Time ripe for holding co for PSBs to fix fund-crunch, fraud mess: Mundra

It is the right time to consider a holding company for Indian public sector banks to manage the country's fraud-hit and cash-strapped financial industry, former RBI deputy governor S S Mundra said.

Mundra, however, said that conditions were not right for privatisation of state-run lenders due to the socio-economic situation of India.

"Time is ripe now to hold discussions on a holding company for banks. Let the bank holding company start with the government majority and it should have a majority in individual bank," Mundra said the State Bank of India-sponsored Mint Asia Global Banking Conclave here last night.

In step two, the government should do away with the majority in the holding company.

"I think that should be the road map and this might take 15-20 years," said Mundra.

He agreed with SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar that conditions were not right for privatisation of the Public Sector Banks (PSBs). "Clearly privatisation (of PSB) is no panacea; that is quite clear," added Mundra at the conclave attended by some 200 members of the Indian business community here.

"Given India's current socio-economic condition, it is not right (time) for privatisation. May be after 20 years, you will have the right situation," said Kumar during a panel discussion.

While the government's recapitalisation of cash-strapped banks is going on, the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, the country's worst in banking history, surfaced last month, shocking the financial industry as much the public sector.

Both the top bankers agreed PNB fraud was the worst to hit the industry.

Kumar said the crisis situation should be sorted out, perhaps over the next two years, and build confidence in the banks, before considering consolidation of the industry.

They agreed the banking sector was sound.

Kumar also called for improving governance, quality of bank boards and executive levels.

"Once they have regained a certain confidence, after about two years, and (perhaps) that time could be the right time for some consolidation," said Kumar.

Mundra felt that seven to eight banks should be consolidated in the 21-PSB industry, which, nevertheless, has done well in financing the country's massive infrastructure development.

"There can definitely be a consolidation that can be done and can happen. But you don't consolidate everybody," added Kumar.