Banking

While salaried individuals buying cars for personal use get no tax relief, the story is different for business owners and self-employed professionals.

Updated : Jan 8, 2026

Budget 2026: Will car loan interest get tax relief as govt pushes new tax regime?

As Budget 2026 approaches, the spotlight is back on whether the government will offer any tax relief on car loan interest or continue pushing taxpayers towards the deductions-free new tax regime. With vehicle costs rising and household budgets under pressure, the debate is gaining urgency among middle-class buyers and tax experts alike.

By enabling selective and immediate blocking of services, the feature aims to reduce the risk of unauthorised transactions and limit potential losses.

Updated : Jan 6, 2026

Rising digital fraud pushes banks to give customers more control over online transactions

In response to this growing threat, Axis Bank has rolled out a new feature called ‘Safety Centre’ on its mobile banking app ‘open’, allowing users to manage key banking functions in real time without having to contact customer support or visit a branch.

Agriculture gold loans are cheaper, purpose-linked and offer harvest-based repayment, unlike regular gold loans with higher rates and fixed EMIs.

Updated : Jan 2, 2026

Gold loan tagged as agriculture by bank, though I’m not a farmer — should I be worried?

An agriculture gold loan is a specialised credit product designed to meet the financing needs of farmers and those engaged in allied agricultural activities. If your gold loan acknowledgment mentions “agriculture” even though the loan was for personal use, you’re not alone. Such tagging is usually internal, but borrowers should still check their loan agreement carefully.

The average home loan now stands at about Rs 37 lakh, up from Rs 29 lakh three years ago, reflecting both rising property values and stronger borrowing capacity.

Updated : Dec 30, 2025

Smarter loans, safer cards: How India’s youth are using credit differently in 2025

One of the clearest shifts is visible in housing loans. Despite higher interest rates, home loan disbursements grew 12% during the year. Nearly 16% of new home loan borrowers in 2025 were under the age of 30, almost double the share seen just three years ago.

A CIBIL score is a three-digit number that reflects an individual’s creditworthiness. It is calculated based on the credit information contained in the CIBIL Report or Credit Information Report (CIR).

Updated : Dec 27, 2025

Investor query: Will a missed EMI, loan settlement, early prepayment or high card usage hurt my CIBIL score more?

Young professionals planning big-ticket loans often worry about credit score missteps. Here’s expert guidance on EMIs, card usage, loan applications and what truly matters.

From a tax perspective, selling gold attracts capital gains tax.

Updated : Dec 26, 2025

Gold hits lifetime high in 2025, gold loans soar 128%: Should borrowers opt for gold loans in emergencies?

The sharp rise in gold prices has reshaped household borrowing behaviour. Gold loans have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of retail credit, with loans against gold jewellery rising 128.5% year-on-year to Rs 3.38 lakh crore in October 2025. Should you go for gold loans?

Perhaps the most damaging mistake is treating loan disbursal as the finish line rather than the starting point.

Updated : Dec 25, 2025

That ‘easy’ personal loan may cost you more than you think. Here’s how to avoid mistakes in 2026

Most borrowers start and end their comparison with one number: the EMI. A lower monthly instalment feels like a win, especially when budgets already feel tight.

Implemented from October 4, 2025, Phase 1 introduced continuous daytime cheque presentation, allowing banks to send cheque images and MICR data in real time.

Updated : Dec 24, 2025

RBI postpones Phase 2 rollout of faster cheque clearing; Phase 1 to continue for now

In a circular issued on December 24, the RBI said the second phase of the Continuous Clearing and Settlement (CCS) framework has been postponed, while Phase 1 will continue to operate as currently implemented.

Under RBI’s 2025 rules, gold loans above Rs 5 lakh now carry a 75% LTV cap to curb excessive leverage and improve transparency.

Updated : Dec 23, 2025

Gold loans surge 128% to Rs 3.38 lakh crore as borrowers shift to secured credit, RBI data shows

RBI data showed that banks’ gold loan portfolios grew by over 120% year-on-year between February and August 2025, with NBFCs reporting similar trends. By October, gold loans accounted for nearly a quarter of incremental personal loan additions, helping push total retail credit outstanding to Rs 64.56 lakh crore.

A 1% charge will apply on transactions exceeding ₹50,000 made under select transportation MCCs, impacting high-value travel-related spends.

Updated : Dec 22, 2025

Credit card changes: ICICI Bank to levy 2% fee on gaming platforms, tweak rewards and benefits from Jan 2026

ICICI Bank is introducing higher charges on wallet and transportation spends beyond certain thresholds. Customers loading funds of Rs 5,000 or more onto third-party wallets such as Amazon Pay, Paytm, MobiKwik, Freecharge and OlaMoney will now be charged a 1% fee on the transaction amount

Emphasising depositor protection, the High Court held that fixed deposit holders cannot be made to bear losses arising from internal mistakes or policy shifts.

