Banking

While insufficient funds are the most common cause, cheques may also bounce due to expiry, signature mismatch, overwriting, physical damage, or differences between the amount written in words and figures.

Updated : Jul 10, 2026

BT Explainer: Rajpal Yadav to return to jail as Delhi HC upholds conviction - what is a cheque bounce?

The Delhi High Court is set to rule on Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav's petitions in multiple cheque bounce cases, bringing renewed focus to India's cheque dishonour law. Here's what a cheque bounce means, when it becomes a criminal offence, and the legal process under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The RBI has made it clear that the ₹2,000 note has not become invalid.

Updated : Jul 9, 2026

Still have a ₹2,000 note? RBI says it's still valid & here's how you can exchange it

The RBI said 98.47% of the ₹2,000 notes that were in circulation at the time of the announcement have now been returned.

The TransUnion CIBIL data points that the number of active cards has seen a 5 times growth over the past decade from 2.1 crore in March 2016 to 10.7 crore in March 2026.

Updated : Jul 8, 2026

After 8.3 times surge in outstanding balances, is credit card growth now plateauing? Here’s what a new report shows

According to TransUnion CIBIL, the number of active cards has seen a 5 times growth over the past decade from 2.1 crore in March 2016 to 10.7 crore in March 2026.

At present, home loans qualify for priority sector classification only up to RBI-prescribed limits that vary according to the population of a city.

Updated : Jul 7, 2026

Home loan PSL limit should be raised to ₹1 crore in metros, education loan cap to ₹50 lakh: Report

SBI Research has proposed raising the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) eligibility limit for home loans to ₹1 crore in metro cities and ₹75 lakh in other centres, while recommending that the education loan cap be doubled to ₹50 lakh. The report says the existing thresholds no longer reflect rising property prices and education costs, warranting a review of the RBI's PSL framework.

Both regulated entities and customers can appeal against an Ombudsman award within the prescribed timelines.

Updated : Jul 6, 2026

RBI revamps customer grievance redressal: Here's what changes for bank, NBFC customers

One of the key changes in the 2026 scheme is the expanded role of RBI Deputy Ombudsmen.

Under RBI rules, balances lying in savings or current accounts that remain inoperative for 10 years or more, as well as fixed deposits that remain unclaimed for 10 years after maturity, are classified as unclaimed deposits.

Updated : Jul 1, 2026

Forgot money in an old bank account? Here's how RBI helps you recover unclaimed deposits even after 10 years

Forgotten money lying in an old savings account or unclaimed fixed deposit is not lost forever. Even if the funds have been transferred to the RBI's Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund after 10 years, depositors and their legal heirs can still recover the amount through the concerned bank.

Planning purchases to cross spending milestones and reviewing reward structures periodically can improve returns without increasing overall spending.

Updated : Jun 29, 2026

You are spending more than ever on credit cards — but leaving money on the table

India's credit card spending has more than tripled in the past five years, but most users are still failing to maximise rewards. A new study shows that choosing the wrong credit card could cost consumers thousands—or even lakhs—of rupees in missed savings every year.

Reward points are valuable — unless they make you spend more than you planned.

Updated : Jun 28, 2026

Credit card reward points create four dopamine highs -- cash creates only one; ChatGPT breaks down the science

Credit card reward points do more than save money—they can reshape how your brain makes spending decisions. Neuroscience suggests reward programmes create four dopamine highs, making them far more psychologically engaging than cash payments.

The RBI framework covers fraudulent electronic transactions such as UPI fraud, internet banking fraud, phishing scams, fake KYC requests and other digital payment frauds.

Updated : Jun 28, 2026

Miss this 5-day deadline and you could lose RBI fraud compensation, warns CA Kanan Bahl

Missing a simple five-day reporting deadline could cost victims their RBI-backed compensation for online banking fraud, chartered accountant Kanan Bahl has warned. Under the new framework, eligible customers must report fraud to both their bank and the National Cyber Crime Helpline within five days to claim compensation from January 1, 2027.

SBI Cards accounted for 19.1% of total industry spending, ahead of HDFC Bank's 29.2%? Wait, spend-wise market share actually places HDFC Bank at 29.2%.

Updated : Jun 27, 2026

Who dominates India's credit card market? HDFC Bank leads cards, SBI Card tops spending

India's credit card market continued to expand in May with spending crossing ₹2 lakh crore and nearly 10 lakh new cards added, but leadership varied across key metrics. While HDFC Bank remained the largest issuer by cards in force, SBI Cards strengthened its position in spending, even as mid-sized lenders gained ground in new card issuances.

Only 15% of Indian adults have access to formal credit, compared with the global average of 24%, while just 14% of MSMEs can tap institutional finance, leaving most reliant on informal borrowing.

