Nirmala Sitharaman on Banking System: Are you trying to take a loan from any bank and are troubled by going around the bank, then you will definitely get relief from this news.

(ads1)

Yes, an order has been given by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to simplify the banking system. It was said on behalf of the Finance Minister that banks should make banking operations simple according to the needs of the customers.

With this, more and more customers will be able to connect with them. The Finance Minister suggested in the meeting The Union Finance Minister said last days that banks should pay attention to the facilities of the customers. This will make the process easier for the borrowers.

Read Also : Gas Cylinder will be available in just Rs 500, government gave big information.

On behalf of the Finance Minister, it was also told to the banks that the standards of giving loans should be correct. This suggestion was made a few days ago in a meeting between industry representatives and the Finance Minister.(ads2)

During this, Nirmala Sitharaman asked all the big banks to implement it. Following this suggestion given by the Finance Minister will benefit the customers of all banks including ICICI Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank. The Finance Minister also said that there is a need to make the banking system more and more customer friendly. You have to take care of the facilities of the customers.

(ads1)

New Delhi: Recently there was news that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reviewing the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and may levy charges on payments made through UPI.

Now the Ministry of Finance has given relief information. The ministry said that the government is not considering levying any charge on the UPI payment service.

The Finance Ministry tweeted, “UPI is one such digital platform which is highly convenient for the public and has a major contribution to the economy. No charges are being considered for the UPI payment service. Other options will be considered for cost recovery for service providers.”

UPI is a digital public good with immense convenience for the public & productivity gains for the economy. There is no consideration in Govt to levy any charges for UPI services. The concerns of the service providers for cost recovery have to be met through other means. (1/2)

— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) August 21, 2022

(ads2)

What is UPI

Let us tell you that UPI is a real time payment system, which allows instant transfer of money from one bank account to another bank account. The special thing is that you can transfer money through UPI anytime, night or day.

How UPI System of Money Transfer Works Using the UPI facility is quite easy. For this, you have to download any UPI app like Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, BHIM etc. in your mobile. You can use this system by linking your bank account with the UPI app. Through UPI, you can link one bank account with multiple UPI apps. At the same time, multiple bank accounts can be operated through one UPI app.

(ads1)

Credit Card: If you use a credit card, then you have to deposit many types of bills including electricity bill every month. In such a situation, if you have forgotten to pay your credit card payment on the due date, then you may have to pay a heavy fine.

But as per the new rules, you can save yourself from paying penalty charges even if you don’t make the payment on the due date. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has provided the option of payment to the customers without any charge after the due date is out.

RBI has told banks and credit card issuers that they can take penalty only after three days of due date. It means to say that if you have missed the credit card payment due date, then you can make the payment within 3 days of the due date.

Three days chance

According to the master direction for credit cards and debit cards issued on 21 April 2022, the RBI has said that the credit information companies (CICs) that issue the cards will show the credit card account as past due. Penalty charges, late fee or other charges on delay will be applicable only then. When the credit card account remains outstanding for more than three days. That is, if you make the credit card payment within three days after the due date, then you can avoid the penalty.(ads2)

Credit score will not be affected

In such a situation, if you have missed the credit card payment due date, then you can make the payment within three days of the due date. In this, you can also avoid the penalty imposed on late payment. If you pay within three days, your credit score will not be affected.

Have to pay late fees

Banks and credit card companies usually levy pre-determined late payment charges based on the outstanding balance. This results in late fees increasing in proportion to the size of the outstanding balance. The higher the amount of the bill. The more late fees are charged.

(ads1)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended bank locker rules, which will take effect on January 1, 2023. Know the changes in regulations for locker facilities.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has amended the bank locker rules, which include providing customers with updated locker agreements. The rules will take effect from January 1, 2023.

