Take Debtors’ Consent First to Raise Interest Rate: NRB

May 16: Now, the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) are required to receive consent from the debtors if they are to raise interest rates on loans.

 The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), issuing a circular, barred BFIs from raising interest rates haphazardly without taking consent of the debtors.

However, the BFIs can raise the interest rates on some conditions like failure to pay back interest and principals of loans, as well as if damages are made on collateral and violation of other conditions of loans by the debtors.

Previously, the interest rates of BFIs on various accounts and loans were varied. Thus, the present NRB arrangement is expected to bringing good governance in BFIs and maintain suitable interest rates in loans, said Narayan Prasad Poudel, Spokesperson of NRB.

According to him, the provision was made as per the direction of the Supreme Court to bar the BFIs from raising interest rates haphazardly.

As per the new arrangement, the BFIs can add only a certain percentage on the base interest rate as premium when the debtors apply for new or additional loan.

For the old loans with unmentioned premiums, the difference between interest rate mentioned in the offer letter and the base rate maintained during the release of loan will be the ultimate premium rate. However, if the banks renew the agreement with the debtors, then they can settle a new premium rate.

The NRB has fixed 5 percent as the spread rate of interest to the BFIs.  Now the NRB has made arrangements for the BFIs not to maintain more than five percent the average difference of interest rate charged on loans and the interest rates provided on deposits.