In the last few months the banks have slashed their deposit rates which have shrink depositors income. Banks have reduced interest rates (especially for deposits of up to one year) by about four percentage points in comparison to a year ago.
At present after the cut the deposit rates of 15 days to one-year period range from 3 per cent to 6.25 per cent per annum. Whereas five-and-a-half years ago, in March 2004, the peak rates for this time duration was about 5.25 per cent.
After that the deposit rates began to rise and gradually over the next few years, the deposit rates reached 8 per cent in March 2008.
Moreover banks started lending aggressively as the economic growth started improving.
For aggressive lending banks needed more resources thus they started increasing deposit rates.
However in the bulk market interest rates in the bulk fixed deposits market (deposits above Rs 1 crore) were equally higher by 0.50-1 percentage point. Thus the deposit rates of one-year tenure increased to 10.25 per cent a little over a year ago with the economy moving fast.
The global meltdown undulate also started effecting India, GDP numbers were reduced, as of loan growth figures. The banks also did not require extra liquidity as they had enough.
The investor’s confidence got shaken due to crisis but bank treasury continued to fill up even when they could not find lend-able opportunities for the money pouring in.
For instance State Bank of India for a few months received deposits at the rate of about Rs 1,000 crore a day which led it to set out the bulk money in the Reserve Bank of India’s reverse repo auctions that earned it 3.25 per cent.
Thus banks have been steadily reducing deposit rates for the past few months and now the rates have been closed to where they were five years ago.
After revision State Bank’s one-year deposit is at 5.75 per cent.
However some of the banks have reduced their rates deeper. Punjab National Bank, Union Bank and Indian Bank offer about 5.50 per cent for deposits of similar tenor while Bank of Baroda, a few months ago, pruned them to 5 per cent. While other bank’s deposit rates stand at 6.25 per cent.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Banks offering low interest rate on term deposits are safer than NBFCs
Before investing your surplus money in term deposits you must consider the safety front while selecting between the bank and a non-banking finance company (NBFC). The bank might offer lower interest rates while the NBFCs offer higher interest rate but from safety point of view banks are safer for investment.
According to wealth managers along with the interest rate differential, there are other factors to be looked up on such as the credit rating of the instrument, the liquidity position of the company, its balance sheet and its sector of operation before make a final choice.
Rajesh Saluja, chief executive officer of Ask wealth pointed out, “Undoubtedly, NBFCs offer higher interest on deposits as compared to banks, but banks do provide much higher safety as compared to any NBFC. A customer who is opting for an NBFC should keep in mind the credit ratings of the company. Unless the credit rating is ‘AA’ or above, a customer should resist from parking their funds in any NBFC”.
Himanshu Kohli, founder of Client Associate also agree with Saluja’s views. He said, “While, a close look at credit ratings is important, it is beneficial for customers if they park their funds in any NBFC only for a very shorter duration.”
While some of the financial planners recommends diversification of deposits. Mukesh Gupta, director Wealthcare Securities said, “Since parking in NBFCs carries a huge risk, one should not park more than 20 to 25 per cent of one’s surplus funds in NBFCs”.
In case you decide to invest with NBFCs then sector of operations should also taken into consideration. An independent financial planner pointed out, “Parking of surplus funds in NBFCs that lend to the real-estate sector can be termed as a more risky proposition compared to NBFCs providing car finance”.
Although most of the banks are offering a maximum of 7.5 per cent interest on certain maturity, whereas some of the NBFC are offering as high as 12 per cent on deposits of similar maturity.
Regarding how safe it would be to invest funds in NBFCs, LP Agarwal, chief general manager of Punjab National Bank said, “If someone is depositing in the stronger NBFCs such as Sriram Finance and Tata Finance, among others, the risk is comparatively lower. But, in general, depositing in NBFCs is risky and one should keep in mind that who is in the management team and their balance sheet, among other things.”
According to H S Saini, general manager, Corporation Bank, “Banks provide higher flexibility to customers. One can break one’s deposit in case of need. But, NBFCs generally do not allow that. Hence, until the interest rate differentials are very substantial, banks deposits are better bets even with lower interest rates”.
According to wealth managers along with the interest rate differential, there are other factors to be looked up on such as the credit rating of the instrument, the liquidity position of the company, its balance sheet and its sector of operation before make a final choice.
Rajesh Saluja, chief executive officer of Ask wealth pointed out, “Undoubtedly, NBFCs offer higher interest on deposits as compared to banks, but banks do provide much higher safety as compared to any NBFC. A customer who is opting for an NBFC should keep in mind the credit ratings of the company. Unless the credit rating is ‘AA’ or above, a customer should resist from parking their funds in any NBFC”.
Himanshu Kohli, founder of Client Associate also agree with Saluja’s views. He said, “While, a close look at credit ratings is important, it is beneficial for customers if they park their funds in any NBFC only for a very shorter duration.”
While some of the financial planners recommends diversification of deposits. Mukesh Gupta, director Wealthcare Securities said, “Since parking in NBFCs carries a huge risk, one should not park more than 20 to 25 per cent of one’s surplus funds in NBFCs”.
In case you decide to invest with NBFCs then sector of operations should also taken into consideration. An independent financial planner pointed out, “Parking of surplus funds in NBFCs that lend to the real-estate sector can be termed as a more risky proposition compared to NBFCs providing car finance”.
Although most of the banks are offering a maximum of 7.5 per cent interest on certain maturity, whereas some of the NBFC are offering as high as 12 per cent on deposits of similar maturity.
Regarding how safe it would be to invest funds in NBFCs, LP Agarwal, chief general manager of Punjab National Bank said, “If someone is depositing in the stronger NBFCs such as Sriram Finance and Tata Finance, among others, the risk is comparatively lower. But, in general, depositing in NBFCs is risky and one should keep in mind that who is in the management team and their balance sheet, among other things.”
