Banking News

OPINION | Vault Matters: When in doubt, hire a PSU Banker

A pattern which started in 2020 has become the playbook for private banks. Does this suggest reluctance to hire young dynamic private bankers or signal a lack of leadership bench strength in private banks?

Bond yield falls to 6.659% ahead of RBI policy decision

The benchmark 10-year bond yield fell for the third straight session, with traders looking forward to the first policy review of 2026

Rupee opens 23 paise higher against dollar at 90.23, RBI policy decision awaited

The central bank is unlikely to cut rates and is expected to stick to 'neutral' stance, a Moneycontrol poll found

Q3 FY26 results: LIC profit jumps 17% YoY to Rs 33,998 crore

Total premium income rose 9.02 percent YoY to Rs 3,71,293 crore, from Rs 3,40,563 crore

RBI MPC Meeting Updates: Policy rate to remain low for a long period of time, says RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra

RBI MPC Meeting Live Updates: Central bank holds rates, upgrades growth outlook, signals proactive liquidity support and tighter consumer safeguards

Federal Bank receives RBI approval for Blackstone’s 9.99% stake buy

The deal, which would make Blackstone the largest shareholder in Federal Bank, involves an investment of around $700 million for a 9.9% stake. The private equity major had reached an agreement for the investment in October

Canara Bank lines up two more legacy accounts for NARCL transfer, valuation talks ongoing, says Canara Bank’s Hardeep Ahluwalia

We have Rs 20,000 crore of corporate sanctions under discussion, which should translate into disbursements. While remaining conscious on pricing, we see good momentum on the corporate front as well, Ahluwalia said.

Hiring spree at Kotak Mahindra Bank means jobs for 500 engineers

India’s banking sector is ramping up investments in tech amid steady growth in deposits and buoyant credit activity

MPC Poll | RBI likely to hold rates today, focus shifts to liquidity management, transmission

The February policy is expected maintain the repo rate at 5.25% as the RBI shifts focus from rate cuts to liquidity infusion, experts say.

Mukesh Ambani says Jio-Blackrock to utilise technology disruption to help build savings, client relationships

Strap: For us at Jio-Blackrock, the opportunity is to encourage Indians to save, and to make sure that we give them the options to convert those savings into earnings, and hopefully compound their earnings so that they not only work for themselves, but they also work for the Indian economy,” Mukesh Ambani said. 

BoB comfortable with gold loan growth despite record prices: CEO Debadatta Chand

The bank has set a principal recovery target of Rs 10,000 crore for the full year. Additionally, recoveries routed through income typically contribute Rs 700–750 crore per quarter. Q3 recoveries stood at Rs 812 crore, and a similar run-rate is expected in Q4, Chand said.

MC Exclusive | Not chasing growth in gold loans by stretching LTV or ticket sizes: Nirmal Jain of IIFL Group

The board will evaluate listing options for IIFL Home Finance at an appropriate time, keeping market conditions and business readiness in mind, said Jain.

Rupee has room to appreciate, RBI unlikely to intervene, says Bank of America’s Vikas Jain

February and March are usually positive months for FPIs. Current account is also expected to be positive, which should support the rupee, Jain tells Moneycontrol

Amended insurance laws kick in from February 5

Most provisions of Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act to come into force; industry sees 100% FDI reform as catalyst for capital, governance and inclusion

Bajaj Finserv Q3 FY26 results: Net profit remains flat on-year at Rs 2,229 crore on higher provisions, labour code costs

Bajaj Finserv Q3 FY26 Results: Net profit flat on-year due to higher credit provisions and one-time labour code costs.

Chart of the Day | After the rebound, what will drive rupee’s next move?

The India–US trade deal has taken pressure off the currency. The real question is whether flows and fundamentals can do the rest.

Credit finds its feet even as rates stay firm

RBI’s latest sector-wise credit data shows demand is broad-based and resilient, but the message to Mint Road is clear: this is growth that still needs watching, not cheering.

