Payment bank rules by month-end, telcos, India Post remain frontrunners: RBI

India Post and mobile companies have a good chance of getting a payments bank licence, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is expected to come out with detailed guidelines by the end of the month. Besides, successful micro finance institutions may get a chance to migrate to commercial banking Stock Market Trading Tips

The state-run India Post was denied a licence in the first round of the recent licencing scheme. "We visualise mobile companies, but also companies with a large rural presence... maybe shops, maybe kiosks, but as well as possibly post office that would come into the payment bank licencing scheme," Raghuram Rajan, governor, RBI, said at a conclave on microfinance organised by agricultural lender Nabard Intraday Trading Tips

The guidelines are now with the government for comments. "In the weeks to come, we will put out guidelines on new entities called payment banks, which will basically offer accounts to the excluded," Rajan said.

RBI also expects to give licences to small finance banks. Instead of having local area banks focussed on two or three districts, there are suggestions that there should be all-India small finance banks which are focused on small lending though they would be allowed to accept deposits. "This licence would offer avenue... should allow successful microfinance institutions to migrate towards a banking licence without abandoning the core business of working with the small and the excluded," the governor said. Rajan, however, warned the microfinance lenders against usurious lending practices and was also critical of the loan waiver practices of certain state governments Financial Astrology Trading Tips

Several entities, including Nabard, have expressed interest in setting up banks. "We would be keen to look at it closely and consider it as an option if the guidelines permit," said Nabard chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala Free Share Tips

Nabard is keen to seek a banking licence through its subsidiary NABFINs, a non-banking finance company with a focus on the bottom of the pyramid.

"We still want to be a fullfledged bank. The government will decide whether they want to give to us or not," said Pradipta Kumar Bisoi, chief postmaster general of Maharashtra circle, at an event in Mumbai Personal Numerology Trading Tips