RBI denies three requests to establish small finance banks

5 Jul 2023 , 11:41 AM

Three applications, including West End Housing financing’s, for the establishment of small financing banks were turned down by the Reserve Bank of India. According to a statement released on Tuesday, these applications were deemed unsuitable for obtaining in-principal approval to establish small financing institutions.

In accordance with the requirements for ‘on tap’ licensing of universal banks and small finance banks, the RBI had received roughly a dozen applications to establish banks.

It made the decisions of six applications public in May of last year.

According to the RBI, three additional applications for the establishment of small financing banks have been examined and approved in accordance with the current regulations.

According to the evaluation of the applications, Akhil Kumar Gupta, Cosmea Financial Holdings Pvt Ltd, and West End Housing Finance Ltd. were deemed ‘not found suitable’ for the granting of in-principal authorization to establish a small finance bank.

The remaining applications are being reviewed, according to the central bank.

The regulations for ‘on tap’ licensing of Universal Banks and SFBs in the private sector were released on August 1, 2016, and December 5, 2019, respectively.

The initial minimum paid-up voting equity capital for a universal bank should be Rs 500 crore, according to the recommendations. After that, the bank must always have a minimum net value of Rs 500 crore. For SFBs, the required minimum paid-up voting capital/net worth is Rs 200 crore.

The initial net value criterion for urban cooperative banks seeking to voluntarily transition into SFBs is Rs 100 crore, which must be enhanced to Rs 200 crore within five years.

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