Bank Unions met with IBA on 23 April, Read what about 5 Day Banking & other residual points

On April 23, 2025, Bank Unions met with IBA to address a number of concerns, including the Revised PLI plan, 5-Day Banking, and other matters.

What discussions were held about 5 Day Banking?

The establishment of five-day banking was considered by the bank unions and IBA. According to several sources, the government opposes five-day banking, the bank unions told IBA. The unions will have to go on strike once more if this is the case. According to IBA, they are pursuing the issue with DFS.

The key question, however, is how long the IBA will talk to the government on five-day banking. The conversations have continued for more than a year. Also on April 23, 2025, no solid discussion was held regarding 5 Day Banking. Like all other meetings, this time also IBA tried to liaison with bank unions in order to defer strike. AIBEA has released minutes of meetings which are as follows:

Read More

PSU Bank filed CBI complaint in Rs.16 Crore Fraud case

 In a significant ₹16-crore bank fraud case involving Punjab Lightning Industries Limited, situated in Industrial Area, Phase 2, Mohali, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally filed a chargesheet. The trial will start on June 4, 2025, at a special CBI court in Chandigarh. The case was first registered on June 27, 2024.

How the Bank Fraud Happened

According to the CBI’s chargesheet, the company’s directors Vinay Gupta and Urvashi Gupta had taken a loan of nearly ₹16 crore from Punjab National Bank (PNB). The loan was meant for the business’s working capital and commercial activities. However, instead of using the money for the business, they allegedly diverted the funds for personal use and to pay off loans of other companies owned by them.

What the Bank Discovered

The fraud came to light after the company stopped repaying the loan, which raised concerns at the bank. Punjab National Bank then conducted an internal investigation, which revealed shocking findings. During the audit of the company’s unit in Mohali, it was discovered that:

• No production was going on at the factory.
• There was no raw material or finished goods on site.
• The factory had been shut down for several months.

Misuse of Loan for Buying Property

The audit further revealed that Vinay Gupta used part of the loan amount to buy a house in Sector 15-A, Chandigarh, and the property was registered under his son’s name. He also bought another property in Sector 11, which clearly indicated that the funds were not being used for the business, but rather for personal gains.

Legal Action and CBI Investigation

Following the internal audit, PNB filed a complaint with the CBI, as the evidence pointed toward intentional default by the company directors. After investigating the matter, the CBI charged them under:

• Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) – for cheating.
• Section 120-B of the IPC – for criminal conspiracy.
• Relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Read More

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allows children aged above 10 years to manage their own bank accounts

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken a major step toward encouraging early financial independence by permitting children ten years of age and older to open and manage their own savings and term deposit accounts on their own. A significant change in the way the banking sector interacts with young consumers has occurred with the release of the updated rules on April 21, 2025, which allow banks to allow minors to handle their own accounts—within the parameters set by each bank's risk policy.

Key highlights of the new guidelines:

Minor accounts at any age: Banks may allow minors of any age to open and operate savings and term deposit accounts through a natural or legal guardian. The RBI has reaffirmed the provision to allow mothers to act as guardians for such accounts, as per its long-standing circular from 1976.

Independent operation from age 10:

Minors above the age of 10 may open and operate their accounts independently, subject to limits and terms defined by individual banks, based on their internal risk management policies. These terms must be clearly communicated to the account holder.

Transition upon majority: On attaining majority (18 years), banks must collect fresh signatures and operating instructions from the account holder. If the account was managed by a guardian, the balance must be confirmed. Banks are instructed to take proactive steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Access to modern banking tools: Subject to their risk policies, banks are allowed to offer additional facilities like internet banking, ATM/debit cards, and cheque books to minor account holders.

No overdrafts allowed: Whether operated independently or through a guardian, minor accounts must remain in credit and cannot be overdrawn.

KYC compliance mandatory: Banks must perform customer due diligence while opening minor accounts and continue compliance under the RBI’s Master Direction on KYC, 2016.