As per an RBI notification, the agreements must follow the model drafted by the Indian Bank Association (IBA). “Banks shall ensure that any unfair terms or conditions are not incorporated in their locker agreements. Further, the terms of the contract shall not be more onerous than required in the ordinary course of business to safeguard the interests of the bank,” the notification on August 18, 2021, reads. 
(toc)
It also asked the banks to renew their customer locker agreements by January 1, 2023.
In light of these changes, social media is abuzz with queries. For instance, one user asked: “My wife and sister-in-law jointly hold a locker in a bank where my sister-in-law has a savings account. Can we request the bank to delink my sister-in-law’s savings account (with her consent) from the locker and make my wife the sole owner? Or do we need to close the locker and apply for a new one in my wife’s name?” 

The Solution

Shreejith Menon, chief operating officer, operations, customer service & facilities at Fincare small finance bank, says, “A customer can get the joint holder removed from the locker facility without closing the locker and continue the facility with a single name.”

Further, Sanchay Sinha, country head and senior general manager of retail banking at South Indian Bank Limited, adds the holders must submit a joint request letter to delink their names from the locker.

Opening A Bank Locker

Opening a bank locker isn’t a daunting task, but the availability of safes in the desired branch is a concern. Every branch has a list of available lockers and a waitlist for lockers.

So when one applies for a locker, the bank branch acknowledges the customer’s application and assigns one or gives him a waitlist number if no lockers are available.

Sinha adds, “Customers don’t need to open a savings account in the same bank for availing lockers.” The facility is offered to all KYC-compliant customers regardless of their relationship with the bank. One year Locker Rent is collected from the customer in advance, he said.

Customers must have valid KYC documents, fill out the application accompanied by a passport-size photograph, and a signed and stamped locker agreement document (in IBA specified format), and pay the locker rent for the entire year in advance. 

“Due diligence is carried out for all customers. All locker holders need to execute the locker agreement in the latest IBA format,” adds Sinha.

Things To Keep In Mind

In a notification in August 2021, the RBI stated that banks must obtain a term deposit from the customer at the time of locker allotment to save them from a potential situation where the customer neither operates the locker nor pays the rent. The term deposit would cover rent for three years and charges to break open the vault if the need arises.
(ads2)
“Banks, however, shall not insist on such term deposits from existing locker holders or those who have satisfactory operative accounts,” the notification said. 

The nominee will get full access to the locker if the original keeper dies without a will. “In cases where there is a valid nomination/clear survivorship clause, the claim from the nominees should be settled based on nomination clause,” said Sinha.

Suppose there was no nominee or a will. In that case, the legal heirs must comply with specific rules like submitting a signed claim application, death certificate of the locker holder, and KYC documents, among others, to claim the locker. 

Banks have been collecting the locker rent in advance as a rule for the past year. So if one surrenders the locker before time, a proportionate amount of advance rent will be refunded by banks.

(ads1)

Many big changes are going to happen in the new year, which will directly affect the common man. This includes changes related to buying a car from a bank locker.

Let us see what are the rules applicable from the first of the next month.5 big changes are going to happen from the first date. One of these is the increase in the price of vehicles. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Tata Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Renault, Kia India and MG Motor will increase the price of their vehicles from January 1, 2023.

The second change is related to the bank locker. You need to ensure that you have signed the new Locker Agreement for using the Bank Locker from 1st date onwards

Apart from this, the rules related to some bank credit cards are also going to change. For example, HDFC Bank will change the rewards point and fee structure of the credit card. Along with this, SBI has also changed some rules for its Simply CLICK card holders.

GST rules will also change from January 1. It will now be necessary for businessmen with an annual turnover of more than 5 crores to generate e-invoices.(ads2)

It also includes a change related to the phone. From 1st date, registration of IMEI number of every phone will be necessary for every phone manufacturer and its import and export company.

Fixed deposits are becoming much more attractive after the recent hike in the repo rate by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Many large public and private banks have already increased interest rates on fixed deposits, allowing customers to get higher interest rates on their deposits.

