MFIs welcome RBI's regulatory framework for microfinance loans

Microfinance institutions and an MFI-turned lender hailed the RBI's Regulatory Framework on microfinance loans announced on Monday saying that these guidelines will further deepen the penetration of micro-credit in the country.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed microfinance lenders to fix interest rates on loans with a rider that those should not be usurious for the borrowers.

A microfinance loan is defined as a collateral-free loan given to a household having an annual income of up to Rs 3 lakh.

The framework for microfinance loans announced by the RBI will further help deepen penetration of micro-credit in the country, MD & CEO of Bandhan Bank C S Ghosh said.

Bandhan Bank is a microfinance company that got a universal banking licence some years ago.

The latest guidelines are a strong reflection of the maturity of MFIs in the country and will go a long way in harmonising the regulatory framework for different types of lenders, encouraging healthy competition and enabling ..