Executive Summary:
This Master Direction, updated as of September 12, 2023, outlines the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) guidelines regarding interest rates on advances. It specifies the framework for interest rates, benchmark requirements, and spreads applicable to scheduled commercial banks, excluding RRBs, Small Finance Banks and Local Area Banks. The directions came into effect on the date of their placement on the RBI's official website.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Applicability:** These directions apply to every Scheduled Commercial Bank excluding RRBs, Small Finance Bank and Local Area Bank, but not to the operations of foreign branches of Indian banks.
* **General Guidelines:**
* Banks must have a Board-approved comprehensive policy on interest rates on advances.
* Floating rate loans (with exceptions) must be priced with reference to specified benchmarks.
* Banks can offer fixed or floating interest rates on all advances.
* Interest must be charged on advances at monthly rests, with specific instructions for agricultural advances.
* Lending below the benchmark rate is prohibited.
* **Benchmark:**
* **Internal Benchmark:**
* Loans sanctioned between July 1, 2010, and March 31, 2016, are priced with reference to the Base Rate.
* Loans sanctioned from April 1, 2016, are priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR).
* MCLR comprises marginal cost of funds, negative carry on account of CRR, operating costs, and tenor premium.
* Banks must review and publish MCLR of different maturities every month.
* **External Benchmark:**
* New floating rate personal/retail loans and loans to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises must be benchmarked to specified external benchmarks (RBI policy repo rate, Government of India Treasury Bill yields published by FBIL or any other benchmark market interest rate published by the FBIL).
* Banks must adopt a uniform external benchmark within a loan category.
* Interest rate under external benchmark shall be reset at least once in three months.
* **Interest Rates on Advances:**
* **Spread:**
* Banks must have a Board-approved policy delineating the components of spread.
* Spread under Base rate system: The credit risk premium charged to an existing borrower shall not be increased except on account of deterioration in the credit risk profile of the customer or change in tenor premium.
* Spread under MCLR system: Business strategy and credit risk premium should be taken into consideration.
* Banks are free to decide the spread over the external benchmark. Credit risk premium may undergo change only when borrowers credit assessment undergoes a substantial change, as agreed upon in the loan contract. Further, other components of spread including operating cost could be altered once in three years.
* **Reset of Interest Rates:**
* Under MCLR system, periodicity of reset shall be one year or lower corresponding to the tenor maturity of the MCLR.
* Under External Benchmarks, the interest rate shall be reset at least once in three months.
* **Transition:**
* Existing BPLR loans continue until maturity, with an option for borrowers to switch to the Base Rate system on mutually agreed terms without fees.
* Existing loans linked to Base Rate/BPLR continue until repayment or renewal, with an option to move to MCLR-linked loans on mutually acceptable terms.
* Existing loans linked to the MCLR/Base Rate/BPLR continue until repayment or renewal, with an option to move to External Benchmark at mutually acceptable terms. No foreclosure charges should be levied for floating rate term loans eligible for prepayment without charges.
* **Foreign Currency Advances:** Banks have the freedom to determine the interest rates on advances in foreign currency. The interest rates shall be determined with reference to a market determined external benchmark. The actual lending rates shall be determined by adding the components of spread to the external benchmark.
* **Exemptions:** Certain loans are exempted from Chapter III and IV provisions, including loans under government schemes, WCTL/FITL, refinance schemes, advances to bank depositors/employees/Chief Executive Officer/Whole Time Directors, loans linked to a market determined external benchmark, and fixed rate loans of tenor above three years.
* **Repeal and Other Provisions:** Instructions/guidelines in the circulars listed in point 14 of the document stand repealed. Approvals/acknowledgements given under the repealed circulars are deemed given under these directions. Loan contracts entered into based on prior guidelines are covered under these directions.
Impact Analysis:
* **Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs, Small Finance Banks and Local Area Banks):**
* *Impact:* Must comply with the new guidelines for setting interest rates on advances, including adopting appropriate benchmarks and Board-approved policies.
* *Action Required:* Review and update internal policies, lending practices, and systems to align with the new directions.
* **Borrowers:**
* *Impact:* Interest rates on their loans, particularly floating rate loans, will be determined based on the new benchmark requirements. Existing borrowers have options to switch to new benchmark-linked loans.
