What is an NBFC?
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) have become an integral part of India’s financial landscape over the last few decades. But what exactly are NBFCs and how do they operate?
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive overview of NBFCs in India. We’ll explain what an NBFC is, the different types of NBFCs, the registration process for NBFCs, and the functions they perform. We’ll also look at the advantages of NBFCs, the challenges they face and the regulatory environment they operate in. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of the role of NBFCs in India and how they operate.
How do NBFCs Operate?
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are major players in India’s financial landscape. Often called shadow banks, NBFCs are non-deposit accepting companies that provide financial services such as loan and advances, leasing, debt-factoring, insurance, investment services and other financial activities. NBFCs have been established as a distinct class of financial institutions, separate from banks and other financial companies, to provide an array of financial services.
NBFCs must register with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and comply with all applicable regulations. RBI regulates the activities of NBFCs to ensure sound behaviour and fair practices, and to provide consumer protection. RBI also has the right to inspect NBFCs for compliance with relevant regulations.
NBFCs may carry out any of the approved financial activities such as loan and advances, insurance, leasing, hire-purchase, investments, etc. They may also offer innovative products such as credit cards, ATM cards, debit cards, mutual funds and venture capital services. NBFCs are not allowed to accept deposits from the public, however they may accept deposits from existing customers.
NBFCs are more focused on retail customers and may not have the same scale and scope of operations as commercial banks. NBFCs are subject to restrictions on the size of their balance sheet and the number of branches they can operate. To be eligible to operate as an NBFC, a company must have a certain amount of net owned funds (NOF) – a minimum prescribed limit. The NOF requirement is a measure to ensure that the NBFC has enough financial resources to meet its obligations in case of any shock.
NBFCs are also required to be-compliant with the KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations. They must also follow the prevention of frauds and related regulations to ensure compliance with the prevailing laws. NBFCs must also maintain certain records and submit periodic returns to RBI to remain eligible to operate as an NBFC.
Functions of NBFCs
Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are financial institutions that perform banking-related activities such as loans and advances, acquisition of shares / stocks / bonds / debentures / securities issued by a government or a local authority, leasing, hire-purchase/insurance business, chit business but without the authority to accept deposits from the public.
In India, NBFCs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The primary functions of NBFCs include:
- Investment and credit intermediation: NBFCs provide a range of financial services including consumer finance, purchase of money markets instruments, business loans, and venture capital.
- Asset based financing: NBFCs provide asset-based financing services such as leasing and hire purchase financing, mortgage loans and loans against securities.
- Insurance: In India, NBFCs are allowed to provide non-life insurance services.
- Pension funding: NBFCs can also provide pension funding services in India.
- Mutual funds: NBFCs can act as the asset management companies for mutual funds.
- Investment research and advisory services: In India, NBFCs are allowed to provide investment research and advisory services.
Asset Financing Companies
are a category of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) that specialize in providing financing services. These companies provide secured loans, unsecured loans and other services such as hire purchase, lease financing and bill discounting. Asset Financing Companies have been popular in India for decades and have been instrumental in providing financial services to customers who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. As of 2020, there are approximately 8,000 NBFCs registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) out of which about 5,000 are considered asset financing companies. These companies are regulated by the RBI and are subject to various guidelines and regulations in order to conduct their business.
Investment Companies
, a subset of NBFCs, include venture capital companies, private equity companies, portfolio management firms, and public financial institutions. These companies play an important role in promoting the circulation of capital in the country by allocating resources to those seeking financing. They assist in improving the efficiency of capital utilization, in raising the standard of services, and in diversifying the risk portfolio of large investors. NBFCs can also provide a more efficient avenue for the financing of small and medium industries given the easier access to debt and equity capital. Investment Companies are an integral part of India’s financial landscape as they provide efficient capital allocation to entrepreneurs and business owners.
Infrastructure Finance Companies
(IFCs) are a type of NBFC which specialize in providing finance to Indian infrastructure projects. IFCs can play an important role in the Indian economy by providing financial support to small- scale infrastructure projects. These projects are often unable to obtain finance from traditional sources, so the support of IFCs can be invaluable. IFCs provide debt financing, lines of credit and various other structured products to Indian infrastructure projects, which helps to bridge the gap between project requirements and the availability of finance. IFCs have also been instrumental in speeding up the process of India’s infrastructure development and creating an environment conducive for future investments.
Advantages of NBFCs
The financial landscape of India has been significantly impacted by the advent of Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). NBFCs are a type of financial intermediary that provide services of banking or finance, such as providing loans and taking deposits, but are not registered under the banking regulations. These financial institutions have a variety of advantages compared to traditional banking, which has led to their increasing popularity in India.
One of the key advantages of NBFCs is their ability to offer innovative financial products, such as venture capital and unsecured loans. Unlike banks, which primarily offer asset-backed services, NBFCs are able to provide services to individuals and businesses that may not qualify for traditional banking services. This is particularly beneficial for entrepreneurs and startups that require short-term financing to grow their businesses.
