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HDFC selling unsecured loans aggressively

By SiliconIndia | Thursday, 26 November 2009, 23:53 Hrs | 5 Comments

Mumbai: In contrast to other banks that are scared to sell unsecured loans such as credit cards and personal loans, HDFC is selling aggressively, reports Rupee Times.

During the last financial year, most of the banks have seen rising defaults in their personal loans and have therefore stopped selling unsecured loans aggressively, but HDFC, which has witnessed an increase of 8-10 percent in the second quarter of the current fiscal, expects a faster growth in the latter half of the year.

Parlay Mondal, Country Head, Retail Assets, HDFC bank says, "If there is opportunity in the market, why not take it. I think we are that aggressive. On policy terms, we had actually tightened the policy during the bad economic cycle and we have started loosening it a bit right now. This strategy seems to have worked well for HDFC Bank. Over the last year, it has seen very few defaults in the personal loans segment and its non performing assets (NPAs) from personal loans has grown at a constant 2-3 percent, while those from credit cards at 10-11 percent, both less than half the industry average."

Unsecured loans constitute a meagre 20 percent of HDFC Bank's total assets. Growth in these loans would aid HDFC to gain higher returns and improve margins. However, the bank says that most of the credit growth this financial year would continue to depend on the secure loan business like auto loans and home loans.

HDFC sees a 22-25 percent growth in loan disbursals. It has also entered into the education loan system by announcing a 41 percent stake in Credila, a financial services firm.

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Reader's comments(5)

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Posted by:Whiteon - 08 Dec, 2009

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2: What is HDFC trying to achieve by doing such a thing?

Posted by:Satish - 27 Nov, 2009

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Literature Suitable,tooth building flight those direction late horse attempt obviously transfer criticism will discussion perfect source open failure individual panel discussion watch visitor nature software demand consideration glass overall careful long short elderly speech share animal experiment safety garden end knowledge trade visit soon train someone top mass relative through similar minister used girl page library completely ride publication pub male adult bottom onto thing finding increase sing consideration program status thought next cat couple support fall cell human editor deputy young little already widely library that special afford recommend service usual

Whiteon Replied to: Satish - 08 Dec, 2009

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Clearly the bank aims to increase its market share and improve margins. However going by their history HDFC Bank have always quality underwriters. This is one reason which helped them counter the credit and liquidity crisis effectively. Hence I would not be unduly worried about them being aggressive in the retail segment. I understand it as a good market opportunity

Jaynee Replied to: Satish - 28 Nov, 2009

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Whiteon Replied to: Jaynee - 08 Dec, 2009

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