* *Action Required:* Understand how the new guidelines affect their existing and future loans, and evaluate whether to switch to MCLR or external benchmark-linked loans.
Key Entities Referenced
Reserve Bank of India: The central bank of India, responsible for regulating the banking sector and monetary policy.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949: An act of the Parliament of India to regulate banking companies in India.
Scheduled Commercial Bank: Banks in India that are listed in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
Small Finance Bank: A type of bank in India that focuses on providing basic banking services to underserved populations.
Local Area Bank: A type of bank in India that operates in a specific geographic area.
Repo Rate: The rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends money to commercial banks against government securities.
Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd (FBIL): An independent benchmark administrator in India.
Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR): An internal benchmark rate used by banks in India to determine interest rates on loans.
भारतीय �रजव र् बक�
__________ RESERVE BANK OF INDIA__________
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/DBR/2015-16/20
Master Direction DBR.Dir. No.85/13.03.00/2015-16 March 03, 2016
(Updated as on September 12, 2023)
(Updated as on June 10, 2021)
(Updated as on February 26, 2020)
(Updated as on September 04, 2019)
(Updated as on March 29, 2016)
Master Direction - Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on Advances)
Directions, 2016
In exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 21 and 35 A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India being satisfied that it is necessary
and expedient in the public interest so to do, hereby, issues the Directions
hereinafter specified.
CHAPTER – I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short Title and Commencement.
(a) These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Interest Rate on
Advances) Directions, 2016.
(b) These directions shall come into effect on the day it is placed on the official
website of the Reserve Bank of India.
2. Applicability
The provisions of these Directions shall apply to every Scheduled Commercial Bank
(excluding RRBs), Small Finance Bank and Local Area Bank1. These directions shall
not be applicable to operations of foreign branches of Indian banks.
3. Definitions
(a) In these Directions, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms herein shall
bear the meanings assigned to them below —
(i) Advance against own deposit means advance granted against
Rupee/FCNR(B) term deposit and deposit stands in the name of:
1 The words “licensed to operate in India by Reserve Bank of India” appearing at the end of the sentence deleted.(a) the borrower, either singly or jointly
(b) one of the partners of a partnership firm and advance is made to the
said firm.
(c) the proprietor of a proprietary concern and advance is made to such
concern.
(d) a ward whose guardian is competent to borrow on behalf of the ward
and where the advance is made to the guardian of the ward in such
capacity.
(ii) Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) means internal benchmark rate used
to determine the interest rates on advances/loans sanctioned upto June 30,
2010.
(iii) Benchmark rate means the reference rate used to determine the interest rates
on loans.
(iv) External benchmark rate means the reference rate which includes:
(a) Reserve Bank of India policy Repo Rate
(b) Government of India 3-Months and 6-Months Treasury Bill yields
published by Financial Benchmarks India Private Ltd (FBIL)
(c) Any other benchmark market interest rate published by FBIL.
(v) Fixed rate loan means a loan on which the interest rate is fixed for the entire
tenor of the loan.
(vi) Floating rate loan means a loan on which interest rate does not remain fixed
during the tenor of the loan.
(vii) Internal benchmark rate means a reference rate determined internally by the
bank.
(viii) Rests refers to periodicity of charging interest to borrowers.
(ix) Term loan means a loan which is repayable after a specified term period.
(b) All other expressions unless defined herein shall have the same meaning as
have been assigned to them under the Banking Regulation Act or the Reserve
2Bank of India Act, or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereto or as
used in commercial parlance, as the case may be.
CHAPTER – II
GENERAL GUIDELINES
4. Interest Rate framework
(a) Scheduled commercial banks shall charge interest on advances on the terms
and conditions specified in these directions.
(i) There shall be a comprehensive policy on interest rates on advances duly
approved by the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board to which
powers have been delegated.
(ii) All floating rate loans, except those mentioned in section 13, shall be priced
with reference to the benchmark indicated in chapter III.
(iii) Banks shall have the freedom to offer all categories of advances on fixed or
floating interest rates.
(iv) When the floating rate advances are linked to an internal benchmark rate,
banks shall determine their actual lending rates by adding the components of
spread to the internal benchmark rate.
