Boost to consumer loans as RBI cuts risk

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said it has reduced the risk weight requirement for consumer loans to 100 per cent, a move that will reduce cost of such loans.

Currently, the risk weight requirement for such loans is 125 per cent.

The relaxed requirement would not be applicable to credit cards. Risk weight refers to the capital banks keep aside as provisioning to cover any loan defaults.

The RBI's move is likely to boost consumer spending in the coming festive season.

Under the standardised approach for credit risk management, all unsecured consumer credit, including personal loans and credit card receivables, which are both unsecured lending, attract a higher risk weight of 125 per cent or higher, if warranted by an external rating of the counter-party.

"On a review, it has been decided to reduce the risk weight for consumer credit, including personal loans, but excluding credit card receivables, to 100 per cent. Other stipulations remain the same," the RBI said in a statement.