RBI Guidelines
RBI Guidelines
RBI Guidelines
www.rbi.org.in
RBI/2012-13/64
UBD.BPD.(PCB) MC No.3 /09.14.000/2012-13 J uly 2, 2012
The Chief Executive Officers
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Madam / Dear Sir,
Master Circular- Income Recognition, Asset Classification, Provisioning and
Other Related Matters - UCBs
Please refer to our Master Circular UBD.BPD(PCB).MC.No. 3/09.14.000/2011-12 dated
J uly 1, 2011 on the captioned subject (available at RBI website www.rbi.org.in). The
enclosed Master Circular consolidates and updates all the instructions / guidelines on
the subject issued up to J une 30, 2012 and listed in the Appendix.
Yours faithfully
(A. Udgata)
Chief General Manager in Charge
Encl: as above
Master Circular
Income Recognition, Asset Classification, Provisioning and Other Related Matters
Contents
Sl
No
Particulars Page No.
1. GENERAL 1
2. NON-PERFORMING ASSETS (NPA) 1
2.1 Classification of assets as Non-Performing 1
2.2 Treatment of Accounts as NPAs 4
2.2.1 Record of Recovery 4
2.2.2 Treatment of NPAs Borrower wise and not Facility-wise 5
2.2.3 Agricultural Advances 5
2.2.4 Housing Loans to staff 5
2.2.5 Credit Facilities backed by Guarantees by Central/ State
Governments
6
2.2.6 Project Financing 6
2.2.7 Prudential Guidelines on Restructuring of Advances 6
2.2.8 Other Advances 13
2.2.9 Recognition of Income on Investment treated as NPA 14
2.2.10 NPA Reporting to Reserve Bank 14
3. ASSET CLASSIFICATION 14
3.1 Classification 14
3.2 Definitions 14
3.3 Guidelines for Classification of Assets 15
3.3.1 Basic Considerations 15
3.3.2 Advances Granted under Rehabilitation Packages Approved by
BIFR/Term Lending Institutions
16
3.3.3 Internal System for Classification of Assets as NPAs 16
4. INCOME RECOGNITION 16
4.1 Income Recognition Policy 16
4.2 Reversal of Income on Accounts Becoming NPAs 17
4.3 Booking of Income on Investments in Shares & Bonds 17
4.4 Partial Recovery of NPAs 18
4.5 Interest Application 17
5. PROVISIONING NORMS 19
5.1 Norms for provisioning on Loans & Advances 19
5.2 Provisioning for retirement benefits 22
5.3 Provisioning norms for sale of assets to SC/ RC 23
5.4 Guidelines for provisions in specific cases 23
6. Divergence in asset classification & provisioning due to non compliance
with RBI guidelines
25
Annex I: Direct Finance to Farmers for Agricultural Purposes 26
Annex 2: Proforma 27
Annex 3: Illustrative Accounting Entries to be passed in respect of
Accrued Interest on both the Performing and NPAs
31
Annex 4: Illustrative entries on the provisioning requirement for secured
portion of assets that are doubtful for more than three years
33
Annex 5: Clarification on certain frequently 34
Annex 6: Prudential Guideline on Restructuring - key concepts 37
Annex 7: Prudential Guideline on Restructuring - report format 39
Annex 8: Prudential Guideline on Restructuring - illustrations 40
Annex 9: IRAC norms for projects under implementation 42
Appendix 46
Master Circular
Income Recognition, Asset Classification, Provisioning and Other Related Matters
1. General
1.1 In order to reflect a bank's actual financial health in its balance sheet and as per
the recommendations made by the Committee on Financial System (Chairman
Shri M. Narasimham), the Reserve Bank has introduced, in a phased manner,
prudential norms for income recognition, asset classification and provisioning for
the advances portfolio of the banks.
1.2 Broadly, the policy of income recognition should be objective and based on
record of recovery rather than on any subjective considerations. Likewise, the
classification of assets of banks has to be done on the basis of objective criteria,
which would ensure a uniform and consistent application of the norms. The
provisioning should be made on the basis of the classification of assets into
different categories.
1.3 The requirements of the State Co-operative Societies Acts and / or rules made
thereunder or other statutory enactments may continue to be followed, if they are
more stringent than those prescribed hereby.
1.4 With the introduction of prudential norms, the Health Code based system for
classification of advances has ceased to be a subject of supervisory interest. As
such, all related reporting requirements, etc. also ceased to be a supervisory
requirement, but could be continued in the banks entirely at their discretion and
the management policy, if felt necessary.