These guidelines will be applicable to all commercial banks, urban co-operative banks, state co-operative banks, and district central co-operative banks. Institutions are required to revise their policies accordingly by July 1, 2025, RBI said.

Read More

HDFC Bank Q4 Net profit up 7% YoY

India’s largest private sector lender HDFC Bank reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of FY25, posting a 6.7 percent year-on-year rise in standalone net profit to Rs 17,616 crore. The earnings surpassed Street expectations, with analysts projecting a net profit of Rs 17,072 crore, according to a Moneycontrol poll. On a sequential basis, net profit rose by 5.3 percent.

HDFC Bank said its board has recommended a dividend of Rs 22 per share of face value of Rs 1 each for the financial year 2024-25. 

Gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio of the bank shrunk to 1.33 percent as on March 31, 2025, as compared to 1.42 percent as on December 31, 2024. However, it expanded from 1.24 percent a year ago, showed the stock exchange filings.

Similarly, Net NPA ratio of the bank stood at 0.43 percent in the reporting quarter, as compared to 0.46 percent in a quarter ago period and 0.33 percent previous year.

In absolute terms, gross NPAs fell to Rs 35,222.64 crore as of March 31, 2025, as compared to Rs 36,018.58 crore as on December 31, 2024. It rose from Rs 31,173.32 crore as on March 31, 2024.

Even though the asset quality of the bank has deteriorated, provisions and contingencies for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 stood at Rs 3,190 crore , as as against Rs 13,510 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, according to the release.

Net interest income (interest earned less interest expended) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 grew by 10.3 percent to Rs 32,070 crore from Rs 29,080 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, release said.

Net interest income of the bank in a quarter ago period stood at Rs 30,650 crore.

Net interest margin was at 3.54 percent on total assets, and 3.73 percent based on interest earning assets. Excluding Rs 700 crore of interest on income tax refund, core net interest margin was at 3.46 percent on total assets, and 3.65 percent based on interest earning assets, release said.

Other income (non-interest revenue) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was Rs 12,030 crore. The four components of other income for the reporting quarter were fees & commissions of Rs 8,530 crore, foreign exchange & derivatives revenue of Rs 1440 crore, net trading and mark to market gain of Rs 390 crore and miscellaneous income, including recoveries and dividend of Rs 1,670 crore.

The Bank’s average deposits were grew 15.8 percent on-year to Rs 25.28 lakh crore in January-March quarter. In a year ago period, average deposit of the bank stood at Rs 21.84 lakh crore, and in a quarter ago period it stood at Rs 24.53 lakh crore. On a sequential basis, average deposit of the bank grew just 3.1 percent.

The Bank’s average CASA deposits were Rs 8.3 lakh crore for the March 2025 quarter, a growth of 5.7 percent over Rs 7.85 lakh crore for the March 2024 quarter, and 1.4 percent over Rs 8.18 lakh crore for the December 2024 quarter, release said.

CASA deposits grew by 3.9 percent with savings account deposits at Rs 6.31 lakh crore and current account deposits at Rs 3.14 lakh crore. Time deposits were at Rs 17.70 lakh crore, an increase of 20.3 percent over the corresponding quarter of the previous year, resulting in CASA deposits comprising 34.8 percent of total deposits as of March 31, 2025.

Gross advances were at Rs 26.44 lakh crore as of March 31, 2025, an increase of 5.4 percent over March 31, 2024. Advances under management grew by 7.7 percent over March 31, 2024.

Retail loans grew by 9.0 percent, commercial and rural banking loans grew by 12.8 percent and corporate and other wholesale loans were lower by 3.6 percent. Overseas advances constituted 1.7 percent of total advances.

Read More

ICICI Bank Q4 Net profit up 18% YoY

India's second largest private sector lender ICICI Bank reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of FY25, posting an 18 percent year-on-year rise in standalone net profit to Rs 12,629.58 crore. The earnings surpassed Street expectations, with analysts projecting a net profit of Rs 12,050 crore, according to a Moneycontrol poll. On a sequential basis, net profit rose 7.1 percent.

