NBFCS - ECONOMY

News: Tata Group seeks RBI waiver from listing NBFC

 

What's in the news?

       Tata Group has sought a formal waiver from the central bank to avoid listing Tata Sons, its holding company and non-banking finance firm, on stock exchanges, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

 

Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC):

       An NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by the Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature.

 

Types of NBFC:

There are two types of NBFCs based on their liability structure such as

1. Deposit-taking NBFCs (NBFC-D):

       They accept deposits from customers and use that money to provide loans and other financial services.

 

2. Non-deposit taking NBFCs (NBFC-ND):

       They don’t accept deposits from customers but raise funds through other means, such as issuing bonds or borrowing from banks.

 

Features:

       They offer various banking services but do not have a banking license.

       They provide banking services like loans, credit facilities, TFCs, retirement planning, investing and stocking in the money market.

       Generally, these institutions are not allowed to take traditional demand deposits - readily available funds, such as those in checking or savings accounts from the public.

       NBFCs also provide a wide range of monetary advice like chit-reserves and advances.

 

Regulation:

       NBFCs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central bank of India.

       The RBI has the authority to issue licenses to NBFCs, regulate their operations, and ensure that they adhere to the established norms and regulations.

 

Difference between Banks and NBFCs:

NBFCs lend and make investments and hence their activities are akin to that of banks. However, there are a few differences as given below.

       NBFC cannot accept demand deposits.

       NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself.

       Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

       Unlike banks, NBFCs are not subjected to stringent and substantial regulations.

 

Examples:

       Investment banks, mortgage lenders, money market funds, insurance companies, equipment leasing companies, infrastructure finance companies, hedge funds, private equity funds, and P2P lenders.