2. Non-performing Assets (NPA)
2.1 Classification of Assets as Non-Performing
2.1.1 An asset becomes non-performing when it ceases to generate income for the
bank. Earlier an asset was considered as non-performing asset (NPA) based on
the concept of 'Past Due'. A 'non performing asset' (NPA) was defined as credit
in respect of which interest and / or installment of principal has remained 'past
due' for a specific period of time. The specific period was reduced in a phased
manner as under:
Year ended March, 31 Specific period
1993 4 quarters
1994 3 quarters
1995 2 quarters
An amount is considered as past due, when it remains outstanding for 30 days
beyond the due date. However, with effect from March 31, 2001 the 'past due'
1
concept has been dispensed with and the period is reckoned from the due date
of payment.
2.1.2 With a view to moving towards international best practices and to ensure greater
transparency, '90 days' overdue* norms for identification of NPAs have been
made applicable from the year ended March 31, 2004. As such, with effect from
March 31, 2004, a non-performing asset shall be a loan or an advance where:
(i) Interest and / or installment of principal remain overdue for a period of
more than 90 days in respect of a Term Loan.
(ii) The account remains 'Out of order'
@
for a period of more than 90
days, in respect of an Overdraft / Cash Credit (OD/CC).
(iii) The bill remains overdue for a period of more than 90 days in the
case of bills purchased and discounted,
(iv) In the case of direct agricultural advances as listed in Annex 1, the
overdue norm specified at para 2.1.5 would be applicable. In respect of
agricultural loans, other than those specified in Annex 1, identification of
NPAs would be done on the same basis as non-agricultural advances.
(v) Any amount to be received remains overdue for a period of more
than 90 days in respect of other accounts.
* Any amount due to the bank under any credit facility, if not paid by the
due date fixed by the bank becomes overdue.
@ "An account should be treated as 'out of order' if the outstanding
balance remains continuously in excess of the sanctioned limit / drawing
power. In cases where the outstanding balance in the principal operating
account is less than the sanctioned limit / drawing power, but there are no
credits continuously for 90 days or credits are not enough to cover the
interest debited during the same period, these accounts should be treated
as 'out of order'".
2.1.3 Tier I Banks
#
were permitted to classify loan accounts including gold loans and
small loan upto `1 lakh as NPAs based on 180 days delinquency norm instead of
the extant 90 days norm. This relaxation was in force upto March 31, 2009. The
relaxations were given for the explicit purpose of enabling the UCBs concerned
to transit to the 90 day NPA norm in the year 2009-10 by building up adequate
provisions and strengthening their appraisal, disbursement and post
disbursement procedures. Accordingly, with effect from 1 April 2009, Tier I UCBs
would also classify an account as NPA based on 90-day NPA norm as indicated
in para 2.1.2 above
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#(i) Banks having deposits below `100 crore, operating in a single district.
2
ii) Banks with deposits below `100 crore operating in more than one district,
provided the branches are in contiguous districts and deposits and advances of
branches in one district separately constitute at least 95% of the total deposits
and advances respectively of the bank.
iii) Banks with deposits below `100 crore, whose branches were originally in a
single district but subsequently, became multi-district due to reorganization of the
district.
The deposits and advances as referred to in the definition may be reckoned as
on 31st March of the immediate preceding financial year.
2.1.4 All UCBs shall classify their loan accounts as NPA as per 90-day norm with effect
from 1 April 2009.
2.1.5 Agricultural Advance
(i) With effect from September 30, 2004 the following revised norms are applicable
to all direct agricultural advances (Annex 1):
a) A loan granted for short duration crops will be treated as NPA, if the
installment of principal or interest thereon remains overdue for two crop seasons.
b) A loan granted for long duration crops will be treated as NPA, if the
installment of principal or interest thereon remains overdue for one crop season.
(ii) For the purpose of these guidelines, "long duration" crops would be crops with
crop season longer than one year and crops, which are not "long duration" crops
would be treated as "short duration" crops.
(iii) The crop season for each crop, which means the period up to harvesting of the
crops raised, would be as determined by the State Level Bankers' Committee in
each state.
(iv) Depending upon the duration of crops raised by an agriculturist, the above NPA
norms would also be made applicable to agricultural term loans availed of by
him. In respect of agricultural loans, other than those specified in the Annex 1
and term loans given to non-agriculturists, identification of NPAs would be done
on the same basis as non-agricultural advances, which, at present, is the 90
days delinquency norm.
(v) Banks should ensure that while granting loans and advances, realistic repayment
schedules are fixed on the basis of cash flows / fluidity with the borrowers.
