Topic
banks
Finance Banks Collected Rs 7,100 Crore as Minimum Balance Penalty in FY26, Private Banks Account for 70%
Indian banks collected nearly Rs 7,100 crore in penalties from customers for failing to maintain minimum average balance in FY26, up from Rs 6,800 crore in FY25. Private banks accounted for 70% of the charges, with HDFC Bank alone collecting Rs 1,800 crore. Meanwhile, 10 of 12 public sector banks have discontinued such penal charges, leading to a decline in their collections.
Finance India Public Sector Banks' Bad Debt at Lowest Levels in Decades, Government Says
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Rajya Sabha that public sector banks' bad debt has fallen to the lowest levels in several decades. Gross NPAs declined from 7.3% to 1.9% in five years, while cumulative profits reached nearly Rs 2 lakh crore in FY2025-26, nearly three times the FY2021-22 level. The government also highlighted the continued credit growth and the role of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) in supporting businesses.
Finance UK Mortgage Rates Rise to Highest Level in a Month as Global Tensions Persist
Average UK mortgage rates have risen to levels last seen a month ago, with the two-year fixed deal averaging 5.58%, as renewed Middle East tensions push up lenders' funding costs and oil prices to $100/barrel, reducing expectations of central bank rate cuts. Over five million homeowners are projected to see higher monthly repayments by end of 2028, according to the Bank of England.
Finance Banks opt to deepen card usage within existing base
Banks are increasingly issuing multiple credit cards to existing customers rather than onboarding new ones, resulting in just 5.2 crore unique cardholders against 10.7 crore cards in circulation as of March 2026, according to TransUnion Cibil's 'Beyond the Swipe' report. The shift reflects a decade-long trend of deepening usage rather than expanding ownership, with the share of consumers holding three or more cards rising from 12% in 2016 to 22% in 2026.
Finance UK Banks Accused of Failing Vulnerable Customers by Financial Regulator
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has accused nine major UK banks of failing the most vulnerable customers, with a mystery shopping exercise rating a third of basic bank account interactions as poor or very poor. Banks have now agreed to simplify access for homeless and financially distressed individuals.
Finance RBI Stress Test: Indian Banks Pass, But Gold Loan and Private Credit Risks Flagged
The RBI's bi-annual Financial Stability Report reveals that Indian banks' capital adequacy remains above regulatory minimums under stress scenarios, though gross NPA ratios are projected to rise to 3.8-4.1% by March 2028. The central bank also flagged risks from gold loans and private credit, while governor Sanjay Malhotra cited strong growth and low inflation as supporting macro-financial stability.
Finance Banks Borrow ₹16,800 Crore at RBI VRR Auction, Signaling Comfortable Liquidity Conditions in Banking System
Banks borrowed only ₹16,800 crore from the Reserve Bank of India at its four-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction, against the notified amount of ₹50,000 crore, indicating comfortable liquidity conditions. The cut-off rate stood at 5.26%, marginally above the policy repo rate of 5.25%, according to News on AIR.
Finance From Finance to Human Trafficking: How Banks Can Protect Customers During the 2026 World Cup
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, financial institutions face heightened risks of fraud and human trafficking. The article outlines how banks can use AI tools and layered defense strategies to protect customers from authorized and unauthorized frauds, especially ticket resale scams and geographical risks across host cities.
Finance RBI tightens mis-selling rules; banks barred from incentive structures that encourage aggressive sales
The Reserve Bank of India on Monday tightened norms governing the advertising, marketing and sale of financial products and services to curb mis-selling. Banks and NBFCs are barred from incentive structures that encourage aggressive sales. The revised directions, effective January 1, 2027, adopt a principle-based, channel-agnostic approach and cover digital intermediaries including social media influencers.
Finance After RBI Measures, Banks Offer Up to 7% on Dollar Deposits, Boosting Arbitrage for Trade Finance
Following the Reserve Bank of India's free hedging window, banks are offering up to 7.1% on Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) deposits. Yes Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and Karur Vysya Bank lead with rates exceeding 7%, while larger peers offer around 6%. The development opens an arbitrage between offshore borrowing costs and onshore returns, with implications for trade finance and forex management for importers and exporters.
Trade India's Gold Tariff Hike Spurs Smuggling Surge
India's recent gold tariff hike has led to a resurgence in smuggling, with illegal imports potentially exceeding 100 tons in 2026. This has created challenges for banks and refiners, as grey market discounts disrupt legal trade.
Regulations & Compliance US Treasury urges banks to monitor migrant transactions
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