Fluctuations on Senior Citizens FD Interest Rate

Fixed Deposit (FD) is considered to be the safest investment option. Amidst high inflation and volatility in the stock market, many people are opting for Fixed Deposit (FD). You can invest in low-risk financial instruments from banks, non-banking financial institutions and post offices.

Senior citizens FD Interest Rate

Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited is one such government company which is offering very attractive interest rates on Fixed Deposits (FDs).

The company has decided to offer 8.5 percent interest rate to senior citizens customers. The company has currently offered two options as per the requirement of the investors. One is Non Cumulative Fixed Deposit and the other is Cumulative Fixed Deposit.

Non Cumulative Fixed Deposit

Investors can get monthly, quarterly and annual interest under this fixed deposit. When the fixed deposit matures, they can withdraw their investment. This fixed deposit can be done for tenures of 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. The interest rates on it for non-senior citizens range between 7.25 per cent to 8 per cent depending on the tenure.

At the same time, senior citizens get interest at the rate of 8.5 percent. By the way, let us tell you that only on FDs maturing in 60 months, they will get an interest rate of 8.5 percent. FDs maturing in 48 months will get 8.25 percent interest.

Cumulative fixed deposit

Cumulative fixed deposit is another product of Tamil Nadu Power Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited which can be availed by senior citizens. In this, the interest rate will be compounded quarterly, which will be paid to the investors on maturity.

The tenure of this fixed deposit is also 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. The interest rate has been fixed between 7.25 percent to 8.5 percent according to the time period. People of 58 years and above can avail 8.5 per cent interest rate on fixed deposits of 60 months.

Bank Holidays in January 2023(ads1)

Bank Holidays in January 2023: Banks will remain closed for a total of 14 days in January 2023. In such a situation, if you have to deal with any important work related to the bank in January 2023, then complete it in advance.
The month of December is about to end and the new year is about to begin soon. In such a situation, before the beginning of the new year, know that there are a lot of bank holidays in the next month. Bank is a very important part of the life of common people.

From cash transaction to depositing cheques, drafts, etc., people have to visit the bank for many tasks. In such a situation, due to the long bank holiday, the common customers have to face a lot of trouble many times. For the convenience of the people, the Reserve Bank of India issues a list of bank holidays.

Banks will have a total holiday of 14 days in January 2023

According to RBI’s new year calendar, banks will remain closed for a total of 14 days in January 2023. In such a situation, if you have to deal with any important work related to the bank in January 2023, then complete it in advance. After this you will not have any kind of problem. In such a situation, if you want to avoid the problems caused by Bank Holiday in Jan 2023, then you can check the state-wise list of holidays here. After this, you can plan your work accordingly. The thing to note is that the holidays in the states are decided according to the local festivals. Let us know on which days there will be bank holidays in January 2023-

Full list of bank holidays in January 2023 (Bank holidays full list January 2023)-

• 1 January 2023 – Sunday (Banks will remain closed across the country)
• January 5, 2023 – Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
• 8 January 2023 – Sunday
• 11 January 2023 – Wednesday (Banks will remain closed in Mizoram on Missionary Day)
• 12 January 2023 – Thursday (Banks will remain closed in West Bengal on Swami Vivekananda Jayanti)
• 14 January 2023 – Makar Sankranti (Second Saturday)
• January 15 – Pongal / Magh Bihu / Sunday (Holiday for all states)
• January 22, 2023 – Sunday
• January 23, 2023 – Monday – (Banks will remain closed in Assam on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti)
• January 25, 2023-Wednesday – (Himachal Pradesh will have a holiday due to State Day)
• January 26, 2023 – Thursday – (Banks will remain closed across the country on the occasion of Republic Day)
• January 28, 2023 – Fourth Saturday
• January 29, 2023-Sunday
• January 31, 2023 – Tuesday – (Banks will remain closed in Assam due to Mi-Dum-Mi-Fee).