2.1.6 Identification of Assets as NPAs should be done on an ongoing basis
The system should ensure that identification of NPAs is done on an on-going
basis and doubts in asset classification due to any reason are settled through
specified internal channels within one month from the date on which the account
3
would have been classified as NPA as per prescribed norms. Banks should also
make provisions for NPAs as at the end of each calendar quarter i.e as at the
end of March / J une / September / December, so that the income and
expenditure account for the respective quarters as well as the P&L account and
balance sheet for the year end reflects the provision made for NPAs.
2.1.7 Charging of Interest at monthly rests
(i) Banks should charge interest at monthly rests in the context of adoption of 90
days norm for recognition of loan impairment w.e.f. from the year ended
March 31, 2004 and consequential need for close monitoring of borrowers'
accounts. However, the date of classification of an advance as NPA as stated
in preceding paras, should not be changed on account of charging of interest
at monthly basis.
(ii) The existing practice of charging / compounding of interest on agricultural
advances would be linked to crop seasons and the instructions regarding
charging of interest on monthly rests shall not be applicable to agricultural
advances.
(iii) While compounding interest at monthly rests effective from April 1, 2003,
banks should ensure that in respect of advances where administered interest
rates are applicable, they should re-align the rates suitably keeping in view
the minimum lending rate charged by the bank (in view of the freedom given
to them for fixing lending rates) so that they comply with the same. In all other
cases also, banks should ensure that the effective rate does not go up merely
on account of the switchover to the system of charging interest on monthly
rests.
(iv) Banks should take into consideration due date/s fixed on the basis of fluidity
with borrowers and harvesting / marketing season while charging interest and
compound the same if the loan / installment becomes overdue in respect of
short duration crops and allied agricultural activities.
2.2 Treatment of Accounts as NPAs
2.2.1 Record of Recovery
(i) The treatment of an asset as NPA should be based on the record of
recovery. Banks should not treat an advance as NPA merely due to
existence of some deficiencies which are of temporary in nature such as
non-availability of adequate drawing power, balance outstanding
exceeding the limit, non-submission of stock statements and the non-
renewal of the limits on the due date, etc. Where there is a threat of loss,
or the recoverability of the advances is in doubt, the asset should be
treated as NPA.
4
4. Income Recognition
4.1 Income Recognition - Policy
4.1.1 The policy of income recognition has to be objective and based on the
record of recovery. Income from non-performing assets (NPA) is not
recognised on accrual basis but is booked as income only when it is
actually received. Therefore, banks should not take to income account
interest on non-performing assets on accrual basis.
4.1.2 However, interest on advances against term deposits, NSCs, IVPs,
KVPs and Life policies may be taken to income account on the due
date, provided adequate margin is available in the accounts.
4.1.3 Fees and commissions earned by the banks as a result of re-
negotiations or rescheduling of outstanding debts should be
recognised on an accrual basis over the period of time covered by the
re-negotiated or rescheduled extension of credit.
4.1.4 If Government guaranteed advances become 'overdue' and thereby
NPA, the interest on such advances should not be taken to income
account unless the interest has been realised.
4.2 Reversal of Income on Accounts Becoming NPAs
4.2.1 If any advance including bills purchased and discounted becomes NPA
as at the close of any year, interest accrued and credited to income
account in the corresponding previous year, should be reversed or
provided for if the same is not realised This will apply to Government
guaranteed accounts also.
4.2.2 If interest income from assets in respect of a borrower becomes
subject to non-accrual, fees, commission and similar income with
respect to same borrower that have been accrued should ceased to
accrue in the current period and should be reversed or provided for
with respect to past periods, if uncollected.
4.2.3 Banks undertaking equipment leasing should follow prudential
accounting standards. Lease rentals comprises two elements - a
finance charge (i.e interest charge) and a charge towards recovery of
the cost of the asset. The interest component alone should be taken to
income account. Such income taken to income account, before the
asset became NPA, and remained unrealised should be reversed or
provided for in the current accounting period.
4.3 Booking of Income on Investments in Shares & Bonds
4.3.1 As a prudent practice and in order to bring about uniform accounting
practice among banks for booking of income on units of UTI and equity
17
Tier II Bank
Period for which the advance
has remained in 'doubtful'
category
Provision Requirement
Up to one year 20 percent
One to three years 30 percent
More than three years (D-III) 100 percent
Illustration for Tier-I bank is given at Annex 4
(iii) Sub-standard Assets
A general provision of 10 per cent on total outstanding should be
made without making any allowance for DICGC / ECGC guarantee
cover and securities available.
(iv) Provision on Standard Assets
(a) From the year ended March 31, 2000, the banks should make a
general provision of a minimum of 0.25 per cent on standard
assets.
