Srinagar, July 23 (KNS): In terms of Master circular, loans and advances—statutory and other restrictions dated July 01, 2015, restrictions have been imposed on loans to directors/ relatives of directors of banks.
As per a notification, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Service (KNS), in addition to statutory restriction on lending to their own directors by banks, the Reserve Bank, as part of regulations, has mandated that loans aggregating ?25 lakh or above can be sanctioned only with the approval of the board of directors/ management committee including loans to directors of other banks including associated companies/firms, loans to relatives of a bank’s own directors, including associated companies/firms and loans to relatives of directors of other banks, including associated companies/firms
“On an examination of the issues, it was felt that the threshold of ?25 lakh which was fixed way back in 1996, needed an upward revision to reflect the increase in general prices since that time, encourage professionals with expertise to join the Boards and reduce the cases requiring approval at the board/ management committee level without diluting the regulatory intent. Accordingly, it has been decided to raise the threshold to ?5 crore.”
It reads that, however, considering the sensitivity of the issue and to ensure that the directors continue to carry out their functions without being influenced by extraneous considerations, the increased threshold will be applicable for grant of only ‘personal loans’ to any director of other banks.
“The existing threshold of ?25 lakh will continue to apply for business loans to directors of other banks., all loans to relatives of own directors of the bank and relatives of directors of other banks, and the companies/ firms associated with them.”
It reads that currently, sanction by the board/ management committee for grant of loans to a company is required, where the relative of a director holds substantial interest which is defined as 10% of paid-up capital or ?5 lakh, whichever is less.
“This places a disproportionate burden on the board/ management committee. This stipulation has been relaxed by mandating that sanction of board/ management committee would be required only when the relative is a major shareholder in a company (which is defined as holding of 10% or more of paid-up share capital or five crore rupees in paid up shares, whichever is less),” it reads. (KNS)