SBI cuts lending rates first time in 10 months, by 5 bps

RBI is keen for banks to lower lending rates further to accelerate credit growth, private investment

State Bank of India, the country's top lender by assets, will cut marginal cost-based lending rates (MCLR) across maturities by 5 basis points, effective Wednesday, in what will be its first lending rate cut in 10 months.

SBI, which accounts for more than a fifth of India's banking assets, will lower the 1-year MCLR to 7.95 per cent from 8 per cent, according to a notification on Tuesday.

The RBI last year unveiled the MCLR, which sought to remove much of the discretion commercial banks have to set lending rates. But to its frustration, the pace of bank lending rate cuts has