(b) However, Tier II banks (as defined in Circular dated May 6, 2009)
will be subjected to higher provisioning norms on standard assets
as under :
The general provisioning requirement for all types of 'standard
advances' shall be 0.40 per cent. However, direct advances to
agricultural and SME sectors which are standard assets, would
attract a uniform provisioning requirement of 0.25 per cent of the
funded outstanding on a portfolio basis, as hitherto.
Further, with effect from Dec 8, 2009, all UCBs (Both Tier I & Tier
II) are required to make a provision of 1.00 percent in respect of
advances to Commercial Real Estate Sector classified as
'standard assets'.
The standard asset provisioning requirements for all UCBs are
summarized as under :
21
Rate of Provisioning
Category of Standard Asset
Tier II Tier I
Direct advances to Agriculture
and SME sectors
0.25 % 0.25%
Commercial Real Estate (CRE)
sector
1.00 % 1.00 %
All other loans and advances not
included in (a) and (b) above
0.40% 0.25%
(c) The provisions towards "standard assets" need not be netted
from gross advances but shown separately as "Contingent
Provision against Standard Assets" under "Other Funds and
Reserves" {item.2 (viii) of Capital and Liabilities}in the Balance
Sheet.
(d) If due to changes in the regulatory requirements on provisions
to be maintained by banks, the provisions held by banks exceed
what is required to be held by banks, such excess provisions
should not be reversed. In future, if by applying the revised
provisioning norms, any provisions are required over and above
the level of provisions currently held for the standard category
assets ; these should be duly provided for.
(e) In case banks are already maintaining excess provision than
what is required / prescribed by Statutory Auditor / RBI
Inspection for impaired credits under Bad and Doubtful Debt
Reserve, additional provision required for Standard Assets may
be segregated from Bad and Doubtful Debt Reserve and the
same may be parked under the head "Contingent Provisions
against Standard Assets" with the approval of their Board of
Directors. Shortfall if any, on this account may be made good in
the normal course.
(f) The above contingent provision will be eligible for inclusion in
Tier II capital.
(v) Higher Provisions
There is no objection if the banks create bad and doubtful debts
reserve beyond the specified limits on their own or if provided in the
respective State Co-operative Societies Acts.
22
Annex - 1
Direct Finance to Agriculture
(vide para 2.1.2(iv))
1.1 Finance to Individual Farmers for Agriculture and Allied Activities (Dairy,
Fishery, Piggery, Poultry, Bee-keeping, etc.)
1.1.1 Short-term loans for raising crops, i.e. for crop loans. This will include traditional /
non-traditional plantations and horticulture
1.1.2 Advances up to `10 lakh against pledge / hypothecation of agricultural produce
(including warehouse receipts) for a period not exceeding 12 months, irrespective of
whether the farmers were given crop loans for raising the produce or not.
1.1.3 Working capital and term loans for financing production and investment
requirements for agriculture and allied activities.
1.1.4 Loans to small and marginal farmers for purchase of land for agricultural
purposes.
1.1.5 Loans to distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders, against
appropriate collateral
1.1.6 Loans granted for pre-harvest and post-harvest activities such as spraying,
weeding, harvesting, grading, sorting, processing and transporting undertaken by
individuals, in rural areas
1.2 Finance to others [such as corporates, partnership firms and institutions] for
Agriculture and Allied Activities (dairy, fishery, piggery, poultry, bee-keeping,
etc.)
1.2.1 Loans granted for pre-harvest and post harvest activities such as spraying,
weeding, harvesting, grading, sorting and transporting.
1.2.2 Finance upto an aggregate amount of ` one crore per borrower for the purposes
listed at 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, and 1.2.1 above.
1.2.3 One-third of loans in excess of ` one crore in aggregate per borrower for
agriculture and allied activities.
-----------------------------------
26
Annex - 2
(vide para 2.2.10)
Proforma
Name of the Bank ________________________
Category Tier I / Tier II _____________________
Classification of Assets and Provisioning made
against Non-Performing Assets as on March 31, _______
(` in lakh)
Classification of
Assets
No.
of
A/C
s
Amou
nt
Outsta
-
nding
Perce
ntage
of
Col.3
to
total
loan
outst
a-
nding
Provisio
n
required
to be
made %
Amount
Existing
provisio
n at the
begin-
ning of
the year
Provisio
n-
ing
made
during
the year
under
report
Total
provi
s-
ions
as at
the
end
of the
year
Re-
mark
s
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Total loans and
advances
Of which
A
.
Standard Assets
B
.
Non-performing
Assets
27
28
1
.
Sub-standard
Doubtful
Upto 1 year
a) Secured
i)
b)
Unsecur
ed
Above 1
year & upto
3 years
a) Secured
ii)
b)
Unsecur
ed
Above 3
years
Secured
a) Outstan
ding
stock of
NPAs
as on
March
31, .
