Unlocking Growth: Key Monetary Policy Revisions by NRB in its 3rd Quarter Current FY 2080/81

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has made several adjustments in its third-quarter monetary policy review for the fiscal year 2080/81, aiming to ease certain financial regulations and support economic activities below is the detail story of monetary policy change:

1. Risk Weight Reduction for Hire Purchase Loans: The risk weight for hire purchase loans, previously set at 125%, which has been lowered to 100% currently. This change is expected to make vehicle loans more accessible and potentially reduce the cost of borrowing for consumers & will have slight relief in capital reserves for banks.

2. Eased Conditions for Real Estate Loans: The Debt Service to Gross Income Ratio for real estate purchases has been increased from 50% to 70%, provided tax clearance certificates are submitted. This adjustment is designed to facilitate easier access to real estate financing.

3. Sale of Primary Capital Investments: Banks and financial institutions are now allowed to sell up to 20% of their primary capital investments in a fiscal year, given these investments have been held for at least one year. This provision aims to enhance liquidity management and investment flexibility for financial institutions will impact share market positively.

4. On Loan Loss Provisioning: The provisioning for loans classified as 'good' has been slightly reduced from 1.25% to 1.20%. This reduction could lower the burden on banks' capital requirements and improve their balance sheets.

5. Review of Silver Import and Sale Provisions: Existing regulations concerning the import and sale of silver are set to be reviewed, which could impact the market dynamics for precious metals in Nepal.

6. Maintenance of Key Interest Rates: The policy rate remains at 5.5%, with the deposit collection rate at 3% and the bank rate at 7%. Additionally, the mandatory cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio have been kept unchanged.

7. Interest Rate Corridor: The NRB plans to conduct necessary reviews to enhance the standing deposit facility, which is part of the interest rate corridor mechanism. This measure is aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of the interest rate corridor in managing liquidity and monetary conditions.

8. Strengthening Capital Base: The NRB plans to help banks and financial institutions strengthen their capital by using new tools or making regulatory changes. This will make the banking sector more stable and resilient.

Conclusion…

Hence with the adjustment made through current review of monetary policy, Implications of the Policy Changes can be summarized for three different sectors:

For Consumers: Lower risk weights for vehicle loans and eased real estate financing conditions could boost consumer spending in these sectors.

For Banks and Financial Institutions: The ability to sell a portion of primary capital investments and reduced loan loss provisioning may improve liquidity and profitability. Further it maintains existing interest rates and liquidity requirements ensures stability in the financial system while providing room for growth.

For the Economy: These measures collectively aim to stimulate economic activity, support consumer spending, and maintain financial stability amidst both internal and external economic challenges. The NRB’s third-quarter review takes a balanced approach. It eases some regulations while also ensuring financial stability, showing they are responding well to the current economic situation.

NRB brought Cap on Call Deposit!

As per NRB new circular issued as on 24th may 2019...an "A" class bank can't accept deposit on call account more than 10% of their total deposit liability, like wise B class bank can accept deposit from call account only upto 15% of their total deposit liability. NRB relaxation up to ashad 2077 BS, to maintain the above ratio. 

Before this amendment Banks were allowed to accept deposit from call account up to 25% to their total deposit liability. 

What is Call Deposit Account ?

Call Account is a flexible interest bearing saving account that requires you to maintain a certain amount of deposit to earn you a pre-negotiated interest. Call Account also gives you the flexibility for unlimited withdraw. Furthermore , Current Account can be linked to call Account so that balance exceeding the agreed amount in current account can be transferred automatically to call account on a daily basis and earn you interest.

Why this cap on Call Deposit?

Through this circular NRB is trying to put cap on call deposit but why our central bank is doing so, doubt may arise in your mind?

Through this circular NRB concern seems to be focusing on liquidity issues in BFI, what is your understanding on today's issued circular?

This must be stopped, This is Heart breaking!

We are in 2k76 BS as per Nepalese calendar. You can obserb mela in different part of siraha on every new year. On every new year here in Golbazar people celebrate it in a unique and pleasing way. I was there at Dhamini Temple to observe this unique way to welcome new year, I was there to enjoy the mela, I was there to get into the temple for worship and prayer. I clicked few photos in front of Dhamini mai Temple. It was my first click of 2k76 BS, Initially I was happy to see my click but later I became unhappy to see that picture. Let me now share that click.

I was happy to see those balloon i clicked. It was random click, when I was scrolling my gallery I saw this pic, I was happy to see those colorful balloons but I became sad to see the kid who is holding those ballon. 

There are two kid in the picture you can see holding those balloon to sell them on new year. Looking at their age it's seems they themselves needs toys to play and needs school to study. But they are selling toys, you may wonder why? Well An empty stomach can't think of toys, An empty stomach can't focus on study. Now the answer is quite simple. Yes! They are doing this for their very basic need that is food. Poverty is alarming 

If you have visited kathmandu and have used local transportation to travel different places in kathmandu, you must have notice that conductor of the most of the vehicle is under age to work as conductor. There many small kids who have been involved in begging on the street. There are many who have been working as: a dishwasher in hotels, a sales boy and many have been involved in agricultural activities as well.

Child should enjoy their childhood, they should enjoy their education. Child shouldn't be a begger, not be a bus conductor, neither be a sales boy, nor be a dish washer in hotels, not even a farmer! Child labor exist in our country and across the globe! It kills the childhood of child, it is against their health and right aswell.

