We need to have a level-playing field with banks: Manappuram Finance CEO

It makes sense to go for bank gold loans if customers are borrowing larger ticket sizes, like Rs 10 or Rs 15 lakh, and for a longer period

Manappuram Finance has diversified into vehicle loans and microfinance even as its traditional preserve — the gold loans business — has seen the entry of banks. This was due to the relaxation in loan-to-value (LTV) norms during the pandemic. The firm’s managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) V P Nandakumar makes a case for equal treatment with banks in an interview with Raghu Mohan. Edited excerpts:

What’s your outlook on gold prices given that the Fed is not done yet with its rate hikes? And, what does it mean for those who have availed of gold loans?

Gold