2
.
iii)
b)
Advanc
es
classifie
d as
doubtful
more
than 3
years'
on or
after
April 1,
b)
Unsecur
ed
Total doubtful
assets (i+ii+iii)
a) Secured
b) Unsecured
3
.
Loss Assets
Gross NPAs (B1 +
B2 + B3)
Note : Please indicate the manner in which the provision (item 8) has been made /
proposed to be made out of the profit of the current year.
Position of Net Advances / Net NPAs
(` in lakh)
S
r.
N
o
.
Particulars
Current
Year
Previous
Year
1. Gross Advances
2. Gross NPAs
3. Gross NPAs as percentage to Gross Advances
4. Deductions
29
Annex - 3
(Vide para 4.5.3(iii))
Illustrative Accounting Entries to be passed in respect
of Accrued Interest on both the Performing and Non-performing Advances
I. Accrued Interest on Performing Advances
i) It has been clarified in paragraph 4.5.2 and 4.5.3 (ii) of the Master Circular that
accrued interest in respect of performing advances may be charged to borrowal
accounts and taken to income account. Illustratively, if the accrued interest is
`10,000/- in respect of performing advances of a borrower 'X' (cash credit,
overdraft, loan account, etc.) the following entries can be passed in the Books of
Account.
(Dr) Borrower's account (CC, OD loan) `10,000.00
(Cr) Interest account `10,000.00
ii) In case the accrued interest of `10,000/- in respect of the borrowal account is not
actually realised and the account has become NPA as at the close of subsequent
year, interest accrued and credited to income account in the corresponding
previous year, should be reversed or provided for if the same is not realised by
passing the following entries :
(Dr) (P&L a/c) `10,000.00
(Cr) Overdue Interest Reserve Account `10,000.00
iii) In case accrued interest is realised subsequently, the following entries may be
passed:
(Dr) Cash / Bank account `10,000.00
(Cr) Borrower's Account (CC, OD, Loan) `10,000.00
(Dr) Overdue Interest Reserve Account `10,000.00
(Cr) Interest account `10,000.00
31
Annex - 4
(Illustrative entries on the provisioning requirement for secured portion of assets
that are doubtful for more than three years D-III)
(vide para 5.1.2 (ii)(b)
Illustration 1
Existing Stock of Advances classified as 'doubtful more than 3 years' as on
March 31, 2010
The outstanding amount as on March 31, 2010: `25,000
Realisable value of security : `20,000
Period for which the advance has remained in 'doubtful' category as on March 31, 2010:
4 years (i.e. Doubtful more than 3 years)
Provisioning Requirement Tier -I banks
Provisions on
secured portion
Provisions on
unsecured portion As on....
% Amount % Amount
Total
(`)
March 31, 2011 60 12000 100 5000 17000
March 31, 2012 75 15000 100 5000 20000
March 31, 2013 100 20000 100 5000 25000
------------------------------
33
Annex - 5
(Clarification on certain frequently asked questions)
(vide para no 7)
1. Whether a working capital account will become an NPA if the stock statements
are not submitted regularly? What should be the period for which the stock
statements can be in arrears before the account is treated as an NPA?
Banks should ensure that drawings in the working capital accounts are covered by the
adequacy of current assets, since current assets are first appropriated in times of
distress. Considering the practical difficulties of large borrowers, stock statements relied
upon by the banks for determining drawing power should not be older than three
months. The outstanding in the account based on drawing power calculated from stock
statements older than three months would be deemed as irregular. A working capital
borrowal account will become NPA if such irregular drawings are permitted in the
account for a continuous period of 90 days (with effect from March 31, 2004).
2. Whether an account will become an NPA if the review / renewal of regular / ad-
hoc credit limits are not done when due? What should be periodicity of review /
renewal to decide the present status of an account?
Regular and ad-hoc credit limits need to be reviewed / regularised not later than three
months from the due date / date of ad-hoc sanction. In case of constraints such as non-
availability of financial statements and other data from the borrowers, the branch should
furnish evidence to show that renewal / review of credit limits is already on and would
be completed soon. In any case, delay beyond six months is not considered desirable
as a general discipline. Hence, an account where the regular / ad-hoc credit limits have
not been reviewed or have not been renewed within 180 days from the due date / date
of ad-hoc sanction will be treated as NPA, which period will be reduced to 90 days with
effect from March 31, 2004.
3. Regularisation of the account around the date of balance sheet - Whether it will
be in order to treat a borrowal account as 'standard', if it has been irregular for a
major part of the year, but has been regularised near the balance sheet date?
