Banking, Finance, Insurance Archives - MediaCatalyst : News - Opinion

01 Jul

UCB Sector, Gear Up for a Digital Leap and Eye Inclusive Growth, Sahakaar Trends Report by NUCFDC and TransUnion CIBIL

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance

The National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) and TransUnion CIBIL jointly unveiled the first edition of the Sahakaar Trends report at the 2025 Credit Conference. According to the report, as of March 2025, portfolio balances for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) stood at INR 2.9 lakh crore, recording a 6% YoY growth and 1.8x growth over the last 5 years (since March 2020). Key product segments saw double-digit growth in portfolio balances, driven by increased demand and wider market reach. The report notes that the sector is poised for its next phase of growth through a tech-led resurgence, with…

27 Jun

JioBlackRock Broking Gets SEBI Nod to Launch Brokerage Services in India

Kumar AnshumanBanking, Finance, Insurance, Business

Mumbai: JioBlackRock Broking Private Limited has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to begin operations as a brokerage firm, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of the JioBlackRock joint venture’s financial services portfolio. JioBlackRock Broking is a wholly owned subsidiary of JioBlackRock Investment Advisers Private Limited, itself a 50:50 joint venture between Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL) and global investment giant BlackRock Inc. With this regulatory green light, the venture is now poised to offer a comprehensive suite of investment services to Indian investors, including asset management, investment advisory, and now brokerage. The…

23 Jan

Kantar’s India Union Budget 2025 survey highlights a resurgence of inflationary concerns, amid growing calls for tax relief

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance

59% Indians cite rising inflation as their primary concern. With the rise in cybercrime and fraud, nearly 50% of Indians express concern over the misuse of AI, highlighting its potential threats to economic security and the resulting personal financial instability. Mumbai: Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company has just released findings from the 4th edition of its India Union Budget Survey. This survey maps consumer sentiments & expectations from the Union Budget 2025, ahead of it unveil on Feb 1st. Indian consumer sentiment in 2025 reveals a mix of declining confidence and evolving expectations. While 67% of Indians perceived…

22 Jan

iSPIRT and UGRO Capital to Launch Priority Sector Lenders Association of India (PSLAI)

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance

Mumbai: The Priority Sector Lenders Association of India (PSL Association or PSLAI), formed as a Section 8 company, has been conceptualized to make loans under the Priority Sector Lending norms, an important business vertical for Banks and NBFCs. Currently, as per the RBI regulations, Banks are required to maintain at least 40% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANDC) as priority sector loans. This amounts to an annual disbursement of nearly INR 64 trillion to MSMEs. Since loans under PSL are relatively of a small amount and are also considered riskier, the majority of the target is met by institutions…

13 Nov

HSBC Mutual Fund Uses Whimsical Film to Promote Early Financial Planning for Children’s Dreams

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance, Business

Mumbai: HSBC Mutual Fund launched a new digital film titled "Naye Nazariye Ki Udaan" (New Vision's Flight) on Children's Day to highlight the importance of early financial planning for a child's future. The film, created by TheSmallBigIdea, aims to educate young parents about Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in mutual funds. It emphasizes the benefits of starting investments early to build a strong financial foundation that can support a child's long-term goals and aspirations. https://youtu.be/zCU_tYPW-yg "Naye Nazariye Ki Udaan" features a father and child team playfully challenging Sherlock Holmes to find lost keys. Through vibrant visuals and witty dialogue, the film…

29 Sep

Going Public: A Beginner’s Guide to IPOs

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance

Investing in the stock market can seem daunting, but understanding the basics of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) can open up exciting opportunities. An IPO is the first time a company offers shares of its stock to the public, transitioning from a private to a publicly traded company. This move allows companies to raise capital for expansion and increases their market visibility. For investors, IPOs offer a chance to get in on the ground floor of potentially successful companies. The IPO Process: From Private to Public Several key steps are involved in an IPO: Preparation: The company evaluates its financial health…

05 Sep

Standard Chartered and NeSL Launch Pioneering Digital Bank Guarantee Solution

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance

In a move set to revolutionize digital trade finance in India, Standard Chartered has partnered with the National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) to introduce an innovative electronic Bank Guarantee (eBG) capability. This breakthrough solution aligns with the open Application Programming Interface (API) standards developed by ICC and SWIFT, marking a major leap forward in the digitization of trade finance processes. The eBG platform empowers Standard Chartered and its clients to digitally manage the entire lifecycle of bank guarantees, offering real-time visibility to all involved parties. Hitachi Systems India Pvt Ltd has become the first client to adopt this API-driven eBG…

17 Sep

IIFL Home Finance signs agreement for Co-lending with PNB

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance, NewsIIFL HFL, PNB

Mumbai: IIFL Home Finance Ltd. (IIFL HFL) today announced and signed an agreement with Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s 2nd largest Public Sector Bank, for Co-lending. IIFL Home Finance Ltd. expects to grow their loan book by 25% with these associations. The loan sourcing and servicing will be managed by IIFL Home Finance and 80% of the loan will be provided by Punjab National Bank. IIFL Home Finance Ltd. will service the customers through the entire loan cycle, from sourcing, documentation, collection to loan servicing. This association will let IIFL Home Finance to further penetrate into affordable Home Loan and Secured MSME Loan markets, and will also strengthen IIFL’s HFL’s portfolio. This…

26 May

ESAF Small Finance Bank reports 28.07% increase in operating profit

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance, NewsESAF Small Finance Bank

Mumbai: ESAF Small Finance Bank has declared its annual results for the FY 2020-21 and has recorded a 28.07 % increase in its operating profit for the year ended March 31, 2021. The Operating profit increased from 324.70 crores to 415.84 crores despite the challenges faced during the year. Deposits have grown by 28.04% from ` 7028 Crore as at 31 March 2020 to` 8999 Crore for the year ended 31 March 2021. Total CASA improved to ` 1748 Crores from ` 960 Crores marking a growth of 81.99% over the same period last year. CASA proportion to Deposits also significantly improved from 13.55% for the Year…

26 May

ICICI Bank links UPI ID facility to its digital wallet ‘Pockets’

MediaCatalystBanking, Finance, Insurance, NewsICICI Bank

Mumbai: ICICI Bank today announced the launch of a unique facility of linking a UPI (Unified Payments Interface) ID to its digital wallet ’Pockets’, marking a departure from the current practice that demands such IDs be linked with a savings bank account. New users, including those who are not customers of ICICI Bank, can now instantly get a UPI ID, which is automatically linked to ‘Pockets’. Further, customers who already have a UPI ID, will get a new ID when they log on to the ‘Pockets’ app. This initiative enables users to undertake small value everyday transactions directly from their ‘Pockets’ wallet using…