Updated : Jun 17, 2026

One in six bank accounts in India remains inactive despite digital finance boom: Report

Despite India's digital payments boom and rising financial inclusion, nearly one in six bank accounts in the country remains inactive, highlighting persistent gaps in meaningful participation. A Deloitte report says deeper credit access and wider use of financial services will be crucial to achieving India's 2047 economic ambitions.

According to the study, PPIs are now widely used for routine transactions such as utility payments, food delivery, subscriptions, transport services, entertainment and merchant payments.

Updated : Jun 15, 2026

How much has India's digital payments revolution changed in five years?

India's digital payments ecosystem has transformed dramatically over the past five years, with the RBI's Digital Payments Index rising 137% since 2020. A new study shows the revolution is being powered by millions of small, everyday transactions and expanding financial inclusion.

The report found that monthly PPI transaction volumes nearly doubled from around 4,640 lakh transactions in November 2019 to about 8,750 lakh by March 2026.

Updated : Jun 14, 2026

The average digital wallet payment is just ₹326. Here's what that reveals

India's digital wallet revolution is increasingly being driven by small, everyday purchases rather than large-ticket spending. A new study shows the average PPI transaction value has fallen to ₹326, highlighting how digital payments are becoming embedded in daily life.

These are special fixed-term deposits that banks in India can offer NRIs, overseas citizens of India and persons of Indian origin.

Updated : Jun 9, 2026

BT Explainer: How a special window to attract FCNR (B) deposits can help bring in more forex

The RBI had announced such a window back in 2013, when the rupee was under pressure in the wake of 'taper tantrum' and around $26 billion was raised at the time.

The RBI decision means there will be no immediate increase in EMIs, allowing borrowers to continue benefiting from the cumulative 125 basis points of rate cuts delivered during 2025.

Updated : Jun 5, 2026

RBI holds repo rate at 5.25%: What it means for home loan borrowers and homebuyers

The RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% for the fourth consecutive MPC meeting, ensuring that home loan borrowers continue to benefit from lower borrowing costs. The decision is expected to support housing demand, improve affordability, and provide stability to both homebuyers and the real estate sector.

Updated : Jun 5, 2026

UPI for teens is here! Parents can now track kids' spending with UPI Circle

UPI Circle is designed to help families safely extend digital payment access to teenagers, children, and elderly parents without sharing sensitive banking credentials. The feature allows parents and guardians to set spending limits, track transactions, and maintain control while enabling dependents to make everyday UPI payments independently.

BharatPe Flex is designed for consumers who rely heavily on UPI but occasionally need short-term liquidity or greater flexibility in managing monthly expenses.

Updated : Jun 2, 2026

BT Explainer: What is BharatPe Flex? Where this credit-on-UPI product fits in your financial life

BharatPe has launched BharatPe Flex, a Credit-on-UPI solution powered by YES BANK that lets users make everyday UPI payments through a pre-approved credit line. Here's how the product works, its key features, and where it fits into your overall personal finance and payments ecosystem.

Financial distress often begins long before defaults, with rising EMI burdens and dependence on credit for everyday expenses emerging as key warning signs.

Updated : May 31, 2026

Debt trap warning signs: Why more Indians are borrowing to repay borrowings

India's booming consumer credit market is making loans more accessible, but experts warn that many borrowers are slipping into debt traps by relying on fresh loans and credit cards to repay existing debt.

Experts say teen fintech apps help companies build long-term customer relationships early.

Updated : May 29, 2026

Pocket Money goes digital: Which payment apps are best for teenagers in India?

Teen-focused payment apps are rapidly gaining traction as fintech firms target younger users growing up in a UPI-first economy. From supervised UPI payments to prepaid cards and budgeting tools, these platforms are changing how teenagers learn money management.

Interest rates on floating-rate loans are generally linked to external benchmarks such as the Reserve Bank of India’s repo rate.

Updated : May 28, 2026

Planning a home loan? Fixed vs floating rates could change your EMI burden

Home loan rates across banks now start as low as 7.10%, but interest rates alone do not tell the full story. Processing fees, fixed versus floating choices and lender-specific terms can significantly affect your total borrowing cost.

HDFC Bank, SBI Cards, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank each saw spending fall by roughly 11–12% sequentially, collectively losing 77 basis points of market share in spending.

Updated : May 27, 2026

Credit card spending slows in April; SBI Cards emerges as top outperformer while ICICI Bank lags

India’s credit card spending slowed sharply in April, but the competitive landscape showed contrasting trends among major issuers. While SBI Cards emerged as the strongest spending performer, ICICI Bank lagged with weaker spending growth despite leading in new card additions.