Can all NBFCs accept deposits and what are the requirements for accepting public deposits?
All NBFCs are not entitled to accept public deposits. Only those NBFCs holding a valid certificate of registration with authorisation to accept public deposits can accept/hold public deposits. The NBFCs accepting public deposits should have minimum stipulated net owned fund and comply with the directions issued by the bank.
Is there any ceiling on acceptance of public deposits? What is the rate of interest and period of deposit which NBFCs can accept?
Yes, there is ceiling on acceptance of public deposits. An NBFC maintaining required NOF/CRAR and complying with the prudential norms can accept public deposits as follows:
- Category of NBFC
- Ceiling on public deposits
- AFCs maintaining CRAR of 15% without credit rating
- AFCs with CRAR of 12% and having minimum investment grade credit rating 1.5 times of NOF or Rs 10 crore whichever is less
- 4 times of NOF
- LC/IC with CRAR of 15% and having minimum investment grade credit rating 1.5 times of NOF
Presently, the maximum rate of interest a NBFC can offer is 11%. The interest may be paid or compounded at rests not shorter than monthly rests.
The NBFCs are allowed to accept/renew public deposits for a minimum period of 12 months and maximum period of 60 months. They cannot accept deposits repayable on demand.
The RNBCs have different norms for acceptance of deposits which are explained elsewhere in this booklet.
What are the salient features of NBFCs regulations which the depositor may note at the times of investment?
Some of the important regulations relating to acceptance of deposits by NBFCs are as under:
- i) The NBFCs are allowed to accept/renew public deposits for a minimum period of 12 months and maximum period of 60 months. They cannot accept deposits repayable on demand.
- ii) NBFCs cannot offer interest rates higher than the ceiling rate prescribed by RBI from time to time. The present ceiling is 11 per cent per annum. The interest may be paid or compounded at rests not shorter than monthly rests.
- iii) NBFCs cannot offer gifts/incentives or any other additional benefit to the depositors.
- iv) NBFCs (except certain AFCs) should have minimum investment grade credit rating.
- v) The deposits with NBFCs are not insured.
- vi) The repayment of deposits by NBFCs is not guaranteed by RBI.
- vii) There are certain mandatory disclosures about the company in the Application Form issued by the company soliciting deposits.
What is 'deposit' and 'public deposit'? Is it defined anywhere?
The term 'deposit' is defined under Section 45 I(bb) of the RBI Act, 1934. 'Deposit' includes and shall be deemed always to have included any receipt of money by way of deposit or loan or in any other form but does not include:
- amount raised by way of share capital, or contributed as capital by partners of a firm;
- amount received from scheduled bank, co-operative bank, a banking company, State Financial Corporation, IDBI or any other institution specified by RBI;
- amount received in ordinary course of business by way of security deposit, dealership deposit, earnest money, advance against orders for goods, properties or services;
- amount received by a registered money lender other than a body corporate;
- amount received by way of subscriptions in respect of a 'Chit'.
- Paragraph 2(1)(xii) of the Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits ( Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998 defines a ' public deposit' as a 'deposit' as defined under Section 45 I(bb) of the RBI Act, 1934 and further excludes the following: amount received from the Central/State Government or any other source where repayment is guaranteed by Central/State Government or any amount received from local authority or foreign government or any foreign citizen/authority/person;
- any amount received from financial institutions;
- any amount received from other company as inter-corporate deposit;
- amount received by way of subscriptions to shares, stock, bonds or debentures pending allotment or by way of calls in advance if such amount is not repayable to the members under the articles of association of the company;
- amount received from shareholders by private company;
- amount received from directors or relative of the director of a NBFC;
- amount raised by issue of bonds or debentures secured by mortgage of any immovable property or other asset of the company subject to conditions;
- the amount brought in by the promoters by way of unsecured loan;
- amount received from a mutual fund;
- any amount received as hybrid debt or subordinated debt;
- any amount received by issuance of Commercial Paper.