(v) The reference benchmark rate used for pricing the loans shall form part of the
terms of the loan contract.
(vi) Interest rates on fixed rate loans of tenor below 3 years shall not be less than
the benchmark rate for similar tenor and shall be as per directions contained
in Section 13(d)(v).
(vii) Interest shall be charged on all advances at monthly rests.
Provided that interest on agricultural advances and advance to farmers shall
be charged as per the instructions contained in circulars RPCD. No. CPFS.
BC. 60 /PS. 165-85 dated June 06, 1985 and RPCD. No. PLFS. BC. 129
/05.02.27/97-98 dated June 29, 1998.
(viii) Interest chargeable on rupee advances shall be rounded off to the nearest
rupee.
3(ix) Interest charged on small value loans, particularly, personal loans and such
other loans of similar nature shall be justifiable having regard to the total cost
incurred by the bank in extending the loan and the extent of return that could
be reasonably expected from the transaction.
(x) In case of takeover of bank branches in rural and semi urban centres from
one commercial bank to another commercial bank, transfer of borrowal
accounts of the existing branch to the branch of acquiring bank shall be on
mutually agreed terms of contract.
Provided that the existing borrowers shall not be put into any disadvantage
and shall have the option of continuing with the existing bank or the acquiring
bank.
(xi) There shall be no lending below the benchmark rate for a particular maturity
for all loans linked to that benchmark.
(b) The directions contained in section 4(a) above shall also be applicable to Rupee
advances granted against FCNR(B) deposits to a third party or out of resources
mobilized under the FCNR(B) scheme.
5. Penal Interest
[*******
********]2
As regards Penal Charges, banks shall be guided by Circular No.
DoR.MCS.REC.28/01.01.001/2023-24 on “Fair Lending Practice - Penal Charges in
Loan Accounts” dated August 18, 2023.
CHAPTER – III
BENCHMARK
6. Internal Benchmark
(a) Base Rate
(i) All floating rate rupee loans sanctioned and renewed between July 1, 2010
and March 31, 2016 shall be priced with reference to the Base Rate which will
be the internal benchmark for such purposes.
(ii) Base Rate shall include all those elements of the lending rates that are
common across all categories of borrowers.
2 Para on Penal Interest has been deleted vide amendment dated August 18, 2023.
4(iii) There can be only one Base Rate for each bank.
(iv) Banks shall have the freedom to calculate cost of funds either on the basis of
average cost of funds or on marginal cost of funds or any other methodology
in vogue, which is reasonable and transparent, subject to it being consistent
and made available for supervisory review/scrutiny as and when required.
Provided that where the card rate for deposits of one or more tenor is the
basis, the deposits in the chosen tenor/s shall have the largest share in the
deposit base of the bank.
(v) Banks shall 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 bank’s practice.
(vi) Banks shall not review the Base Rate methodology for at least a period of
three years from date of its finalization.
Provided that this shall not apply to banks that have commenced their
banking operations in India after September 2, 2013. Such banks shall be
permitted to revise their Base Rate methodology once within a year from the
date of commencement of their business operations in India.
(b) Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR)
(i) All floating rate rupee loans sanctioned and renewed w.e.f. April 1, 2016 shall
be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate
(MCLR) which will be the internal benchmark for such purposes subject to the
provisions contained in paragraph 7 of this Master Direction.
(ii) The MCLR shall comprise of:
a. Marginal cost of funds;
b. Negative carry on account of CRR;
c. Operating costs;
d. Tenor premium.
(iii) Marginal Cost of funds
The marginal cost of funds shall comprise of Marginal cost of borrowings and
return on networth. The detailed methodology for computing marginal cost of
funds is given in the Annex.
5(iv) Negative Carry on CRR
Negative carry on the mandatory CRR which arises due to return on CRR
balances being nil, will be calculated as under:
Required CRR x (marginal cost) / (1- CRR)
The marginal cost of funds arrived at (iii) above shall be used for arriving at
negative carry on CRR.
(v) Operating Costs
All operating costs associated with providing the loan product including cost of
raising funds shall be included under this head. It shall be ensured that the
costs of providing those services which are separately recovered by way of
service charges do not form part of this component.