Updated : Dec 20, 2025

Allahabad HC bars banks from cutting fixed deposit rates after issuance, even post merger

In the case, PNB lowered the contracted interest rates on certain FDRs from 10.75% to 9.25% and from 10.25% to 8.25%. The affected depositors, including the family of a retired bank employee, challenged the move, arguing that such retrospective reductions were not supported by law or regulatory guidelines.

The cut follows last week’s RBI decision to lower the key interest rate by 25 basis points for the fourth time this year to support growth.

Updated : Dec 13, 2025

Borrowers cheer: SBI revises MCLR to 7.85%, slashes lending rate by 25 bps after RBI rate cut

SBI's MCLR, a key reference for most retail loans, saw reductions across all tenors. The overnight and one-month rates dropped from 7.90% to 7.85%.

hile buyers are not charged interest directly, the cost is often absorbed by the merchant or built subtly into the product’s pricing.

Updated : Dec 6, 2025

No-cost EMI explained: Popular, available but misunderstood — Expert on myths, hidden charges, risks

No-cost EMI has exploded in popularity across India, but experts say most consumers misunderstand how it actually works. Marketed as a zero-interest deal, the scheme often hides costs that buyers rarely notice upfront. A recent explainer by Prateek Singh of LearnApp and Zero1 by Zerodha has reignited debate by revealing how “no-cost” EMI quietly shifts charges and influences spending behaviour.

Fino, which is currently the only publicly listed payments bank in India, will now be able to offer a range of financial services beyond its existing business model.

Updated : Dec 5, 2025

Fino Payments Bank becomes first to secure RBI nod for small finance bank conversion

Fino’s journey began in 2006 as a payments technology company and has played a pivotal role in India's financial inclusion initiatives. It has been actively involved in providing direct benefit transfer (DBT) services to beneficiaries under government schemes.

Akshat Shrivastava noted that a home loan isn’t just financial—it’s emotional, especially as growing responsibilities like children’s needs, healthcare, and ageing parents add pressure.

Updated : Dec 3, 2025

‘Don’t fall for rent-equals-EMI myth, rent isn't failure’: Expert urges caution among home buyers

One of Shrivastava’s key arguments is that first-time buyers underestimate how restrictive a 15- to 20-year home loan can become. “No spreadsheet can fully capture how heavy that burden feels over the years,” he noted, emphasising that people in their 20s and 30s often experience rapid changes in career, income stability, family structure and location.

He urged that the time has come for India to build its own indigenous credit-scoring framework.

Updated : Nov 17, 2025

‘One number decides your fate’: Financial advisor questions foreign control of CIBIL data

“Technically, an American corporation is analyzing how 140 crore Indians spend, borrow, and repay their loans,” he said, calling it both “ironic” and “risky” for a country that champions digital innovation through platforms like UPI.

A sudden job loss, a Rs 10,000 monthly EMI and zero savings can quickly turn into a financial crunch. Experts advice do not take another loan to repay this one.

Updated : Nov 15, 2025

Job loss + Rs 10,000 EMI: What’s the best way to repay my loan, build emergency savings?

Managing a Rs 2.5-lakh personal loan after losing your job is challenging, especially with family expenses in the mix. One financial expert outlines how to prioritise repayments and restart emergency savings. Freelancers with fluctuating income are advised to request a temporary moratorium on EMIs to protect their credit score while stabilising earnings.

A record 754.37 million UPI transactions were processed on October 18, the highest single-day volume ever. In October, daily transactions averaged 668 million.

Updated : Nov 1, 2025

UPI hits record 754 mn transactions in a single day, monthly volume surges to 20.7 bn in October

According to NPCI data, the total transaction value on UPI reached Rs 27.28 lakh crore in October, compared to Rs 24.90 lakh crore in September and ₹24.85 lakh crore in August.

Experts say the move to ‘.bank.in’ will help customers verify genuine, RBI-regulated banking portals.

Updated : Oct 31, 2025

Banks go ‘.bank.in’ from today: RBI’s new directive takes effect to secure digital transactions

Under the new rule, only RBI-regulated banks can register and use the ‘.bank.in’ domain — creating a verified, secure online identity system for India’s banking ecosystem. Starting today, customers logging into their bank websites will see updated URLs ending with “.bank.in”.

Besides improving nomination facilities, it aligns various aspects of banking law with evolving regulatory standards and customer needs.

Updated : Oct 23, 2025

New banking reforms from Nov 1: Four nominees, better governance, stronger depositor rights

The change comes as part of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was notified on April 15, 2025, and introduces 19 amendments across key financial legislations, including the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

For uninterrupted banking access during the festive season, customers are encouraged to rely on online platforms and schedule critical in-branch activities with these closures in mind.

Updated : Oct 22, 2025

Banks shut today in 8 states for Diwali week: Check where services are affected and what to do

The festive week kicked off with Dhanteras on October 18, followed by Diwali Amavasya and Lakshmi Puja on October 21, and will continue through Bhai Dooj (October 23) and Chhath Puja (October 27-28) in select states.