RBI announces steps to increase credit flow to NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced more measures to increase liquidity flows to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).

The RBI has permitted banks to use government securities equal to their incremental outstanding credit to NBFCs, over and above their outstanding credit to them as on October 19, to meet liquidity coverage ratio requirements.

The move will help provide liquidity to housing finance companies (HFCs) and non-banking finance companies which have come under pressure following series of default by IL&FS group companies.

"... banks will be permitted to also reckon Government securities held by them up to an amount equal to their incremental outstanding credit to NBFCs and HFCs, over and above the amount of credit to NBFCs and HFCs outstanding on their books as on October 19, 2018, as Level 1 HQLA under FALLCR within the mandatory SLR requirement," RBI said in a notification.

This will be in addition to the existing FALLCR of 13% of total deposits, and limited to 0.5% of the bank’s total deposits.

Liquidity coverage ratio refers to highly liquid assets that financial institutions need to hold in order to meet short-term obligations.

The additional window will be available up to December 31, 2018, the notification said.

Besides, it said, the single borrower exposure limit for NBFCs which do not finance infrastructure stands increased from 10% to 15% of capital funds, up to December 31, 2018.

The RBI has been taking series of steps to infuse liquidity in the system. It has also been undertaking open market operation at regular intervals to add liquidity.