The asset classification of borrowal accounts where a solitary or a few credits are
recorded before the balance sheet date should be handled with care and without scope
for subjectivity. Where the account indicates inherent weakness on the basis of the data
available, the account should be deemed as a NPA. In other genuine cases, the banks
must furnish satisfactory evidence to the Statutory Auditors / Inspecting Officers about
the manner of regularisation of the account to eliminate doubts on their performing
status.
4. Classification of NPAs where there is a threat to recovery
How should the instructions on classification of NPAs straightaway as doubtful
or a loss asset be interpreted and what can be termed as a 'significant credit
impairment'?
34
An NPA need not go through the various stages of classification in case of serious
credit impairment and such assets should be straightway classified as a doubtful / loss
asset as appropriate. Erosion in the value of security can be reckoned as significant
when the realizable value of the security is less than 50 per cent of the value assessed
by the bank or accepted by RBI at the time of last inspection, as the case may be. Such
NPAs may be straightaway classified under doubtful category and provisioning should
be made as applicable to doubtful assets.
5. Classification of credit facilities under consortium
In certain cases of consortium accounts, though the record of recovery in the
account with a member bank may suggest that the account is a NPA, the banks
submit that, at times, the borrower has deposited adequate funds with the
consortium leader / member of the consortium and the bank's share is due for
receipt. In such cases, will it be in order for the member bank to classify the
account as 'standard' in its books?
Asset classification of accounts under consortium should be based on the record of
recovery of the individual member banks and other aspects having a bearing on the
recoverability of the advances. Where the remittances by the borrower under
consortium lending arrangements are pooled with one bank and / or where the bank
receiving remittances is not parting with the share of other member banks, the account
will be treated as not serviced in the books of the other member banks, and therefore,
be treated as NPA. The banks participating in the consortium should, therefore, arrange
to get their share of recovery transferred from the lead bank or get an express consent
from the lead bank for the transfer of their share of recovery, to ensure proper asset
classification in their respective books.
6. Appropriation of recoveries - What is the practice to be adopted by banks
regarding appropriation of recoveries in NPA accounts?
In the absence of a clear agreement between the bank and the borrower for the
purpose, banks should adopt an accounting principle and exercise the right of
appropriation of recoveries in a uniform and consistent manner.
7. Activities allied to agriculture - Our existing guidelines stipulate that advances
granted for agricultural purposes may be treated as NPA if interest and / or
instalments towards repayment of principal remains unpaid for two harvest
seasons but for a period not exceeding two half years. Whether the same norm
can be extended to floriculture and allied agriculture activities like poultry, animal
husbandry, etc.?
As indicated in para 2.1.3, the norms for classifying direct agricultural advances (listed
in Annex 1), as NPAs have since been revised w.e.f. September 30, 2004.
8. Overdues in other credit facilities - There are instances where banks park the
dues from a borrower in respect of devolved letters of credit and invoked
guarantees in a separate account, irrespective of whether the borrower's credit
35
facilities are regular or not. How to determine when the account in which such
dues are parked has become an NPA?
A number of banks adopt the practice of parking the dues of the borrower in respect of
devolved letters of credit and invoked guarantees in a separate account which is not a
regular sanctioned facility. As a result these are not reflected in the principal operating
account of the borrower. This renders application of the prudential norms for
identification of NPAs difficult. It is, therefore, advised that if the debts arising out of
devolvement of letters of credit or invoked guarantees are parked in a separate account,
the balance outstanding in that account also should be treated as a part of the
borrower's principal operating account for the purpose of application of prudential norms
on income recognition, asset classification and provisioning.
9. Treatment of loss assets - An NPA account will be classified as a loss asset
only when there is no security in the account or where there is considerable
erosion in the realisable value of the security in the account. What can be termed
as a 'considerable' erosion for the account to be classified as a loss asset?
If the realisable value of the security, as assessed by the bank / approved valuers / RBI
is less than 10 per cent of the outstanding in the borrowal accounts, the existence of
security should be ignored and the asset should be straightaway classified as loss
asset. It may be either written off after obtaining necessary permission from the
competent authority as per the Co-operative Societies Act / Rules, or fully provided for
by the bank.
10. Valuation of Security - A major source of divergence in provisioning
requirement was the realisable value of the primary and collateral security. Can
uniform guidelines be prescribed for adoption in this area, at least for large value
accounts?
With a view to bringing down divergence arising out of difference in assessment of the
value of security it has been decided that in cases of NPAs with balance of `10 lakh and
above :
a) The current assets and their valuation are looked into at the time of Statutory Audit /
Concurrent audit. However, in order to enhance the reliability on stock valuations, stock
audit at annual intervals by external agencies could be considered in case of larger
advances. The cut off limit and the names of the external agencies may be finalised by
the Board.
b) Collaterals such as immovable properties charged in favour of the bank should be got
valued once in three years by valuers appointed as per the guidelines approved by the
Board of Directors.
