Thursday, May 21, 2020

Covid-19 crisis: Banks seek relaxed NPA norms, moratorium extension


Senior bank executives said the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) has already approached the Reserve Bank of India with a plea for easing regulatory norms.


Banks and financial institutions expect much heavy lifting through credit support, pegged at over Rs 11 trillion in FY21, in the days ahead. As a result, lenders have sought the easing of NPA norms, one-time restructuring, and extension of the moratorium till August-end for borrowers affected by the Covid situation.
Senior bank executives said the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has already approached the Reserve Bank of India with a plea for easing regulatory norms, so as to support borrowers hit by the outbreak.

The rule stating that loans unpaid for 90 days in a row will be categorised as non-performing assets (NPAs) needs to be relaxed. The IBA, a banking industry lobby group, has recommended that this period be extended from to 180 days for the current financial year.

In FY22, it could be restored to its original status in two stages. For first six months, loans due for 120 or more days and remaining unpaid for 90 days, will be treated as a bad loan. The RBI may announce its decision in the next few days.
This should also accompany the one-time restructuring of loans, given the concerns of borrowers go beyond liquidity. They now include viability and the capacity to change as well as survive in different business environments, in the post-Covid world, said bankers.

The three-month-moratorium is nearing its end (on May 31). This breathing space has been deemed inadequate and a further 90 days sought by the sector.
In addition, majority of government support under the Rs 20.97-trillion package, announced to deal with the adverse impact of the pandemic, is in the form of guarantees and interest subventions.


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