Picture above shows that child rights have been ignored, not only the picture posted above in this article, you google child labour in nepal and you will see the condition, Indeed It depicts that their future is at risk. But how can child labor be stopped? Who is responsible for child labour? Government should come up with strict legal provision to control child labour, Not only Government, concerned authority , NGO, INGO as an individual we all should do bit from our end too on this issues! This must be stopped, this is heart breaking!

Free Bank Account With Rs100 bonus balance!

Are you still unbanked ? Are you one of those who have no bank account with any bank? In nepal though bank have reached in most of the rular area, data shows that there are still many people who have no bank account with any bank. Considering unbaked population of Nepal NRB issued a new circular on Bank account opening campaign (#खोलौ_बैंक_खाता)  as on 10th April 2019(2075/12/27) for BFI class A, B & C.
NRB came up following provision to be followed by all BfI on said campaign:

1) KYC and related provision of Bank account opening campaign 2076:

As per this campaign to open bank account for all Nepali unbanked natural person following criteria and process should be obtained for KYC and confirmation.

👉 As per this provision BFI shall use simplified account opening form to open a bank account. Under this provision it is mandatory to obtain no multiple banking declaration during opening a bank account.

👉 For KYC and other confirmation should be based on citizenship certificate or Passport or election ID card with photo or National ID card or Driving license or Government issued photo ID or letter containing photo issued by local authority.

👉The maximum transaction limit shall be 1 lakh. KYC and other related confirmation should be obtained if transaction limit crosses 1 lakh.

 As per this provision BFI can make deposit of Rs 100 after opening the bank account.

Concluding...

NRB though this circular intended to attract all those Nepalese who still have no account with any bank. Now question arises will this circular impact positively and attract all those who have been remained unbanked? So as for this campaign BFI needs to use a simplified account opening form and bank shall deposit Rs100 in all those account meeting above criteria may attract those people towards banking. Certainly this is good step towards the vision of financial conclusion, and this will help to bring those unbanned population into banking Chanel!

Jack Retirement:Beginning of New Chapter!

Jack Ma failed in main primary school test two times, He failed the middle school test three times and college entrance exam two times.

Transparency & Accountability Deficit of INGO in Nepal!

INGO’s And Its Role: 

Mission wise there is less difference between INGO and NGO, but INGO has its international scope and has its presence around the world to deal with specific issues in many countries.

Nepal's Treaties & Agreement: what & Why?

DTAA:

What?

With the aim of encouraging Indian investment in Nepal the GON and GOI entered  a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) and a prevention of fiscal evasion agreement in 2011

Why?

Low CAPEX Hurting Growth

Nepal’s capex is much lower than what is required to close the infrastructure deficit said ADB.

The country requires capital spending to reach 8.2-11.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), but it has stood at just 3.3

Watch List

NRB came with a new directive (as on 29-11- 2071) which direct bank and financial institution to add one additional type of loan in their loan category as "Watch List".

BFI will have to classify their loan and advances into five category including "watch list" as new one.

What is "Watch List"?

As per the new NRB directive- A loan having met all the criteria of standard or good loan but showing sign of vulnerability will have to be categorized under a new type of loan i.e. Watch List.

# Pass loan(Not overdue and over due upto 3 month):
Loan and advances whose interest and principal is being paid by the  client on the regular basis or with in the time period of three month is called pass loan. The provisioning requirement for this kind of asset is 1% of total pass(standard) loan

# Watch list:
As explained above it is new category of loan which posses the characteristics of pass loan but carry/shows some amount of potential risk. The purpose of identification of potential NPL is to ensure that timely appropriate corrective steps could be initiated by BFI to protect against the NPL. As per new directive of NRB, BFI from now afterwards will have to maintain 5 % provision for this category of loan. As per NRB directive under below condition loans/advances shall categories under watchlist category:

a) Principal or intrest overdue by above 1 months

b) All Short term or working capital loan pending for renewal & all temporary extension.

c) All those loan which has been categorised under Bad loan

d) Despite of regular payment of interest & principal by Firm/company but suffering loss for two consecutive FY. But the loan provided to project under construction, these arrangements shall be applicable only after commercial production.

e) As per point numbers 33 of NRB directive all multi Banking loan which has not been converted in to consortium financing.

f) All those loner whose cash flow & week operations of the project & which is directed to keep under Watch List by NRB after  supervision

# Substandard Loan(over due by 3-6 month):
Under this category all those loan whose interest and principal remain unpaid for the period of three to six month is regarded as substandard loan. The provisioning requirement for this kind of loan is 25% of total substandard loan.

# Doubtful Loan (overdue by 6-12 month):
Interest and principle remain due up to six to twelfth month of due date is categorized as doubtful loan. The provisioning requirement is 50% of total doubtful loan.

# Loss Loan( overdue by 1 year and above):
Interest and principle remain due up to 1 year and more is termed as loss loan. 100% provisioning is made for this type of loan.

*Performing loan=
Pass loan+ watch list

*Non-Performing loan=
Substandard loan + Doubtful loan + loss loan

Conclusion...

Non performing loan is one of the major issue faced by BFI in nepal. Increasing level of NPL is putting pressure over banking industry of nepal. In this situation this new directive will have some positive impact in lowering the level of NPL in effective way.

Economic Development

Introduction

Development is positive changes in living standard. Development is a continuous and collective process and the aspects of development includes economic, social, political and human.