Topic I Commercial Banking
Topic I Commercial Banking
Topic I Commercial Banking
Commercial Banks are those profit making institutions which accept deposits from general public and gives
money (loan) to individuals like household, entrepreneurs, businessmen etc. The prime objective of these
banks is to earn profit in the form of interest, commission etc. The operations of all these commercial banks
are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, which is the central bank and supreme financial authority in India.
Some commercial banks in India are – ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank, Punjab
national bank, Central bank of India.
At present, there are 20 Public Sector Banks in India including SBI.
Case Study
Yes Bank Subscribes to Non-convertible Debentures of SKS Microfinance
Yes Bank, one of India's leading private sector banks, announced in March 2009 that it has subscribed to 250
millions of rated Non-convertible Debentures (NCD) issued by SKS Microfinance, India's largest and the
world's fastest growing Microfinance Institution (MFI). The bond has a tenor of one year from the date of
allotment with a coupon rate of 10.50% per annum. Yes Bank thus became the lead manager to the issue a
first of its kind issuance of rated paper by an Indian micro-finance institution. Microfinance has been
recognized as an efficient poverty alleviation tool, its expansion in India is significantly impeded by its
relatively limited access to capital markets resulting in MFIs continuing to face challenges of high cost of
funds. On successful completion of the transaction, Suresh Gurumani, MD and CEO of SKS Microfinance
said, "SKS is the only MFI in the country to raise funds through non-convertible debenture. The funds will be
utilised to provide financial services to a larger section of the poor." Somak Ghosh, group president, corporate
finance and development banking, YES Bank, on fully subscribing to the issue said, "Yes Bank’s
microfinance initiatives/approach/focus is centred on using structured capital market products to provide MFIs
access to a broader base of investors and lenders thus reducing cost of funds and lowering transaction costs for
the sector. The successful closure of SKS’s rated bond issue is the fruition of such efforts at Yes Bank and
SKS Microfinance and will help the MFI tap sophisticated capital market investors opening up additional,
cost-effective sources of funds." Announcing this landmark transaction, S. Dilli Raj, CFO of SKS
Microfinance said, "SKS becomes the first Indian MFI to issue a rated bond. This showcases SKS’s
structuring and financial innovation skills. The fact that the Bond is a stand alone issuance with no credit
enhancement in the form of any 3rd party guarantee or collateral speaks volumes of SKS’s Balance Sheet
strength".
Questions 1. How do you think has the move helped Yes bank?
Question 2. What other innovative tools do you think Yes Bank could have employed to yield similar results?