Interest rates have almost peaked: SBI


New Delhi: Ahead of the Reserve Bank''s mid-term monetary policy review tomorrow, State Bank of India (SBI) today said interest rates in India have more or less peaked. "I think more or less (interest rate) has reached its peak. There can be minor increase here and there. I don''t think it will go much beyond this level," SBI Managing Director (National Banking) A Krishna Kumar said here. He added that the bank, at present, is not contemplating any increase in its home loan rates. "We are not contemplating any home loan (rates) hike. As of now, we have no such idea. Let us see what happens tomorrow. It all depends on what happens tomorrow." Asked about rising bad loans, he said, the bank has put in a lot of mechanism in place to check non-performing assets (NPA). "We have used the computer system to identify well in advance when there are signs of sickness. I hope all the initiatives will help us, in coming months, to tackle problem of NPA," he said on the sidelines of a MoU signing with Indian Coast Guard. Further, he said, "There has been stress in general economy also. It (NPA) is mix of various factors that had lead to this situation," he added. Meanwhile, SBI today launched Indian Coast Guard Salary Package which offers a bundle of free or concessional banking services to the Officers and staff of the forces. The package includes special design ATM Card exclusively for the Coast Guard Personnel, free drafts, fee cheques books and free funds transfer.
Source: PTI