(vi) Tenor premium
These costs arise from loan commitments with longer tenor. The change in
tenor premium should not be borrower specific or loan class specific. In other
words, the tenor premium will be uniform for all types of loans for a given
residual tenor.
(vii) The tenor of the MCLR calculated as per the Annex shall correspond to the
following:
a. the tenor of the funds in the single largest maturity bucket, provided it is
more than 30 percent of the entire funds (other than equity) reckoned
for determining the MCLR, or
b. the weighted average tenor of two or more maturity buckets that
together account for more than 30 percent, if no single maturity bucket
accounts for more than 30 percent of the funds. The maturity bucket
shall be arrived at by calculating the cumulative weightage based on
the descending order of the maturity time buckets.
(viii) Since MCLR will be a tenor linked benchmark, banks shall arrive at the
MCLR of various maturities by incorporating the corresponding tenor
premium/discount to the sum of Marginal cost of funds, Negative carry on
6account of CRR and Operating costs. Accordingly, banks shall publish the
internal benchmark for the following maturities:
a. overnight MCLR,
b. one-month MCLR,
c. three-month MCLR,
d. six month MCLR,
e. One year MCLR.
In addition to the above, banks shall have the option of publishing MCLR of
any other longer maturity.
(ix) Review of MCLR
(a) Banks shall review and publish their Marginal Cost of Funds based
Lending Rate (MCLR) of different maturities every month on a pre-
announced date with the approval of the Board or any other committee to
which powers have been delegated.
(b) Banks which do not have adequate systems to carry out the review of
MCLR on a monthly basis, shall review their rates once a quarter on a pre-
announced date for the first one year i.e. upto March 31, 2017.
Provided that, such banks shall adopt the monthly review of MCLR as
mentioned in section 6(b)(ix)(a) above.
7. External Benchmark
(a) All new floating rate personal or retail loans (housing, auto, etc.) and floating rate
loans extended by banks to Micro and Small Enterprises from October 01, 2019 and
floating rate loans to Medium Enterprises from April 01, 2020 shall be benchmarked
to one of the following:
- Reserve Bank of India policy repo rate
- Government of India 3-Months Treasury Bill yield published by the Financial
Benchmarks India Private Ltd (FBIL)
- Government of India 6-Months Treasury Bill yield published by the FBIL
- Any other benchmark market interest rate published by the FBIL.
7(b) Banks are free to offer such external benchmark linked loans to other types of
borrowers as well.
(c) In order to ensure transparency, standardisation, and ease of understanding of
loan products by borrowers, a bank must adopt a uniform external benchmark within
a loan category; in other words, the adoption of multiple benchmarks by the same
bank is not allowed within a loan category.
CHAPTER – IV
INTEREST RATES ON ADVANCES
8. Spread
(a) Banks shall have a Board approved policy delineating the components of
spread charged to a customer. The policy shall include principles:
(i) To determine the quantum of each component of spread.
(ii) To determine the range of spread for a given category of borrower / type of
loan.
(iii) To delegate powers in respect of loan pricing.
(b) Spread under Base rate system
In addition to the conditions laid down in section 8(a) of these Directions,
banks shall adhere to the following conditions:
(i) The credit risk premium charged to an existing borrower shall not be
increased except on account of deterioration in the credit risk profile of
the customer or change in tenor premium.
Provided that the stipulation contained in sub-section 8(b)(i) above
shall not be applicable to loans under consortium / multiple banking
arrangements.
(ii) The change in tenor premium on loans sanctioned under Base rate
system shall not be borrower specific or loan class specific. In other
words, the change in tenor premium shall be uniform for all types of
loans for a given residual tenor.
Provided that the spread guidelines mentioned above shall not apply to loans
granted under BPLR system, which continue till date. Such loans shall be
covered under the terms of the loan agreements.
8(c) Spread under MCLR system
In addition to the conditions laid down in section 8(a) of these Directions,
banks shall adopt the following broad components of spread:
(i) Business strategy
The component shall be arrived at taking into consideration the business
strategy, market competition, embedded options in the loan product,
market liquidity of the loan etc.
(ii) Credit risk premium
The credit risk premium charged to the customer representing the default
risk arising from loan sanctioned shall be arrived at based on an
appropriate credit risk rating/scoring model and after taking into
consideration customer relationship, expected losses, collaterals, etc.
