal or external auditors or the RBI inspection but the amount has not been written off wholly. In other words, such an asset is considered uncollectible and of such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted although there may be some salvage or recovery value. Loss assets Loss assets should be written off. If loss assets are permitted to remain in the books for any reason, 100 percent of the outstanding should be provided for. 5.3 Doubtful assets i. 100 percent of the extent to which the advance is not covered by the realisable value of the security to which the bank has a valid recourse and the realisable value is estimated on a realistic basis. Loss assets Loss assets should be written off. If loss assets are permitted to remain in the books for any reason, 100 percent of the outstanding should be provided for. 5.3 Doubtful assets i. 100 percent of the extent to which the advance is not covered by the realisable value of the security to which the bank has a valid recourse and the realisable value is estimated on a realistic basis.

Books of purchasing bank The asset shall attract provisioning requirement appropriate to its asset classification status in the books of the purchasing bank. (C) Accounting of recoveries Any recovery in respect of a nonperforming asset purchased from other banks should first be adjusted against its acquisition cost. Recoveries in excess of the acquisition cost can be recognised as profit. (D) Capital Adequacy For the purpose of capital adequacy, banks should assign 100% risk weights to the nonperforming financial assets purchased from other banks. In case the non-performing asset purchased is an investment, then it would attract capital charge for market risks also. For NBFCs the relevant instructions on capital adequacy would be 40 DBOD-MC On IRAC Norms-2012

applicable. (E) Exposure Norms The purchasing bank will reckon exposure on the obligor of the specific financial asset. Hence these banks should ensure compliance with the prudential credit exposure ceilings (both single and group) after reckoning the exposures to the obligors arising on account of the purchase. For NBFCs the relevant instructions on exposure norms would be applicable. 7.5. Disclosure Requirements Banks which purchase nonperforming financial assets from other banks shall be required to make the following disclosures in the Notes on Accounts to their Balance sheets: (Amounts in Rupees crore) 1. (a) No. of accounts purchased during the year (b) Aggregate outstanding 2. (a) Of these, number of accounts restructured during the year (b) Aggregate outstanding ( A m o u n t s i n R u p e e s c r o r e ) 1. No. of accounts sold 2. Aggregate outstanding 3. Aggregate consideration received

ased:

C. The purchasing bank shall furnish all relevant reports to RBI, credit information company which has obtained Certificate of Registration from RBI and of which the bank is a member etc. in respect of the nonperforming financial assets purchased by it. 8. Writing off of NPAs 8.1 In terms of Section 43(D) of the Income Tax Act 1961, income by way of interest in relation to such categories of bad and doubtful debts as may be prescribed having regard to the guidelines issued by the RBI in relation to such debts, shall be chargeable to tax in the previous year in which it is credited to the banks profit and loss account or received, whichever is earlier.