Lakshmi Vilas Bank moratorium: What does it mean, what happens when RBI supersedes board and other questions answered

Why was the moratorium imposed? 

According to the RBI, the decision to supersede the board was made owing to a serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank.

What happens now? 

Shortly after announcing a moratorium on Lakshmi Vilas Bank, the RBI also unveiled a draft scheme to merge LVB with DBS Bank India Ltd. (DBIL). Announcing this scheme of amalgamation, the RBI said DBIL will bring in additional capital of Rs2,500 crore upfront, to support credit growth of the merged entity.

Has this happened recently? 

Yes. On March 5, 2020, a similar moratorium had been imposed on Yes Bank which was later rescued by an SBI-led consortium. Another example of the government stepping in, transpired in 2004 when the RBI had announced that crisis-ridden Global Trust Bank would be merged with the financially strong public sector Oriental Bank of Commerce.

The Reserve Bank of India has decided to supersede the board, what does this mean? 

When the RBI decides to supersede the bank, this normally means that it intends to conduct a thorough investigation on what is going on at the bank, and an administrator will be appointed.

For Lakshmi Vilas Bank, TN Manoharan, former non-executive chairman of Canara Bank has been appointed as the administrator.

This is similar to what happened on March 5, when RBI said it is superseding the board of troubled private sector lender YES Bank with immediate effect.

During that period it appointed former State Bank of India CFO Prashant Kumar as the administrator.

Should customers be worried? 

Not yet. The RBI has reassured "the depositors of LVB that their interest will be fully protected and there is no need to panic". It reiterated that the central bank has drawn up a scheme for LVB's amalgamation with another bank.