------------------------------
36
Annex - 6
Prudential Guidelines on Restructuring of Advances
Key Concepts
i) Advances
The term 'Advances' will mean all kinds of credit facilities including cash credit,
overdrafts, term loans, bills discounted / purchased, receivables, etc. and investments
other than that in the nature of equity.
ii) Fully Secured
When the amounts due to a bank (present value of principal and interest receivable as
per restructured loan terms) are fully covered by the value of security, duly charged in
its favour in respect of those dues, the bank's dues are considered to be fully secured.
While assessing the realisable value of security, primary as well as collateral securities
would be reckoned, provided such securities are tangible securities and are not in
intangible form like guarantee etc., of the promoter / others. However, for this purpose
the bank guarantees, State Government Guarantees and Central Government
Guarantees will be treated on par with tangible security.
iii) Restructured Accounts
A restructured account is one where the bank, for economic or legal reasons relating to
the borrower's financial difficulty, grants to the borrower concessions that the bank
would not otherwise consider. Restructuring would normally involve modification of
terms of the advances / securities, which would generally include, among others,
alteration of repayment period / repayable amount / the amount of instalments / rate of
interest (due to reasons other than competitive reasons).
iv) Repeatedly Restructured Accounts
When a bank restructures an account a second (or more) time(s), the account will be
considered as a 'repeatedly restructured account'. However, if the second restructuring
takes place after the period up to which the concessions were extended under the terms
of the first restructuring, that account shall not be reckoned as a 'repeatedly restructured
account'.
v) SMEs
Small and Medium Enterprises is an undertaking defined in circular
UBD.PCB.Cir.No.35/09.09.001/06-07 dated April 18, 2007.
37
Annex - 7
Prudential Guidelines on Restructuring of Advances
Particulars of Accounts Restructured
(` in lakh)
Housing
Loans
SME Debt
Restructuring
Others
No. of Borrowers
Amount outstanding
Standard advances
restructured
Sacrifice (diminution in
the fair value)
No. of Borrowers
Amount outstanding
Sub standard
advances
restructured
Sacrifice (diminution in
the fair value)
No. of Borrowers
Amount outstanding
Doubtful advances
restructured
Sacrifice (diminution in
the fair value)
No. of Borrowers
Amount outstanding
Total
Sacrifice (diminution in
the fair value)
---------------------------------
39
Annex - 8
Prudential Guidelines on Restructuring of Advances
Asset Classification of Restructured Accounts under the Guidelines
Particulars Case 1 Case 2 Case 3 Case 4
Assumed due date of
payment
31.01.2007 31.01.2007
Assumed date of
restructuring
31.03.2007 31.03.2007 31.03.2007 31.03.2007
Period of delinquency as on
the date of restructuring
2 months 2 months 18 months 18 months
Asset Classification (AC)
before restructuring
'Standard' 'Standard' 'Doubtful -
less than
one year'
'Doubtful -
less than one
year'
I.
Date of NPA NA NA 31.12.05
(Assumed)
31.12.05
(Assumed)
Asset Classification (AC) on Restructuring
Assumed status of the
borrower
Eligible for
special
regulatory
treatment
Not eligible for
special
regulatory
treatment
Eligible for
special
regulatory
treatment
Not eligible
for special
regulatory
treatment
AC after restructuring 'Standard' Downgraded
to
'Substandard'
w.e.f 31.03.07
(i.e., on the
date of
restructuring)
'Doubtful -
less than
one year'
'Doubtful -
less than one
year'
II.
Assumed first payment due
under the revised terms
31.12.07 31.12.07 31.12.07 31.12.07
40
Annex - 9
Guidelines on Asset Classification of Projects under Implementation
Banks must fix a Date of Commencement of Commercial Operations (DCCO) for all
project loans at the time of sanction of the loan / financial closure* (in the case of
multiple banking or consortium arrangements). For the purpose of IRAC norms, all
project loans may be divided into the following two categories; (i) Project Loans for
infrastructure sector (ii) Project Loans for non-infrastructure sector.
* For greenfield projects, financial closure is defined as a legally binding commitment of equity holders
and debt financiers to provide or mobilise funding for the project. Such funding must account for a
significant part of the project cost which should not be less than 90 per cent of the total project cost
securing the construction of the facility.
1. Project Loans for Infrastructure Sector
1.1 A loan for an infrastructure project will be classified as NPA during any time
before commencement of commercial operations as per record of recovery
(90 days overdue), unless it is restructured and becomes eligible for
classification as 'standard asset' in terms of paras.1.3 to 1.5 below.
