Financials | | 18 July 2014
Sector Update Sector Update
Financials
Draft guidelines for setting up Small Banks and Payments Banks
Positive for MFIs and Telecom companies | Large NBFCs unlikely to participate
The RBI has released draft guidelines for the setting up of Small Banks and Payments Banks. While the objective is to
expedite financial inclusion with the best use of technology, the approach to granting licenses is conservative.
The guidelines confine Small Banks to a limited area of operations. Further, stringent regulatory requirements
pertaining to CRR/SLR and shareholding (promoter shareholding of at least 40% for the next five years; maximum non-
promoter shareholding at 5% or 10% with RBI approval) among others would deter large NBFCs, especially asset
financing NBFCs. NBFCs with significant regional concentration may apply, but their large size could be a hurdle. MFIs
are likely to be the key contenders for setting up Small Banks.
The Payments Bank business model largely revolves around best use of technology to lower cost of operations (key to
profitability due to limited revenue generating avenues). The cost per customer is likely to be high, as the maximum
deposit allowed per customer is INR100k. The constraint of parking the entire float in less than one year G-Secs and
maintaining CRR would keep spreads low. However, fee income from remittances and serving as business
correspondents (BCs) for large banks should aid profitability. The RBI has allowed leverage up to 20x in this business;
despite low RoA, RoE could be respectable.
Beneficiaries: (a) MFIs having a regional presence and meeting the ‘fit and proper’ criteria could be the biggest
beneficiaries, (b) Telecom companies could work towards becoming Payments Banks.
Key guidelines common for both Small Banks and Payments Banks
These banks would be registered under the Public Limited Companies Act, 2013,
and licensed under section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
The minimum capital requirement would be INR1b and the minimum CAR
requirement would be 15%. RWA requirement would be as per Basel-I, with an
additional condition of maximum leverage of 20x for Payments Banks.
Promoters’ contribution should be at least 40% for the first five years.
Shareholding in excess of 40% should be brought down to 40% by the end of the
fifth year, to 30% by the end of the 10th year, and to 26% in 12 years from the
date of commencement of business.
Proposals having diversified shareholding and timeframe for listing would be
preferred by the RBI.
Foreign shareholding in the banks would be as per the extant FDI policy.
Voting rights would be initially capped at 10%, but the RBI could raise the limit
to 26% in a phased manner. This is in line with the existing guideline for private
sector banks.
Any acquisition of 5% or more of voting equity shares would require prior RBI
approval. Entities other than the promoters would not be permitted to have
shareholding in excess of 10% of the voting equity capital. This is, again, in line
with the existing guideline for private sector banks.
Corporate governance: (a) The Board should have a majority of Independent
Directors, (b) The bank should comply with the corporate governance
guidelines, including ‘fit and proper’ criteria for Directors as issued by RBI from
time to time.
The operations of the bank should be fully networked and technology-driven
from the beginning.
Alpesh Mehta
(Alpesh.Mehta@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5415
Sohail Halai
(Sohail.Halai@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 39825430
18 July 2014
Investors are advised to refer through disclosures made at the end of the Research Report.
1