PSU banks are looking to offer more personal loans to the customers in order to raise thir margins and profitability. This is because the returns from personal loans are higher than any other kind of loan.

The monetary policy announced some time ago had included some monetary tightening steps like increase in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) and in the repo and reverse repo rates. The RBI has taken these steps to regulate the rising inflation rates of the country.

Private sector bank, Axis Bank is planning to raise its retail loan book such that it comprises 25% of the total loan book of the bank over the next 2 years. This means the bank plans to increase its focus on personal loans.

With the base rate being implemented over the next 2 months, all banks are ready to compute their base rate which would be eliminating the benchmark prime lending rate (BPLR) totally from the loan pricing system of Indian banks. The base rate is coming into effect from 1st July 2010.

Sundaram BNP Paribas Home Finance, a

The request by some banks for getting the freedom to fix borrower specific base rates for car loans has been shot down by the RBI. The banks are not even permitted to charge negative premium while computing the effective base rate.

India’s biggest bank, State Bank of India has been awarded the prestigious Asian Banker Achievement Award this year as the most robust bank in Asia Pacific region. Qatar Financial Centre Authority and the Asian Banker magazine give the award.

Maruti Suzuki India has plans to introduce a new model of its small car Alto, the largest selling model in India, with a bigger engine. The industry sources say, the company intends to introduce the new Alto with a one-litre petrol engine from its newest series of engine, the K-Series.

Jet Airways has announced a tie up with SBI Card in which customers can book airline tickets via their portal using the credit card alternative. SBI Card is a joint venture between State Bank of India, the country’s biggest lender and GE Capital.