ICICI Bank said that its board has recommended a dividend of Rs 11 per share of face value of Rs 2 each, subject to requisite approvals.

ICICI Bank's gross non-performing asset (NPA) ratio shrunk to 1.67 percent as on March 31, 2025, from 1.96 percent a quarter ago, and 2.16 percent a year ago.

Similarly, the net NPA ratio of the bank stood at 0.39 percent in the reporting quarter, as compared to 0.42 percent in a quarter ago period and also 0.42 percent in a year ago period.

In absolute terms, gross NPA fell to Rs 24,166.18 crore as of March 31, 2025, as compared to Rs 27,745.33 crore as on December 31, 2024, and Rs 27,961.68 crore as on March 31, 2024.

Provisions (excluding provision for tax) for the quarter increased to Rs 891 crore in Q4FY25 compared to Rs 718 crore in Q4FY24 and Rs 1,227 crore in Q3FY25, release said.

Provisioning coverage ratio on non-performing loans was 76.2 percent at March 31, 2025.

Private lender's total deposit during the quarter ended March increased by 14 percent on-year, and 5.9 percent on a quarterly basis. In January-March quarter, total deposit of the bank stood at Rs 16.11 lakh crore at March 31, 2025.

Average deposits increased by 11.4 percent year-on-year and 1.9 percent sequentially to Rs 14.87 lakh crore in Q4FY25. Average current account deposits increased by 9.6 percent year-on-year and 1.4 percent sequentially in Q4FY25. Average savings account deposits increased by 10.1 percent year-on-year and 0.2 percent sequentially in Q4FY25.

With the addition of 241 branches during Q4-2025, the Bank had a network of 6,983 branches and 16,285 ATMs & cash recycling machines at March 31, 2025.

The net domestic advances grew by 13.9 percent year-on-year and 2.2 percent sequentially at March 31, 2025. The retail loan portfolio grew by 8.9 percent year-on-year and 2.0 percent sequentially, and comprised 52.4 percent of the total loan portfolio at March 31, 2025. Including non-fund outstanding, the retail portfolio was 43.8 percent of the total portfolio at March 31, 2025.

The business banking portfolio grew by 33.7 percent year-on-year and 6.2 percent sequentially at March 31, 2025. The rural portfolio grew by 5.1 percent year-on-year and declined by 1.5 percent sequentially at March 31, 2025. The domestic corporate portfolio grew by 11.9 percent year-on-year and declined by 0.4 percent sequentially at March 31, 2025.

Total advances increased by 13.3 percent year-on-year and 2.1 percent sequentially to Rs 13.42 lakh crore at March 31, 2025, release added.

Net interest income (NII) increased by 11.0 percent year-on-year to Rs 21,193 crore in Q4FY25 from Rs 19,093 crore in Q4FY24.

Net interest margin was 4.41 percent in Q4FY25 compared to 4.25 percent in Q3FY25 and 4.40 percent in Q4FY24. The net interest margin was 4.32 percent in FY25.

Read More

The CBI opened a criminal probe into the Rs 12.08 crore Bank of India fraud

 

Five officials of a private construction company are the subject of a criminal probe by the Central Bureau of probe (CBI). These officers are charged with defrauding the Bank of India, resulting in a ₹12.08 crore loss. 

 The executives allegedly broke key terms of the loan arrangement and misappropriated the bank's loan funds, according to CBI sources. After a complaint was submitted by the deputy general manager of the Bank of India's Asset Recovery Management Branch in Andheri West, the case became public knowledge. The CBI began its investigation as a result.

The Bank of India claims that the construction firm and its directors defrauded the bank by not depositing the sale proceeds from flats and shops in its Navi Mumbai real estate projects, as required by the loan agreement. 

The bank’s complaint states that instead of following the terms, the firm sold the properties without obtaining the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the bank, which is a key condition.

The CBI has filed the case under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. These charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, misappropriation of funds, and diversion of funds. 