NBFCs play a very important and pivotal role in bringing the unbanked customers into mainline banking over the years. And hence they serve the regulator’s objective of inclusive banking. NBFCs cater to customer who cannot be served under Bank’s policy / guidelines and hence NBFC play a role where-in the product is tailormade and customised which helps the customer.
NBFCs are also able to provide customized solutions that traditional banking cannot. These financial institutions are able to provide tailor-made solutions to their clients that are often more flexible than those offered by traditional banking. This is particularly advantageous for businesses that require highly specialized services or have unique financing needs.
In addition, NBFCs are typically more accessible and provide quicker turnaround times for services than traditional banks. These institutions typically have fewer regulations and paperwork requirements and are thus able to provide services more quickly. This is especially beneficial for businesses that require quick access to capital, such as for expansion projects.
This is due to the fact that NBFCs are able to leverage their specialized knowledge and expertise to provide more competitive rates than traditional banking. This can result in significant savings for borrowers and can be an invaluable asset for businesses.
Above factors help customer who cannot be served by Banks and are served by NBFC, however there are larger challenges in Indian parlance where, such customer lack a good banking habit. NBFC bear the pain and educate the customer of keeping money in bank and regularising the repayment which helps them in avoiding charges on default and its impact in long term borrowing. Over the period, customer shift to bigger bank an hence is able to come in main stream finance availability.
Overall, NBFCs provide various advantages that can be beneficial in a variety of situations. From providing innovative solutions to offering faster access to capital and lower interest rates, these financial institutions have revolutionized the financial landscape of India.
Challenges Faced by NBFCs
The Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) occupy an important place in India’s financial landscape, yet the sector has not been without its challenges. There are a number of factors that have posed challenges to the sector’s growth and success.
First, NBFCs require capital and resources to operate, and a lack of access to capital has long been a problem faced by smaller NBFCs. This has limited their ability to scale and operate as a viable business. Many NBFCs also need to borrow to finance their operations, and here also, access to credit has been an issue due to their small size and limited financial resources.
Second, there have been changes in the regulatory framework of NBFCs. The NBFC sector has traditionally been less regulated compared to commercial banks, but the last few years have seen more stringent regulations being imposed on NBFCs. This has meant that NBFCs have had to invest more resources and energy into compliance, and this has taken away from their core business operations.
Third, the sector has also faced increased competition from commercial banks and other players in the financial services space, who have been aggressive in their efforts to capture market share. This has made survival for small NBFCs difficult, as they are often unable to match the pricing and services offerings of their larger competitors.
Fourth, the NBFC sector has also been impacted by the overall macroeconomic environment. The slowdown in the Indian economy over the last few years has had a direct impact on the sector’s performance. As a result, many NBFCs have struggled to remain profitable and to maintain their operations in a tough market.
Fifth, NBFC post 2018 financial stress, many Banks/ MF and investors have created challenges in raising funds for NBFC either it is difficult to raise fund or fund raising is done at a higher rate and low tenor, bringing ALM challenges to company.
Finally, NBFC post providing loan facility face the pain of defaults due to cash mismanagement by the customer. Such happens since on account of customer category they are not habituated to Banking their cash flows, which results in spending the amount received and bouncing of EMIs. NBFCs over the period counsel them for advantages of keeping their money in Bank and regularising their account, face transfer of facility wherein customer shifts their loan to Banks / other larger NBFC. While this helps the economy in upbringing the inclusive customer, however keeps NBFC in constant challenge of onboarding new customers to maintain growth.
These are just some of the challenges faced by the NBFC sector in India. Despite these issues, many NBFCs have managed to grow and thrive in the country’s financial landscape, and the sector continues to play animportant role in India’s economy.
Regulatory Environment and Supervision of NBFCs in India
Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are an important part of India’s financial landscape. These companies provide essential services to individuals and businesses, including loans, leasing, deposits, and other types of financial services. It is therefore important to understand the regulatory environment and supervision of NBFCs in India.
The regulation of NBFCs in India is mainly done by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI is empowered to issue directives, guidelines, and instructions to NBFCs. It is primarily responsible for the registration, licensing, and control of NBFCs in the country. All NBFCs are required to comply with the provisions laid down in the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions 1998.
NBFCs in India are expected to adhere to strict prudential regulations. This includes maintaining a minimum capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of 15%, as well as adhering to liquidity and leverage ratios. As per the Tier-I capital requirement, NBFCs are required to maintain a CRAR of 15% and a Tier-II capital of 7.5% of their total risk-weighted assets. The liquidity ratio requires NBFCs to maintain at least 1.25x of their liabilities in liquid assets. The leverage ratio requires them to maintain total borrowings at not more than 45 times its net owned funds.
NBFCs are also subject to regular inspections by the RBI, which helps ensure compliance with regulations. The RBI has the authority to issue directions and initiate action against NBFCs for non-compliance. This can include fines, sanctions, and even suspending or revoking the registration of an NBFC.
Overall, the regulatory environment and supervision of NBFCs in India is robust and effective. This helps ensure that NBFCs adhere to the regulations and provide quality services to their customers.
