Banking Central

The age of cashless convenience is over. The coming year will test who really owns India’s payment rails.

Banking Central | Will 2026 be a happy new year for India's crypto investor?

Despite regulatory scepticism, crypto still wants India and Indians want crypto. 2026 will test how this relationship shapes

Banking Central | 2025: The year that wasn’t for Indian banking

The year 2025 was to be the year of fireworks for Indian banking but it is winding up on a staid note with several unresolved issues carried into the new year

Banking Central | Thali cools, but RBI’s inflation battle is far from over

For a country where inflation is measured first in tomatoes and onions and only later in spreadsheets, this counts as genuine relief.

Banking Central | What does UPI surge mean for Indian payments system?

UPI’s future hinges on whether policymakers allow it to stand on viable economic legs

Banking Central | What the 2025 gold price surge means for Indian lenders

Higher metal prices raise the marked-to-market value of pledged jewellery, improving loan-to-value (LTV) cushions for the same quantum of lending

Banking Central | RBI's digital innovation: Laudable moves but caution is a must

The Unified Lending Interface paves the way for a blockchain powered financial future but the RBI will need the guardrails in place to thwart threat actors who are always a step ahead

Banking Central | Why it is a win-win for PSBs and NBFCs to join hands in MSME lending

Entering in pact with NBFCs can help banks expand reach but with necessary checks

Banking Central | Mint Road is upgrading its tech, that is a good change

From data empowerment to digital platforms, the central bank is not just regulating but demonstrating how technology must shape the future of Indian finance

Banking Central | Lessons from Chinese meltdown for Indian banks

India's banking landscape, while distinct, shares some parallels with China's, especially in exposure to credit cycles and non-performing assets.

Banking Central | What does New India Coop Bank's case tell us about state of industry

The latest misappropriation scandal is a reminder that India’s cooperative banks remain captive to weak governance and political patronage. The cracks run deep.

Banking Central | RBI's AI ambition: Innovation yes, but not at the cost of chaos

The RBI must address the unions' stark warnings or it risks amplifying inequalities and eroding public trust

Banking Central | How to tackle rising frauds in India's banking sector

With frauds soaring to Rs 36,014 crore in 2024-25, the RBI’s latest data paints a grim picture of systemic cracks. Time for tougher oversight and accountability.

Banking Central | RBI sounds the climate alarm. Are the banks listening?

The RBI’s Financial Stability Report flags climate shocks as a growing threat to financial stability and urges banks to be ready for physical and transition risks that could disrupt the system. The industry must take note

Banking Central| RBI relief on project finance loans is a good step

RBI’s new project finance rules ease banking fears but demand sharper discipline.

Banking Central| The RBI’s rate cut bonanza: What next for banks?

The RBI’s bold rate and CRR cuts unleash a growth bonanza but can banks turn liquidity into profitable credit? Structural hurdles loom large

Banking Central | What does Kotak Mahindra Bank’s leadership transition signal to investors?

Ekambaram, after three decades at the bank, will step down this year. Paritosh Kashyap will assume a new role in the bank.

Banking Central| Five ways Indian banks can tackle rising frauds

The surge in H1 FY25 reflects a worrying trend: digital frauds, fuelled by social engineering and mule accounts, are outpacing banks’ defences.

Banking Central | Inflation at 6-year low is an opportunity for RBI to give growth another push

If not for the 11% drop in vegetable prices, inflation would hover closer to 4.1%. The RBI will have this in mind when it meets in early June

Banking Central | How critical is RBI group's proposal to extend trade timings?

Extended trading hours and synchronised settlements aim to boost liquidity and global alignment

Banking Central | New India Bank scam is yet another reminder of the rot in India’s co-operative banks

Co-operative banks were to be the financial backbone for small depositors — shopkeepers, pensioners, and salaried workers who trusted these institutions with their life savings

Banking Central: Deposit rates slashed — savers hit as banks move in to protect margins

This is not just about banks 'adjusting' to RBI’s recent 25 basis point repo rate cut, it’s a desperate bid to protect their thinning margins

Banking Central | What worked, what didn’t for investors in FY25 and what it means for FY26

Investors who spread their capital across diverse instruments were the ones who weathered the storm. As Trump tariffs tear apart global order and markets, FY25 may have some lessons to offer

Banking Central | Why another RBI rate cut is inevitable on April 9

The time for half-measures is over, and the RBI must decisively embrace a dovish stance and cut rates further, not only to alleviate the credit crunch but to send a strong signal that growth is the new priority.

Banking Central | Who is right on bank staff vacancies — the government or unions?

The government say PSBs employees have increased from 6.18 lakh in 2011 to 7.58 lakh, as of January 2025. Employee unions, however, say staff numbers are down and workload has zoomed