According to H S Saini, general manager, Corporation Bank, “Banks provide higher flexibility to customers. One can break one’s deposit in case of need. But, NBFCs generally do not allow that. Hence, until the interest rate differentials are very substantial, banks deposits are better bets even with lower interest rates”.
SBI raised interest rates on corporate loans after reducing deposit rates
Two days back country’s largest lender the State Bank of India (SBI) reduced its deposit rates aggressively. Now the bank has started increasing interest rates on corporate loans by up to 50 basis points.
This measure is a part of bank’s strategy to make sure its net interest margin (NIM) - improves over the next few months.
Net interest margin (NIM) is the difference between the cost of funds and the interest earned.
By June-end bank NIM has dropped to 2.30 per cent, is trying to attain back the 3 per cent comfort zone. Bank executives informed that the lender is expecting NIM to be at 2.55-2.6 per cent by the end of current financial year.
Last year st the peak of the financial crisis bank had mopped up over Rs 1,000 crore-a-day has reduced deposit rates half-a-dozen times during the current financial year. For retail deposits of up to Rs 1 crore, the peak term deposit rate was reduced by 300 basis points to 7.5 per cent over the last 12 months; however it slashed the prime lending rate by 200 basis points to 11.75 per cent.
It is believed in this period the cost of funds will take time to reflect the changes due to sharp slowdown in credit demand which has affected SBI's interest income.
The impact of cut in lending rates on interest income will be visible immediately, whereas the benefit of reducing deposit rates will be visible gradually. According to bank executives the subdued NIM is the reflection of the decline in the credit –deposit (C-D) ratio.
While in September 2008 the high margin was possible as the C-D ratio was 71-72 per cent. but now because of slowdown in credit offtake and fallout of the global financial crisis the ratio has dropped to 67 per cent. A senior SBI executive stated, "Nothing drastic can be done on the interest income side in the short run".
Thus due to subdued credit off-take it became possible for the bank to rework on rates being offered to large companies and mid-size companies in the second quarter. An executive informed, "We have been able to increase lending rates by up to about 50 basis points, especially for those companies that have come up for repricing". The banks are using reset clause in loan agreements to reset interest rates.
The banks say this measure should help in raising up margins marginally. It is believed as the credit off-take continue to rise in third and fourth quarters, the rate charged on fresh credit can be higher and that must boost margins.
Regarding the deposits the headroom available was limited. Also when the credit demand started picking up, liquidity in the system is expected to come down. Besides, the Reserve Bank of India will also start taking measures as part of its strategy to shift to a tighter monetary policy regime. Moreover SBI and other banks will have to raise their rates to counter competition from other asset classes as even the stock market has started showing signs of improvement.
The SBI executives are of view that even though they have to increase rates for retail depositors, the bank’s measures to offer high rates last year has proved helpful in lowering their dependence on high-cost bulk deposits.
To reduce dependence on bulk deposits, the bank introduced a 1,000-day deposit scheme in October 2008, under which it offered 10.5 per cent interest rate with an aim to garner retail resources. But now the bank has withdrawn this scheme.
This measure is a part of bank’s strategy to make sure its net interest margin (NIM) - improves over the next few months.
Net interest margin (NIM) is the difference between the cost of funds and the interest earned.
By June-end bank NIM has dropped to 2.30 per cent, is trying to attain back the 3 per cent comfort zone. Bank executives informed that the lender is expecting NIM to be at 2.55-2.6 per cent by the end of current financial year.
Last year st the peak of the financial crisis bank had mopped up over Rs 1,000 crore-a-day has reduced deposit rates half-a-dozen times during the current financial year. For retail deposits of up to Rs 1 crore, the peak term deposit rate was reduced by 300 basis points to 7.5 per cent over the last 12 months; however it slashed the prime lending rate by 200 basis points to 11.75 per cent.
It is believed in this period the cost of funds will take time to reflect the changes due to sharp slowdown in credit demand which has affected SBI's interest income.
The impact of cut in lending rates on interest income will be visible immediately, whereas the benefit of reducing deposit rates will be visible gradually. According to bank executives the subdued NIM is the reflection of the decline in the credit –deposit (C-D) ratio.
While in September 2008 the high margin was possible as the C-D ratio was 71-72 per cent. but now because of slowdown in credit offtake and fallout of the global financial crisis the ratio has dropped to 67 per cent. A senior SBI executive stated, "Nothing drastic can be done on the interest income side in the short run".
Thus due to subdued credit off-take it became possible for the bank to rework on rates being offered to large companies and mid-size companies in the second quarter. An executive informed, "We have been able to increase lending rates by up to about 50 basis points, especially for those companies that have come up for repricing". The banks are using reset clause in loan agreements to reset interest rates.
The banks say this measure should help in raising up margins marginally. It is believed as the credit off-take continue to rise in third and fourth quarters, the rate charged on fresh credit can be higher and that must boost margins.
Regarding the deposits the headroom available was limited. Also when the credit demand started picking up, liquidity in the system is expected to come down. Besides, the Reserve Bank of India will also start taking measures as part of its strategy to shift to a tighter monetary policy regime. Moreover SBI and other banks will have to raise their rates to counter competition from other asset classes as even the stock market has started showing signs of improvement.
The SBI executives are of view that even though they have to increase rates for retail depositors, the bank’s measures to offer high rates last year has proved helpful in lowering their dependence on high-cost bulk deposits.
To reduce dependence on bulk deposits, the bank introduced a 1,000-day deposit scheme in October 2008, under which it offered 10.5 per cent interest rate with an aim to garner retail resources. But now the bank has withdrawn this scheme.
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