RBI sets the stage for competition; floats final guidelines on new banking licences

25 Feb 2013 Evaluate

Setting the stage for corporate giants to enter the highly regulated banking space as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 22 floated the much awaited guidelines for issuing new bank licences. Accommodating the Government’s viewpoint, the central bank reversed the stand it had taken in the draft guidelines of not allowing broking and real-estate companies in the banking space.

The RBI unveiled that Entities / groups in the private sector, public sector and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) shall be eligible to set up a bank through a wholly-owned Non-Operative Financial Holding Company (NOFHC).

As per the final guidelines, the minimum capital requirement for opening a bank was set at Rs 500 crore, while the foreign shareholding was capped at 49%.It also specified that entities applying for the new bank licences should have past records of 'sound credentials and integrity, be financially sound with a successful track record of 10 years. For this purpose, the banking regulator may seek feedback from other regulators and enforcement and investigative agencies.  Further, the new lenders would be required to open at least 25 percent of their branches in unbanked rural centres, whose population is less than 10,000.

Thus, interested firms are expected to apply for the new bank licences to the central bank till July 1, 2013. At the first stage, the applications will be screened by the Reserve Bank India. Thereafter, the applications will be referred to a High Level Advisory Committee, the constitution of which will be announced shortly.

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