(d) The spread charged to an existing borrower shall not be increased except on
account of deterioration in the credit risk profile of the customer. Any such
decision regarding change in spread on account of change in credit risk profile
shall be supported by a full-fledged risk profile review of the customer.
Provided that the stipulation contained in sub-section 8(d) above shall not be
applicable to loans under consortium / multiple banking arrangements.
(e) Spread under External Benchmark
Banks are free to decide the spread over the external benchmark. However, credit
risk premium may undergo change only when borrower’s credit assessment
undergoes a substantial change, as agreed upon in the loan contract. Further, other
components of spread including operating cost could be altered once in three years.
9. (i) Reset of interest rates under MCLR system
(a) Banks shall, at their option, specify interest reset dates on their floating rate
loans. Banks shall have the option to offer loans with reset dates linked either to
the date of first disbursement of the loan/credit limits or to the date of review of
MCLR.
(b) The Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) prevailing on the date
of first disbursement, whether partial or full, shall be applicable till the next reset
date, irrespective of the changes in the benchmark during the interim. Future
reset dates shall be determined accordingly.
9(c) The periodicity of reset shall be one year or lower. The exact periodicity of reset
shall form part of the terms of the loan contract.
(d) The periodicity of the reset under MCLR shall correspond to the tenor/ maturity of
the MCLR to which the loan is linked.
9. (ii) Reset of interest rates under External Benchmarks
The interest rate under external benchmark shall be reset at least once in three
months.
10. Transition to Base Rate from BPLR
Existing loans based on the BPLR system shall run till their maturity.
Provided that existing borrowers desirous of switching to the new Base Rate
system, before expiry of the existing contracts shall be given an option on mutually
agreed terms.
Provided further that no fee is charged for such switch-over.
11. (i) Transition to MCLR from Base Rate/ BPLR
(a) Banks shall continue to review and publish Base Rate as hitherto.
(b) Existing loans and credit limits linked to the Base Rate/ BPLR shall continue till
repayment or renewal, as the case may be.
Provided that existing borrowers shall have the option to move to the Marginal
Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) linked loan at mutually acceptable
terms.
Provided that the switch-over shall not be treated as a foreclosure of existing
facility.
11. (ii) Transition to External Benchmarks from MCLR/Base Rate/ BPLR
Existing loans and credit limits linked to the MCLR/Base Rate/BPLR shall continue
till repayment or renewal, as the case may be.
Provided that floating rate term loans sanctioned to borrowers who, in terms of
extant guidelines, are eligible to prepay a floating rate loan without pre-payment
charges, shall be eligible for switchover to External Benchmark without any
charges/fees, except reasonable administrative/ legal costs. The final rate charged to
this category of borrowers, post switchover to external benchmark, shall be same as
10the rate charged for a new loan of the same category, type, tenor and amount, at the
time of origination of the loan.
Provided that other existing borrowers shall have the option to move to External
Benchmark at mutually acceptable terms.
Provided that the switch-over shall not be treated as a foreclosure of existing facility.
CHAPTER – V
FOREIGN CURRENCY ADVANCES
12. Interest rates on advances in foreign currency
(a) Banks shall have the freedom to determine the interest rates on advances in
foreign currency as per the comprehensive policy on interest rates on advances
duly approved by the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board to which
powers have been delegated.
(b) The interest rates shall be determined with reference to a market determined
external benchmark.
(c) The actual lending rates shall be determined by adding the components of
spread to the external benchmark.
CHAPTER – VI
EXEMPTIONS
13. Exemptions
The following types of loans shall be exempted from the provisions contained under
chapter III and IV of this directive:
(a) Loans covered by schemes specially formulated by Government of India wherein
banks have to charge interest rates as per the scheme.
(b) Working Capital Term Loan (WCTL), Funded Interest Term Loan (FITL), etc.
granted as part of the rectification/restructuring package.
(c) Loans granted under various refinance schemes formulated by Government of
India or any Government Undertakings wherein banks charge interest at the rates
prescribed under the schemes to the extent refinance is available, Interest rate
charged on the part not covered under refinance shall adhere to the Base
rate/MCLR/External Benchmark guidelines.
(d) The following categories of loans:
(i) Advances to banks’ depositors against their own deposits.