According to the complaint, the bank’s loss due to this fraud was estimated to be ₹12.08 crore, as of December 2021. The CBI will investigate the bank’s credit transactions with the firm from July 2013 to December 2021, which were used to finance the company’s construction projects in and around Navi Mumbai.

The bank claims that according to the loan’s terms, the construction firm was supposed to obtain NOCs from the bank before selling any of the flats or shops in their projects. Additionally, the sale proceeds were supposed to be deposited with the bank. However, the firm failed to comply with these conditions, as stated in the bank’s complaint.

Loan Account Classified as Non-Performing Asset

The firm’s loan account was marked as a non-performing asset (NPA) on March 31, 2016, following standard banking procedures. Later, a demand notice was issued under the SARFAESI (Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002. The loan was also officially classified as “fraud” in September 2024 by the Competent Authority, in line with a Supreme Court ruling from 2023.

The CBI’s investigation is continuing as it looks into the full extent of the financial wrongdoing and the involved officials’ roles in the matter.

Read More

Yes Bank Q4 net profit rises 63%

The quarter ending March 31, 2025, saw YES Bank record a standalone net profit of Rs 738.12 crore, up 63.7 percent year over year from Rs 451.9 crore in the same quarter the previous year. Improved asset quality, lower provisions, and increased interest revenue all contributed to the impressive outcome. 

 The quarter's total revenue increased to Rs 9,355.4 crore, a little increase over the same period last year, when it was Rs 9,015.8 crore. Interest income was Rs 7,616.1 crore, down from Rs 7,447.2 crore in the previous year. Year-over-year, other income increased as well, rising from Rs 1,568.6 crore to Rs 1,739.3 crore.

Compared to the same quarter last year, the bank's operational profit before provisions increased to Rs 1,314.4 crore from Rs 902.5 crore. The good bottom-line performance was aided by a considerable drop in provisions and contingencies, which went from Rs 470.9 crore to Rs 318.1 crore last year. 

 Regarding asset quality, YES Bank recorded gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of Rs 3,935.6 crore, up from 1.7 percent in the same quarter the previous year, with a gross NPA ratio of 1.6 percent. 

 Net non-performing assets (NPAs) totaled Rs 800 crore, and the net NPA ratio improved from 0.6 percent to 0.3 percent over the previous year. The bank declared a net profit of Rs 24,058.6 crore for the entire fiscal year FY25, a significant rise from the Rs 12,510.8 crore recorded in FY24.

Read More

Bank of India(BOI) Shuts 400 Day Special FD Scheme, Cuts FD Interest Rates After Repo Rate Cut

 

Bank of India (BOI) has announced a key update for its fixed deposit (FD) customers in which the bank has withdrawn its special 400-day fixed deposit scheme that offered an attractive interest rate of up to 7.30%. Alongside this, Bank of India has revised interest rates across various FD tenures. These new rates will be effective from April 15, 2025.

Bank of India new FD interest rates For fixed deposits less than Rs. 3 crore, the updated Bank of India FD interest rates are as follows:

91 days to 179 days: 4.25% 

180 days to less than 1 year: 5.75% 

1 year: 7.05% 

Above 1 year to 2 years: 6.75%

The rates remain competitive, especially for bulk deposits, though slightly lower than previous offerings. This aligns with other public sector banks following the RBI repo rate cut in early April 2025. Additional Interest for Senior and Super Senior Citizens To cater to senior citizens, Bank of India continues to offer preferential interest rates

The rates remain competitive, especially for bulk deposits, though slightly lower than previous offerings. This aligns with other public sector banks following the RBI repo rate cut in early April 2025. 

Additional Interest for Senior and Super Senior Citizens To cater to senior citizens, Bank of India continues to offer preferential interest rates

Senior Citizens (below ₹3 crore): Additional 0.50% interest on FDs of 6 months & above

Super Senior Citizens: An Additional 0.65% interest on the same tenure These benefits make BOI fixed deposits for senior citizens a relatively attractive savings option despite the overall rate reduction.

Read More