1.2 A loan for an infrastructure project will be classified as NPA if it fails to
commence commercial operations within two years from the original DCCO,
even if it is regular as per record of recovery, unless it is restructured and
becomes eligible for classification as 'standard asset' in terms of paras 1.3 to
1.5 below.
1.3 There may be occasions when completion of projects is delayed for legal and
other extraneous reasons like delays in Government approvals etc. All these
factors, which are beyond the control of the promoters, may lead to delay in
project implementation and involve restructuring / rescheduling of loans by
banks. If a project loan classified as 'standard asset' is restructured any time
during the period up to two years from the original date of commencement of
commercial operations (DCCO), in accordance with the instructions contained
in our circular UBD.PCB.BPD.No.53/13.05.000/2008-09 dated March 6, 2009
on prudential guidelines on restructuring of advances, it can be retained as a
standard asset if the fresh DCCO is fixed within the following limits, and
further provided the account continues to be serviced as per the restructured
terms :
42
4.2 Any change in the repayment schedule of a project loan caused due to an
increase in the project outlay on account of increase in scope and size of the
project, would not be treated as restructuring if :
i) The increase in scope and size of the project takes place before
commencement of commercial operations of the existing project.
ii) The rise in cost excluding any cost-overrun in respect of the original
project is 25% or more of the original outlay.
iii) The bank re-assesses the viability of the project before approving the
enhancement of scope and fixing a fresh DCCP.
iv) On re-rating, (if already rated) the new rating is not below the previous
rating by more than one notch.
Definition of 'Infrastructure Lending'
Any credit facility in whatever form extended by lenders (i.e. banks, FIs or NBFCs) to
an infrastructure facility as specified below falls within the definition of "infrastructure
lending". In other words, a credit facility provided to a borrower company engaged in
developing or operating and maintaining, or developing, operating and maintaining
any infrastructure facility that is a project in any of the following sectors, or any
infrastructure facility of a similar nature
a road, including toll road, a bridge or a rail system; a highway project including other
activities being an integral part of the highway project; a port, airport, inland waterway
or inland port; a water supply project, irrigation project, water treatment system,
sanitation and sewerage system or solid waste management system;
telecommunication services whether basic or cellular, including radio paging,
domestic satellite service (i.e., a satellite owned and operated by an Indian company
for providing telecommunication service), network of trunking, broadband network and
internet services; An industrial park or Special Economic Zone generation or
generation and distribution of power; transmission or distribution of power by laying a
network of new transmission or distribution lines; construction relating to projects
involving agro-processing and supply of inputs to agriculture; construction for
preservation and storage of processed agro-products, perishable goods such as
fruits, vegetables and flowers including testing facilities for quality ; construction of
educational institutions and hospitals; laying down and / or maintenance of gas, crude
oil and petroleum pipelines, any other infrastructure facility of similar nature.
-------------------------------
45
Appendix
A. List of Circulars as of June 30, 2011 consolidated in the Master Circular
Sr.
No.
Circular No. Date Subject
1 UBD.BPD.(PCB).CIR.No.49/09.14.00
0/2010-11
24.05.2011 Enhancement in Gratuity Limits -
Prudential Regulatory Treatment
2 UBD.BPD.Cir.No.59/09.14.000/2009-
10
23.04.2010 IRAC norms for Projects under
implementation
3 UBD.BPD.Cir.No.29/09.11.600/2009-
10
08.12.2009 Review of Monetary Policy -
Provisioning requirement
4 UBD.CO.LS.Cir.No.66/07.01.000/200
8-09
06.05.2009 Annual Policy Statement for
2009-10-Extension of area of
operation - Liberalisation
5 UBD.PCB.BPD.53/13.05.000/2008-
09
06.03.2009 Prudential Guidelines on
Restructuring of Advances
6 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.29/09.11.600/2008-
09
01.12.2008 Provisioning for Standard Assets
and Risk Weights for exposures
7 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.47/09.11.600/07-08 26.05.2008 Provisioning Requirement for
Standard Assets
8 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.38/09.14.000/2007-
08
02.04.2008 Income Recognition, Asset
Classification & Provisioning
Norms
9 UBD.(PCB).Cir.No.35/09.20.001/07-
08
07.03.2008 Classification of UCBs for
Regulatory Purposes
10 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.38/9.14.000/06-07 30.04.2007 Annual Policy Statement for the
year 2007-08-Income
recognition, asset classification
and provisioning norms
11 UBD.PCB.Cir.No.30/9.11.600/06-07 19.02.2007 3rdQuarter Review of Annual
Statement on Monetary Policy for
2006-07-Provisioning for
Standard Assets
46
50