Microfinance Industry

China cracks down on wealth flaunting, sets new rules for finance sector

In recent years, the Chinese government has increased its actions and criticism of conspicuous consumption and the flaunting of wealth on social media

K'taka microfinance ordinance effect: MFI loan disbursements may slow down

The assets under management (AUM) of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the state stood at Rs 60,000 crore at the end of March 2024

Microfin ordinance sent to K'taka Guv, gives up to 10 yr jail for violation

Aimed at protecting borrowers from harassment by microfinance institutions (MFIs), the Karnataka government has drafted an ordinance, with penal provisions, including a jail term up to ten years, and fine as high as Rs five lakh for violation. Confirming this, State Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said, the Karnataka Micro Finance (Prevention of Coercive Actions) Ordinance 2025 has been sent to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for his assent. "It was three years (in initial draft), now we have increased it. Fine has also been increased to five lakh. This is to ensure that the heat of the law is felt (by violators). If a law is made with perfunctoriness just like that, such incidents won't stop. Hence, the fine (amount) and imprisonment (period) has been increased, so that it in a way, becomes a deterrent," Parameshwara said, responding to a question about punishment being increased to ten years imprisonment. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "The Governor was out of town, and

Microfinance sector seeks support to tackle its several challenges

Microfinance has shown capability and resilience in every crisis: Demonetisation or Covid-19. Attention to the issues it faces can make the sector even more vibrant

MFIN dismisses reports about alleged harassment by microfinance firms

The Microfinance Industry Network (MFIN) on Thursday dismissed reports about alleged harassment by microfinance companies in the state, claiming that a small section of "ill-informed" individuals with the aid of unauthorised entities were indulging in "unscrupulous" rumourmongering. Recently, various organisations also staged protests in different parts of the state condemning the atrocities and oppression carried out by microfinance companies and demanded action against them. "The recent reports of protests against MFIs are from a small section of "ill-informed" individuals with the aid of unauthorised entities, indulging in unscrupulous rumourmongering," Rama Kamaraju, Head, State Initiatives, MFIN said in a press conference here. The MFIN is a Self-Regulatory Organisation recognised by RBI and the Association of Karnataka Microfinance Institutions. "We wish to assure you all that we follow a very well calibrated advisory approach and have our eye on the ball at all times," he ..

December numbers signal improving microfinance situation: MFIN CEO

'Committed to ensure rates are set so that micro lending is viable, gains are passed to clients'

Microfinance sector shows signs of stress as delinquency rates rise

The Reserve Bank of India's Financial Stability Report of December 2024 had observed that the microfinance sector is showing rising delinquencies across lenders and ticket sizes

Borrowers with microfinance, retail overlap have higher delinquency: CRIF

The report highlighted that borrowers with an overlap of microfinance and retail loans exhibited higher delinquency rates compared to those with only microfinance loans.

MFI portfolio declines 4.3%, bad assets spike in Sep quarter: Report

Microlending outstandings in the system reduced 4.3 per cent to Rs 4.14 lakh crore in the September quarter as lenders adopted a cautious stance amid deteriorating asset quality, a report said on Wednesday. Loans unpaid for 1-30 days increased to 2.1 per cent from the 1.2 per cent in June, while the ones unpaid for 31-180 days witnessed a sharper rise at 4.3 per cent as against 2.7 per cent in June, credit information company Crif High Mark said. The microlending universe is facing multiple headwinds for the past several months, and the regulator has blamed industry practices, including multiple lending to the same borrower by different entities and charging usurious interest rates with a view to expand profits as among the problems. The last few months have seen a drop in collection efficiencies, and the industry has swung into action with corrective steps that are leading to a dip in the overall outstandings. Data from the credit information company said only non-banking financia

FinMin to hold meeting with MFI players on Wed amid rising bad loans

Finance Ministry will hold a meeting with microfinance institutions (MFIs) on Wednesday amid rising bad loans and delinquencies across all types of lenders in the sector. According to sources, the Department of Financial Services Secretary is likely to chair the meeting with senior officials of MFIs here. The meeting assumes significance as it comes with the sector showing signs of stress and rising delinquencies. Credit to the microfinance sector by banks (including SFBs), NBFC-MFIs and other NBFCs has decelerated during the current financial year so far after witnessing rapid growth during the last three years, according to a latest report of the Reserve Bank. "The microfinance sector is showing signs of stress, with rising delinquencies across all types of lenders and ticket sizes. During H1:2024-25, share of stressed assets increased, with 31-180 days past due (dpd) rising from 2.15 per cent in March 2024 to 4.30 per cent in September 2024," said the RBI's Financial Stability .

CreditAccess Grameen shares soar 10% on Jan 2 on heavy volume

CreditAccess Grameen shares: Spandana Sphoorty share price gained 3.6 per cent intraday today; Equitas Small Finance Bank 2.2 per cent; IndusInd Bank 1.9 per cent; and Ujjivan SFB 1 per cent

Stress in microfinance sector doubles in April to September period: RBI

Earlier, the RBI had warned that some NBFCs, including MFIs, were adopting a "growth-at-any-cost" approach and cautioned that regulatory action would be taken if necessary

IndusInd Bank seeks to offload Rs 1,573 crore of microfinance loans

Bank sets reserve price of Rs 85 crore to sell loans from over a million accounts

Spandana Sphoorty nears record low; tanks 73% in CY24 on growth concerns

Spandana Sphoorty Financial shares hit a multi-year low of Rs 309, down 3% on the BSE in Tuesday's intra-day trade, and inched towards its all-time low of Rs 288.75 touched on June 20, 2022

MFIN to further tighten norms for micro-loans from January 2025

Reduces MFIs per borrower to three from four

After RBI strictures, MFIs tighten norms to make lending more responsible

After repeated strictures from the Reserve Bank on the industry's practices, the Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) on Monday announced a slew of changes to make lending to the bottom of the pyramid more "responsible". From January 1, the self-regulatory organisation's members will ensure that a single MFI client's borrowings are limited to three MFIs as against four at present and the total indebtedness of a borrower including MFI and unsecured retail loans is capped at Rs 2 lakh, a statement said. The body's chief executive and director Alok Misra hoped that the sector will become "more resilient" with the new measures. Over the last few months, the RBI has gone public with its concerns on a slew of practices adopted by the MFIs, including usurious high interest rates, multiple lendings to single borrowers and even practices like not crediting loan repayments to the rightful accounts despite being paid by borrowers. On October 21, the RBI also asked four entities including

Belstar Microfinance to prioritise consolidation over growth in coming qtrs

MFI's stressed loans rise sharply to 3.5% in September from 1.47%

India's shadow lenders retreat as bad loans increase amid crackdown

Bajaj Finance, one of the largest unsecured lenders, is cutting the number of clients with multiple loans, according to a presentation

Indian lenders face growing defaults from over-leveraged retail borrowers

Defaults have also risen in the microfinance segment, which includes loans given to low-income borrowers.

MFI lenders turn cautious, loan portfolio declines as delinquencies rise

Overleveraging by customers is a pain point in the industry, said a regulatory report in FY23