11(ii) Advances to banks’ own employees including retired employees.
(iii) Advances granted to the Chief Executive Officer / Whole Time Directors.
(iv) Loans linked to a market determined external benchmark.
Provided that floating rate loans based on external benchmark sanctioned
before April 01, 2016 shall be equal to or above the Base Rate at the time
of sanction or renewal.
(v) Fixed rate loans of tenor above three years.
Provided that in case of hybrid loans where the interest rates are partly
fixed and partly floating, interest rate on the floating portion shall not be
exempted from MCLR system.
Provided further that interest rates for fixed rate loans (including fixed rate
portion of hybrid loans) of tenor up to three years shall not be less than
the sum of following:
a. Marginal Cost of Funds
b. Negative Carry on CRR
c. Operating Cost
d. Tenor premium for corresponding maturity on the date of sanction.
Provided further that fixed rate loans sanctioned before April 01, 2016 shall
not be below the Base Rate at the time of sanction or renewal.
12Annex
(see Section 6(b) under Chapter III)
Sl Source of Rates Balance Marginal Remarks
funds offered outstanding as a cost
(excluding on percentage of
(1) x(2)
equity) deposits total funds (other
on the than equity)
date of
(2)(See note
review/
below)
rates at
which
funds
raised
(1)
A Marginal Cost of Borrowings
1 Deposits
a Current The core portion of current
Deposits deposits identified based on the
guidelines on Asset Liability
Management issued vide circular
dated October 24, 2007 should
be reckoned for arriving at the
balance outstanding.
b Savings The core portion of savings
Deposits deposits identified based on the
guidelines on Asset Liability
Management issued vide circular
dated October 24, 2007 should
be reckoned for arriving at the
balance outstanding.
c Term Term deposits of various
deposits maturities including those on
(Fixed Rate)
which differential interest rates
are payable should be included.
d Term The rate should be arrived at
deposits based on the prevailing external
(Floating
benchmark rate on the date of
Rate)
review.
e Foreign Foreign currency deposits, to the
currency extent deployed for lending in
deposits
rupees, should be included in
computing marginal cost of
13Sl Source of Rates Balance Marginal Remarks
funds offered outstanding as a cost
(excluding on percentage of
(1) x(2)
equity) deposits total funds (other
on the than equity)
date of
(2)(See note
review/
below)
rates at
which
funds
raised
(1)
funds. The swap cost and hedge
cost of such deposits should be
reckoned for computing marginal
cost.
2 Borrowings
a Short term Interest payable on each type of
Rupee short term borrowing will be
Borrowings
arrived at using the average
rates at which such short term
borrowings were raised in the
last one month. For eg. Interest
on borrowings from RBI under
LAF will be the average interest
rate at which a bank has
borrowed from RBI under LAF
during the last one month.
b Long term Option 1:
Rupee
Interest payable on each type of
Borrowings
long term borrowing will be
arrived at using the average
rates at which such long term
borrowings were raised.
Option 2:
The appropriate benchmark yield
for bank bonds published by
FIMMDA for valuation purposes
will be used as the proxy rate for
14Sl Source of Rates Balance Marginal Remarks
funds offered outstanding as a cost
(excluding on percentage of
(1) x(2)
equity) deposits total funds (other
on the than equity)
date of
(2)(See note
review/
below)
rates at
which
funds
raised
(1)
calculating marginal cost.
c Foreign Foreign currency borrowings, to
Currency the extent deployed for lending in
Borrowings
rupees, should be included in
including HO
computing marginal cost of
borrowings
funds. The all-in-cost of raising
by foreign
foreign currency borrowings
banks (other
than those including swap cost and hedge
forming part cost would be reckoned for
of Tier-I computing marginal cost of
capital)
funds.
Marginal The marginal cost of
cost of borrowings shall have a
borrowings
weightage of 92% of Marginal
Cost of Funds while return on
networth will have the balance
weightage of 8%.
B Return on Amount of common equity Tier 1 capital required to be maintained for Risk
networth Weighted Assets as per extant capital adequacy norms shall be included for
computing marginal cost of funds. Since currently, the common equity Tier 1
capital is (5.5% +2.5%) 8% of RWA, the weightage given for this component
in the marginal cost of funds will be 8%.
