Public RelationsBulk deposit rates rise again
RBI is expected to increase CRR next month to signal a rate increase.
- Power ministry floats Cabinet note to push open access - Credit growth of 18% possible, says K V Kamath - Liquidity down on Short loans, tax outgo - Monetary policy has limited role: Govt - Societe Generale to devise new strategy for insurance sector - CD issuance persists on view rates may rise
In what could be the first sign of a rise in interest rates, bulk deposit rates have started rising. At least three banks – Union Bank of India, Uco Bank and Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) – have increased the rate on one-year bulk deposits. According to market participants, as against 5-5.50 per cent last month, these banks have begun to offer 6.25-6.35 per cent on these deposits.
Deposits of over Rs 5 crore are usually classified as bulk deposits.
When the financial crisis intensified after the Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the Indian Banks’ Association advised banks not to quote bulk deposit rates beyond 6 per cent. In recent months, with low credit off-take and high liquidity, bulk deposit rates had dropped below those on retail deposits, which are also seen to be more sticky.
“With credit growth picking up, albeit at a slow pace, and excess liquidity coming down, we have started offering more for bulk deposits as liquidity may further tighten in January,” said the senior executive of large public sector bank. The market expects the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to increase the cash reserve ratio (CRR), or the proportion of deposits that they set aside, next month to signal a rate increase. A higher CRR would result in liquidity tightening.
In addition to bulk deposits, even the rates on certificates of deposits have also gone up during the last fortnight.
The interest rate on certificates of deposit (CDs) of one-year duration, which were offering 5.5-5.7 per cent till the last week of November, have now moved up beyond 6 per cent.
Today, Andhra Bank raised Rs 950 crore through nine-month and one-year CDs for which it offered 5.64 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. Similarly, Union Bank also raised one-year CDs at 6 per cent.
The upward trend is reflected in shorter maturities, too. On Monday, Uco Bank placed Rs 400 crore of three-month CDs at 4 per cent while Canara Bank placed five-month CDs at 3.92 per cent. The rate on three-month CDs has moved up to 4 per cent from 3.15-3.45 per cent at the end of November, according to dealers.
Although some bankers said the northward movement was due to the usual quarter-end rush by banks to meet their targets and improve the top line, a section of bankers believe the increase in rates may be permanent. Bankers said they did not want to be caught off guard once RBI raised rates and credit growth picked up in the next quarter. In recent weeks, CD issues have increased. Dealers said that so far in December banks had raised close to Rs 25,000 crore through the route against Rs 15,000 crore in November.
The liquidity position has changed, with the amount of surplus funds that the banks parked with RBI through the reverse repo window below the Rs 40,000 crore-mark now, as against Rs 90,000 crore a week ago.
“Rates will certainly move up in January. So it is better to hedge now against any sharp movement as a result of the central bank’s action,” said the head of liabilities at a government bank.