Thus, the directions have sought to exclude from the definition of public deposit amount raised from certain set of informed lenders who can make independent decision.
Are Secured debentures treated as Public Deposit? If not who regulates them?
Debentures secured by the mortgage of any immovable property or other asset of the company if the amount raised does not exceed the market value of the said immovable property or other asset are excluded from the definition of 'public deposit' in terms of Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits (Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998. Secured debentures are debt instruments and are regulated by Securities & Exchange Board of India.
Whether NBFCs can accept deposits from NRIs?
Effective from April 24, 2004, NBFCs cannot accept deposits from NRI except deposits by debit to NRO account of NRI provided such amount do not represent inward remittance or transfer from NRE/FCNR (B) account.
However, the existing NRI deposits can be renewed.
Is nomination facility available to the Depositors of NBFCs?
Yes, nomination facility is available to the depositors of NBFCs. The Rules for nomination facility are provided for in section 45QB of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Non-Banking Financial Companies have been advised to adopt the Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 1985 made under Section 45ZA of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Accordingly, depositor/s of NBFCs are permitted to nominate, one person to whom, the NBFC can return the deposit in the event of the death of the depositor/s. NBFCs are advised to accept nominations made by the depositors in the form similar to one specified under the said rules, viz Form DA 1 for the purpose of nomination, and Form DA2 and DA3 for cancellation of nomination and variation of nomination, respectively.
What else should a depositor bear in mind while depositing money with NBFCs?
While making deposits with a NBFC, the following aspects should be borne in mind:
- (i) Public deposits are unsecured.
- (ii) A proper deposit receipt which should, besides the name of the depositor/s state the date of deposit, the amount in words and figures, rate of interest payable and the date of maturity should be insisted. The receipt shall be duly signed by an officer authorised by the company in that behalf.
- (iii) The Reserve Bank of India does not accept any responsibility or guarantee about the present position as to the financial soundness of the company or for the correctness of any of the statements or representations made or opinions expressed by the company and for repayment of deposits/discharge of the liabilities by the company.
It is said that rating of NBFCs is necessary before it accepts deposit? Is it true? Who rates them?
An unrated NBFC, except certain Asset Finance companies (AFC), cannot accept public deposits. An exception is made in case of unrated AFC companies with CRAR of 15% which can accept public deposit up to 1.5 times of the NOF or Rs 10 crore whichever is lower without having a credit rating. A NBFC may get itself rated by any of the four rating agencies namely, CRISIL, CARE, ICRA and FITCH Ratings India Pvt. Ltd.
What are the symbols of minimum investment grade rating of different companies?
The symbols of minimum investment grade rating of the Credit rating agencies are:
Name of rating agencies : Level of minimum investment grade credit rating (MIGR)
- CRISIL: FA- (FA MINUS)
- ICRA: MA- (MA MINUS)
- CARE: CARE BBB (FD)
- FITCH Ratings India Pvt. Ltd: tA-(ind)(FD)
- It may be added that A- is not equivalent to A, AA- is not equivalent to AA and AAA- is not equivalent to AAA.
Can a NBFC which is yet to be rated accept public deposit?
No, a NBFC cannot accept deposit without rating except an EL/HP company complying with prudential norms and having CRAR of 15%, though not rated, may accept public deposit up to 1.5 times of NOF or Rs 10 crore whichever is less.
When a company's rating is downgraded, does it have to bring down its level of public deposits immediately or over a period of time?
If rating of a NBFC is downgraded to below minimum investment grade rating, it has to stop accepting public deposit, report the position within fifteen working days to the RBI and reduce within three years from the date of such downgrading of credit rating, the amount of excess public deposit to nil or to the appropriate extent permissible under paragraph 4(4) of Non-Banking Financial Companies Acceptance of Public Deposits ( Reserve Bank) Directions, 1998; however such NBFC can renew the matured public deposits subject to repayment stipulations specified above and compliance with other conditions for acceptance of deposits.