Won't be surprised if RBI hold rates steady for some time as inflation stays low: Economic Affairs Secretary

The central bank has cut the repo rate by a cumulative 125 basis points since last February.

Macquarie flags risks in PB Fintech’s global ambitions over capital allocation

Macquarie flags capital allocation risks as PB Fintech shifts focus from domestic dominance to global expansion ambitions

Rupee’s over 1% intraday rally: A move seen just 10 times since 2014

Historically, the rupee’s biggest intraday appreciation was recorded on December 18, 2018, when it surged 1.62 percent, followed by a 1.51 percent jump on November 11, 2022, according to the Bloomberg data.

Religare Enterprises likely to announce demerger and listing of Care Health Insurance 

The restructuring exercise which could result in an automatic listing of the health insurance arm is seen as a move aimed at unlocking shareholder value.

Rupee gains give RBI window to top up FX reserves but big build-up unlikely, says Shinhan Bank’s Kunal Sodhani

March typically sees higher rupee demand due to corporate book closing, which provides support to the rupee but that is just one part of the story, global cues also matter, Sodhani tells Moneycontrol

Knee-jerk rally in rupee expected, FPI flows to decide next move, says ANZ Research's Dhiraj Nim

The rupee’s depreciation mirrored India’s financial account challenges, particularly equity outflows, which are the result of a combination of factors such as US tariffs, corporate earnings, nominal GDP stress and more, Nim tells Moneycontrol

Decoding India’s Atmanirbar bond market

Indian bonds seemed to shrug off any positive rub offs from India-US tariff deal, signalling that the domestic cues are more concerning rather than global developments.

Indian bond yield opens 4 bps lower after India-US finalise trade deal

On February 2, Indian bond yield ended over a year higher after the government announced higher-than-expected gross borrowing through government securities.

IDFC First Bank must refocus on corporate loans for margin protection

Shedding corporate loans and going full throttle on retail was a survival strategy which now must change

INR poised to rebound below 90/USD as Trump cuts reciprocal tariffs on India

The rupee gained 48 paise on February 2 -- the highest level since December 19, 2025 -- when it appreciated 60 paise in a single day. In percentage terms, it is up 0.52 percent, compared to previous close.

RBI closely monitoring lenders’ positions on gold loan portfolios, say sources

After a sharp 15 percent correction in gold prices since Jan 30, the central bank is said to have sharpened its oversight on banks and NBFCs

Bajaj Housing Finance Q3 FY26 results: Net profit jumps 21% YoY to Rs 665 crore

Bajaj Housing Finance reported a 21 percent year-on-year rise in Q3 FY26 net profit to Rs 665 crore, led by a 19 percent increase in net interest income to Rs 963 crore. Asset quality remained stable, with gross NPAs at 0.27 percent and net NPAs at 0.11 percent.

RBI may maintain status quo in February policy, liquidity measures to be in focus

The current estimate on the rate action is in line with the Moneycontrol’s poll conducted before the Union Budget 2026, wherein a majority of economists, treasury heads and market participants said the central bank may maintain status quo on rates. The MPC is to meet from February 4 and February 6 for its bi-monthly policy review.

RBI intervention helps rupee to post biggest single-day gain in over six weeks

The rupee gained 42 paise on February 2 -- the highest level since December 19, 2025 -- when it appreciated 60 paise in a single day. In percentage terms, the local currency is up 0.42%, compared to the previous close.

Budget 2026: Does a quiet budget for the insurance sector signal stability?

After half a decade of continuous tax and regulatory recalibration, Budget 2026 marks the first deliberate pause in insurance-specific reforms, raising a larger question on whether the sector has finally entered a phase of policy stability.

Indian bond yield ends over 1-year high after government announces higher gross borrowing

The Union Budget pegged gross market borrowings at Rs 17.2 lakh crore for FY27, a 16 percent increase over the current year’s budget estimate, while net market borrowing was set at Rs 11.7 lakh crore to finance a fiscal deficit of 4.3 percent of GDP.

