Banking

Insurers deepen AI adoption to improve underwriting, customer service

Life and general insurers are expanding AI deployment across underwriting, claims, fraud detection and customer service to improve efficiency, productivity and turnaround times

RBI imposes penalties on Muthoot Finance, others for compliance violations

The central bank imposed penalties ranging from Rs 2.7 lakh to Rs 6.2 lakh on six companies, including Muthoot Finance, for violating regulatory norms

Q1FY27 securitisation issuances hold steady at ₹600 bn, up over 20% Y-o-Y

Strong first-quarter volumes suggest the market is moving beyond cyclical expansion towards a deeper and more resilient funding ecosystem

Forex agents' industry body seeks Fema clarity on forex correspondent model

Money changers say ambiguity over the principal-agent framework, liability and compliance could delay the rollout of the new forex correspondent category

RBI's forex deposit measures raise hopes of margin recovery for banks

RBI's measures to attract foreign currency inflows are expected to improve liquidity and support lending margins as major private sector banks, including HDFC and Axis Bank, report Q1 earnings

RBI's Financial Inclusion Index rises to 70 in FY26 on higher usage

RBI's Financial Inclusion Index improved to 70 in FY26 from 67 a year earlier, driven mainly by higher usage, while all three sub-indices registered growth

Foreign banks step up leverage to attract FCNR(B) deposits from NRIs

Some foreign banks are offering leverage of up to 19 times FCNR(B) deposits to attract NRI funds as lenders intensify mobilisation efforts under the RBI's special scheme

Banks cannot sell back recovered immovable properties to borrowers

RBI bars banks from selling recovered properties back to borrowers, introduces norms for handling acquired non-financial asset

PNB partners Digital India BHASHINI to offer multilingual AI banking

Punjab National Bank will integrate BHASHINI's multilingual AI capabilities into its digital platform, enabling customers to access banking services through voice and text in multiple Indian languages

Banks courting corporate clients for merger and acquisition financing

Banks are pitching M&A financing to corporate clients after RBI's new norms, setting the stage for stronger competition with private credit funds

Banks alone can't fund Viksit Bharat; bond market must step up: Crisil

Crisil says India's debt capital market must deepen to support the Viksit Bharat vision, with India Inc expected to require Rs 130-140 trillion in debt funding over FY27-31

HDFC Bank gets RBI nod for former CEC Rajiv Kumar as part-time chair

Former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will serve as HDFC Bank's part-time chairman for three years after receiving the Reserve Bank of India's approval

RBI approves appointment of Rajiv Kumar as part-time chairman of HDFC Bank

RBI has approved former Chief Election Commissioner and ex-Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar as HDFC Bank's part-time chairman for a three-year term

Govt receives revised financial bids for IDBI Bank stake sale: Report

The government has received revised financial bids from Fairfax Financial and Emirates NBD for the strategic sale of a 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank

Setting the agenda: RBI directs bank boards to sharpen strategic focus

The revised framework, effective October 1, 2026, requires bank boards to define reserved matters, review delegated powers and devote greater attention to strategy and risk governance

Insurance distribution lifts fee income at most public sector banks in FY26

Public sector banks saw higher insurance commission income in FY26, led by SBI, while mutual fund distribution earnings showed mixed trends across lenders

Moody's Ratings affirms SBI, HDFC Bank ratings on strong asset quality

Moody's has affirmed the ratings of SBI and HDFC Bank with a stable outlook, citing strong asset quality, healthy profitability and solid capital buffers

Commercial papers explained: How companies raise short-term funds

Companies raised a record ₹5.37 trillion through commercial papers in the first quarter of FY27. Here's what they are, who issues them and why their use is rising

Govt close to accepting sweetened Fairfax Financial offer for IDBI Bank

The Centre is close to accepting Fairfax Financial's revised offer for IDBI Bank, with the Canadian firm's bid expected to be raised slightly ahead of final regulatory and Cabinet approvals

AI, identity, real-time payments resetting cyber threat landscape: Report

A report warns that AI, embedded finance and real-time payments are reshaping cyber risks, leaving traditional security models inadequate for today's interconnected financial ecosystem