banks

The levy of a penalty by banks and housing finance companies for foreclosure of home loans does not amount to abuse of dominant position, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ruled on Tuesday, quashing borrowers’ hopes that the practice could be Full Article

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has once again advised banks and financial institutions to ensure that all information relating to charges or fees for processing of loans should be disclosed in the loan application forms. This is applicable to all lo Full Article

You may need to be extra careful while writing cheques in future. Bank regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well as banks are becoming more strict about individuals issuing cheques. Very often, individuals sign cheques irrespective of the balance Full Article

All financial intermediaries, including banks and stocks brokers, will have to maintain specific information about their clients’ political links, if any. This is due to the amendment to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, notified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 9 and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on June 14. Full Article

Ahead of the Reserve Bank's quarterly monetary policy, RBI is likely to signal interest rate hikes to suck out liquidity from the market and check prices from spiraling further. Reserve Bank may also raise the amount banks need to park with the apex bank (CRR) by up to 50 basis points. Reserve Bank could raise the short-term borrowing (reverse repo) rate by 25 basis points. Reserve bank is likely to hike cash reverse ratio by up to 50 basis points. Full Article

If you’re worried about what questions your income tax officer will ask about your returns, you can relax a bit. The department has decided to take up fewer tax returns for scrutiny this year. The Central Board of Direct Taxes had issued an internal circular in December 2009, asking commissioners to select fewer cases for scrutiny. Full Article

Nutritionist Dr Sarita Davare, recently caught in the tax net (the income tax department recovered Rs 7.5 crore from her), is the city's best kept secret. We spent the best part of the day trying to get a picture of the lady, but failed. However, the recent IT raid on her brings the spotlight on big bucks that the fitness industry rides on. Full Article

Mergers on individual banks will not be forced, and no time frame has been set for the consolidation process in the banking system, financial services secretary R Gopalan said today. Merger of state-run banks should be done with a view to bring in good synergies, on mutual interests of the concerned entities, and government will not compel the consolidation process on individual banks, he said said at a Bancon conference here. Full Article