Archive · 20 Jul 2025
Banks Turning Cautious on Corporate Lending Amid Rate Cuts
Imagine banks are like stores that lend money.
Lately, they've become a bit more careful about who they lend to, especially to big companies.
This is because the government has made interest rates lower, making it harder for banks to make money on loans.
Also, big companies can get money from other places, so banks aren't as eager to offer low-profit loans.
Instead, they are focusing on giving loans to regular people and small businesses because they make more money that way.
Banks are carefully deciding which loans to give so they can still make money.
Banks are becoming cautious about corporate loans due to rate cuts and ample liquidity.
They are avoiding offering new loans at lower rates to maintain profit margins.
Banks are focusing on retail and MSME portfolios, which have higher margins.
Large banks like ICICI, HDFC, and UBI have seen slower corporate loan growth.
Executives cite competitive pricing and corporate access to other funding as reasons.
- Who
- Banks like ICICI, HDFC, and UBI
- What
- Banks are becoming more cautious about giving corporate loans.
- When
- During the current financial year, influenced by RBI rate cuts since February 2025.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To protect profit margins amid lower interest rates and ample liquidity.
Banks Perspective
Corporates Perspective
Loan Strategies
Banks Perspective
Banks are prioritizing profit margins by avoiding low-yield corporate loans.
Corporates Perspective
Corporates have multiple funding sources. Banks want to ensure profitability while lending.
- Repo Rate Cuts Begin
- February 2025
- Focus
- Retail and MSME lending
- HDFC Bank Q1 FY26 Corporate Growth
- 1.7%
- ICICI Bank Q1 FY26 Corporate Growth
- 7.5%
- UBI Q1 FY26 Corporate Growth
- 2.68%
- HDFC Bank NIM
- 3.35%
- ICICI Bank NIM
- 4.34%
- UBI NIM
- 2.76%