In case of newly set up banks (either domestic or foreign banks operating as
branches in India) where lending operations are mainly financed by capital,
the weightage for this component may be higher ie in proportion to the
extent of capital deployed for lending. This dispensation will be available for
15a period of three years from the date of commencing operations.
The cost of equity will be the minimum desired rate of return on equity
computed as a mark-up over the risk free rate. Banks could follow any
pricing model such as Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to arrive at the
cost of capital. This rate can be reviewed annually.
Marginal cost of funds = 92% x Marginal cost of borrowings + 8% x Return on networth
Note: Banks shall have the option to reckon the outstanding balances of deposits
and other borrowings as on any day, not more than seven calendar days, prior to the
date from which the MCLR becomes effective. The chosen time lag shall be
maintained consistently for a period not less one year.
16CHAPTER – VII
REPEAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS
14. With the issue of these directions, the instructions / guidelines contained in the
following circulars issued by the Reserve Bank stand repealed:
SL Circular No. Date Subject
1. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.36/C.347-90 22.10.1990 Rounding off Transactions
to the Nearest Rupee
2. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.115/13.07.01/ 94 17.10.1994 Interest Rates on Advances
3. IECD.No.28/08.12.01/94-95** 22.11.1994 Compliance with Lending
Discipline - (a) Charging of
Uniform Rates of Interest for
Lending under Consortium
Arrangement and (b) Penal
Interest for Non-compliance
with the Discipline
4. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.141/13.07.01-94 07.12.1994 Interest Rates on Advances
5. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.89/13:07:01/95 21.08.1995 Deregulation of Lending
Rates - Levy of Interest Tax
6. DBOD.No.BC.99/13.07.01/95 12.09.1995 Withdrawals against
Uncleared Effects
7. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.139/13.07.01/96 19.10.1996 Interest Rates on Advances
- Prime Lending Rate
8. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.10/13.07.01/97 12.02.1997 Interest Rates on Advances
- Prime Lending Rate
9. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.124/13.07.01/97-98 21.10.1997 Interest Rates on Advances
10. DBOD.No. Dir.BC.33/13.03.00/98 29.04.1998 Interest Rates on Advances
11. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.36/13.03.00/98 29.04.1998 Monetary and Credit Policy
Measures
12. DBOD.No.BP.BC.35/21.01.002/99 24.04.1999 Monetary and Credit Policy
Measures
13. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.100/13.07.01/ 99 11.10.1999 Interest Rates on Advances
- Fixed Rate Loans
14. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.106/13.03.00/99 29.10.1999 Interest Rates on Advances
15. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.114/13.03.00/99 29.10.1999 Mid-Term Review of
Monetary and Credit Policy
1999-2000
16. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.168/13:03:00-2000 27.04.2000 Monetary and Credit Policy
for the Year 2000-2001 -
Interest Rate Policy
1717. DBOD.No.BC.178/13:07:01/2000 25.05.2000 Interest Rates on Advances
18. DBOD No. BP.BC 31/21.04.048/00-01 10.10.2000 Monetary and Credit Policy
Measures -
Mid-Term Review for the
Year 2000-2001
19. IECD No.9/04.02.01/2000-01 05.01.2001 Interest Rate on Export
Credit
20. DBOD No.Dir.BC 106/13.03.00/2000-01 19.04.2001 Interest Rates on Advances
21. DBOD No.Dir.BC 107/13.03.00/2000-01 19.04.2001 Monetary and Credit Policy
for the year 2001-2002 -
Interest Rate Policy
22. IECD No.13/04.02.01/2000-01 19.04.2001 Rupee Export Credit Interest
Rates