Complete your work in this way when the bank is closed
(ads2)
If you have to transfer money to someone’s account or get money from someone on bank holiday, then you can use net banking for this purpose. At the same time, you can also use ATM to withdraw cash. Along with this, you can pay through credit, debit card and UPI. 

Special Fixed Deposit

To control inflation, RBI is increasing the repo rate. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the repo rate for the fifth time a few days ago. With the increase in the repo rate, where loans become costlier, the customers also get the benefit of increasing interest on FD.
(ads1)
As experts believe that in the coming time, RBI can increase the repo rate again. This means that the interest rates on FDs are also expected to increase in the future. In such a situation, those who have already got FD done, they will not be able to get the benefit of new interest rates of FD because in most banks the option of Fixed Rates FD is available. In normal FD, the interest rate remains the same till the time of maturity.

In the meanwhile interest rates increase or decrease, it does not matter. But looking at the present time, if you want to take advantage of the ever-increasing interest rates on FD, then you can opt for Floating Rates Fixed Deposit.

What is floating rates fixed deposit

In floating rates fixed deposits, the interest is not fixed, rather the interest rates keep on changing till maturity. Whenever the bank increases the interest on FD, you get the benefit of increased interest on FD and when the bank reduces the interest rate, you get less interest on your FD as well.
(ads2)
If you understand in simple words, the direct effect of increasing and decreasing the interest of the bank falls on the floating rate fixed deposit. But looking at the current circumstances, floating rates FD can be a better option for you.

Floating rates FD option in these banks

If you also want to take advantage of floating rates fixed deposits, then you can get this option in IDBI Bank and Yes Bank. In IDBI Bank, the interest is reset at an interval of every three months (1st April, 1st July, 1st October and 1st January). Apart from this, you can also get this FD done in Yes Bank. With Yes Bank, you can get an interest rate of 7.85% on FDs with a tenure of 18 months and above.

Nirmala Sitharaman (ads1)

Nirmala Sitharaman on Banking System: Are you trying to take a loan from any bank and are troubled by going around the bank, then you will definitely get relief from this news.

Yes, an order has been given by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to simplify the banking system. It was said on behalf of the Finance Minister that banks should make banking operations simple according to the needs of the customers.

With this, more and more customers will be able to connect with them. The Finance Minister suggested in the meeting The Union Finance Minister said last days that banks should pay attention to the facilities of the customers. This will make the process easier for the borrowers.

On behalf of the Finance Minister, it was also told to the banks that the standards of giving loans should be correct. This suggestion was made a few days ago in a meeting between industry representatives and the Finance Minister.(ads2)

During this, Nirmala Sitharaman asked all the big banks to implement it. Following this suggestion given by the Finance Minister will benefit the customers of all banks including ICICI Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank. The Finance Minister also said that there is a need to make the banking system more and more customer friendly. You have to take care of the facilities of the customers.

RBI’s new guideline for bank lockers.

Bank Locker Charges: If you also keep documents related to land, other price papers and jewelery etc. in the bank locker, then this news is of your use. Actually, the rules related to bank lockers have been changed by RBI.(ads1)

This change has been made keeping in mind the safety and convenience of the customers. If you also have a locker of any bank and have kept gold-silver or other valuables in it, then definitely read this news.

The bank will have to pay compensation

According to the notification issued by the RBI, the rules have been changed by the Central (RBI) on the complaint of the customers taking locker in the bank. Often customers keep complaining of theft in bank lockers. Even after long efforts, such customers do not get any satisfactory solution for the stolen goods. But now in case of any untoward incident with the goods kept in the locker, the concerned bank will compensate the customer up to 100 times the locker rent.

There will be transparency in the locker system, many times such cases have come to the fore in which banks used to get away from the theft incident. He hurls the customer saying that he is not responsible in any way. In the order given by RBI, it was said that banks will have to put the list of empty lockers, waiting list number for the locker on the display. This will bring more transparency in the locker system. RBI says that the customer cannot be kept in the dark on behalf of the bank.