RBI gives CRR exemption to banks for new retail, MSME loans for 5 years

11 Feb 2020 Evaluate

With an aim to boost demand in the sagging economy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said the special lending window with cash reserve ratios (CRR) exemption will be open from February 14 and incremental loans disbursed under this facility will have CRR exemption for the next five years. This means that banks will not be needed to make additional cash reserve ratio against any incremental loans disbursed to the targeted segments. The window opens on February 14 for six months ending July 31, 2020, but the net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) will be calculated as of January 31, 2020.

The productive sectors identified by the regulator are auto and residential housing loans, and also loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The central bank said banks can claim the first such deduction from the NDTL of February 14, 2020 for the amount equivalent to the incremental credit extended to the above identified sectors over the outstanding level of credit as at the end of the fortnight to January 31, 2020. An amount equivalent to the incremental credit outstanding from the fortnight beginning January 31, 2020 and up to the fortnight ending July 31, 2020 will be eligible for deduction from NDTL for the purpose of computing the CRR for a period of five years from the date of origination of the loan or the tenure of the loan, whichever is earlier.

The central bank feels revitalising credit flow to productive sectors like these can have multiplier effects to spur support growth. It added that proper fortnightly records of net incremental credit extended to these select sectors/NDTL exemption claimed, duly certified by the chief financial officer or an equivalent officer, must be maintained by banks for supervisory review. The RBI expects this special window to enable improved credit flow to needy sectors, reinforces monetary transmission, strengthens regulation and supervision, broadens and deepens financial markets; and also improves payment and settlement systems.

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