Banking Central | How Budget’s banking agenda can reshape credit, institutions and markets

For the banking sector, Budget 2026 is not about short-term giveaways. It lays the ground for institutional strength, greater inclusivity and the foundation of a more resilient and market-oriented financial system

Budget 2026: Since 2019 Budget, Bank Nifty Index has not cheered FM's moves

Bank Nifty often reacts negatively or with muted gains on Budget Day

Government garner just 26% divestment proceeds so far in FY26 of revised budget estimates

In Union Budget 2026, the government had set disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore under miscellaneous capital receipts for FY27 which includes sale of shares in PSUs as well as asset monetisations.

Understand the math behind government's FY27 borrowing numbers

The Centre has pegged net market borrowing at Rs 11.7 lakh crore for FY27, around Rs 50,000 crore higher than FY26, reflecting a calibrated increase to support higher capital spending. Gross market borrowing, however, has been set at Rs 17.2 lakh crore, a sharp jump from the current year. This increase is largely explained by the maturity profile of government securities, with redemptions in FY27 estimated at Rs 5.47 lakh crore.

Is a high-level committee to review the banking sector an indication for PSU mergers?

Nifty PSU Bank Index tanks more than 4% following announcement of comprehensive review of banking sector

What Union Budget 2026 signals for Indian banking

The Finance Minister’s announcement of a banking panel suggests a shift — from fixing bank balance sheets to questioning what banks are meant to do next

Union Budget 2026: FinMin proposes tax relief for employers, non-life insurers

Changes aim to ease compliance, reduce litigation, and simplify deductions under the Income Tax Act

Budget 2026: Interest on accident compensation to be fully exempt from income tax

At present, this interest is treated like regular taxable income

Budget 2026| Govt budgets dividend at Rs 3.16 lakh crore from RBI and state-run banks in FY27

According to a Moneycontrol poll of economists, treasury heads, and market participants showed that government is expected to budget Rs 2-3 lakh crore as dividend income from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and public sector banks (PSBs) in the Union Budget 2026, higher than the Rs 2.56 lakh crore estimated in the previous budget.

Union Budget: Government proposes market-marking framework, Total Return Swaps on corporate bonds

On January 29, Economic Survey had said that India’s corporate bond market, despite incremental reforms, remains shallow and underdeveloped compared with global peers, limiting its ability to channel long-term capital efficiently.

Union Budget 2026: FM Sitharaman announces restructuring of the lenders REC, PFC

Shares of Power Finance Corporation and REC rallied over 4% each after the finance minister proposed restructuring the two state-run lenders.

Budget 2026| Centre peg gross borrowing via bonds at Rs 17.2 lakh crore for FY27

Government borrowings are among the most important determinants of interest rates in the economy. Higher-than-expected borrowings can push up rates for all bond issuers — sovereign and corporate — while interest rates can decline if it tightens its belt and borrows less than anticipated.

Budget 2026: FinMin charts consolidation path for NBFCs under Viksit Bharat vision

A central element of the strategy is the proposed restructuring of PFC and REC

India Budget: FM proposes Rs 100 cr incentive for single bond issuance of more than Rs 100 crore

On January 29, Economic Survey had said that Municipal green bonds have the potential to mobilise between $2.5-6.9 billion for local bodies driven climate action over the next 5-10 years, according to the Economic Survey tabled by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on January 29.

Budget 2026: FM proposes steps for MSMEs, including one to ensure easier credit access for MSMEs

While announcing budget, Sitharaman said that the government proposed to introduce Rs 10,000 crore SME growth fund, and top up self-reliant India fund with Rs 2,000 crore, and providing liquidity support.

Sunrise sectors have potential of Rs 100 lakh crore investment over next 5 years: SBI chairman CS Setty

The Centre will also facilitate engagement with multiple financial institutions, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), startups, and think tanks.