23. DBOD No.Dir.BC.117/13.07.01/2000-01 04.05.2001 Charging of Penal Interest
24. DBOD No.Dir.BC.75/13.07.01/2002 15.03.2002 Interest Rates on Advances
25. DBOD No.Dir.BC.8/13.07.00/2002-03 26.07.2002 Charging of Interest at
Monthly Rests -
Consolidated Instructions
26. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.19/13.07.01/2002-03 19.08.2002 Zero percent Interest
Finance Schemes for
Consumer Durables
27. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.25/13.03.00/2002-03 19.09.2002 Charging of Interest at
Monthly Rests - Agricultural
Advances
28. IECD.No.18/04.02.01/2002-03 30.04.2003 Rupee Export Credit Interest
Rates
29. DBOD.No.BC.103/13.07.01/2003 30.04.2003 Interest Rates on Advances
30. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.103A/13.03.00/2002-03 30.04.2003 Interest Rates on Advances
- Prime Lending Rate and
Spreads
31. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.10/13.03.00/2003-04 14.08.2003 Interest Rates on Advances
32. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.38/13.03.00/2003-04 21.10.2003 Interest Rates on Advances
- Prime Lending Rate and
Spreads
33. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.39/13.03.00/2003-04 21.10.2003 Interest Rates on Advances
- Prime Lending Rate and
Spreads
34. DBOD.No.81/13.07.01/2003-04 24.04.2004 Interest Rates on Advances
35. IECD.No.10/04.02.01/2003-04 24.04.2004 Rupee Export Credit Interest
Rates
1836. IECD.No.13/04.02.01/2003-04 18.05.2004 Export Credit Interest Rates
for Gold Card Holder
Exporters
37. DBOD.No.BC.85/13.07.01/2003-04 18.05.2004 Interest Rates on Advances
38. DBOD.No.BC.84/13.07.01/2004-05 29.04.2005 Interest Rates on Advances
39. DBOD.Dir (Exp.).BC.No.83/ 04.02.01 28.04.2006 Rupee Export Credit Interest
/2005-06 Rates
40. DBOD.Dir (Exp.).BC.No.79/04.02.01/ 17.04.2007 Interest Rates on Advances
2006-07
41. DBOD.Dir.BC.93/13.03.00/2006-07 07.05.2007 Complaints about Excessive
Interest Charged by Banks
42. DBOD.Dir.(Exp).BC.No.77/04.02.01/2007 28.04.2008 Rupee Export Credit Interest
-08 Rates
43. DBOD.Dir.(Exp).BC.No.131/04.02.01/200 29.04.2009 Rupee Export Credit Interest
8-09 Rates
44. DBOD.Dir.BC.88/13.03.00/2009-10 09.04.2010 Guidelines on Base Rate
45. DBOD.Dir.(Exp).BC.No.102/04.02.01/200 06.05.2010 Rupee Export Credit Interest
9-10 Rates
46. Mail Box clarification 14.05.2010 Guidelines on Base Rate
47. Letter to IBA 24.06.2010 Guidelines on Base Rate
48. Mail Box clarification 24.09.2010 Guidelines on Base Rate
49. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.73/13.03.00/2010-11 06.01.2011 Guidelines on Base Rate
50. DBOD.No.Dir.BC.81/13.03.00/2010-11 21.02.2011 Guidelines on Base Rate
51. DBOD.Dir.BC.34/13.03.00/2011-12 09.09.2011 Guidelines on Base Rate
52. DBOD.Dir.No.12740/13.07.01/2011-12 24.2.2012 Guidelines on Base Rate
53. Mail Box clarification 10.04.2012 Guidelines on Base Rate
54. Mail Box clarification 27.04.2012 Guidelines on Base Rate
55. Mail Box Clarification 31.12.2012 Guidelines on Base Rate
56. DBOD.Dir.BC.No.47/13.03.00/2013-14 02.09.2013 Base Rate- Revised
Guidelines
57. DBOD.Dir.BC. No.106/13.03.00/2013-14 15.04.2014 Differential Rate of Interest
for Micro and Small
Enterprises (MSEs)
58. Mail Box Clarification 19.08.2014 Guidelines on Base Rate
59. Mail Box Clarification 08.10.2014 Base Rate Guidelines
1960. DBR.Dir.BC.No.63/13.03.00/2014-15 19.01.2015 Interest Rates on Advances
61. DBR.No.Dir.BC.67/13.03.00/2015-16 17.12.2015 Interest Rates on Advances
** Paragraph (d) of the circular listed at Sr. No. 3 above shall be treated as repealed.
15. All approvals / acknowledgements given under the above circulars shall be
deemed as given under these directions.
16. Loan contracts entered into by banks based on the guidelines (including BPLR
guidelines) contained in the above circulars prior to issue of these Directions shall be
deemed as covered under these Directions.
20