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Changes in Credit Scenario in India and Implications for Your Personal Finances

If we go by the official data, traditionally Indians are very careful about credit, and household assets grew much faster than household liabilities as shown in the graph based on RBI data.

Note: The aggregate data may not show the non-homogeneity due to income inequality and the extent of financial literacy. A survey conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) found that the level of indebtedness in rural households is significantly high. This is correlated with a lack of financial literacy and a lack of access to the formal financial system.

But, the credit scenario is changing rapidly in India. With the growth in Indian per capita income at 8.6% – the number of credit card accounts grew by 28.3% and the outstanding credit balance by 43% according to Transunion Cibil quarterly report.

The credit card numbers and outstanding balance are at an all-time high. The unsecured personal loan accounts grew by 26.9% and the outstanding balance by a whopping 49.1%. It indicated that many Indians have financial lifestyles with credit and that is a worrisome trend. 

Changes in Credit Scenario in India

1. Pressure on the Corporate Lending

In recent years, as more and more Non-Performing Assets started pulling the balance sheets of Indian lenders, the lenders started pushing retail credit. As per RBI data, personal loans represent 25.34% of gross bank credits now increasing steadily from 21.83% growing at the rate of 16.7% just two years ago annually.

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2. Technological Progress

The widespread availability of information about credit and ease of online application makes it easy for people to apply for loans. Getting an unsecured loan is easier than ever before. For lenders also digital channels are cheaper and faster. Today there are many apps you can apply for loans in minutes with eKYC, eSign, and other technologies.

3. New Players

A few decades ago, banks had a monopoly on the Indian credit industry. In recent years we have seen drastic changes in that. Non-banking, Financial Corporations are taking hold of the industry quickly. As per a 2016 PwC- ASSOCHAM report, NBFCs represented 13% of the total credit market in 2015 and are expected to reach around 20% in the year 2020. This report expected growth of 19%-22% CAGR in retail credit. A new fast-growing sector is P2P lending platforms.

Easy Credit does not Mean Cheap Credit

As per a CRISIL report, between 2015 to 2018 the CAGR of unsecured credit by banks grew by 27%, which is four times the growth in total bank credit. The yields on such loans are much more attractive than secured loans. That means borrowers pay a much higher interest for a personal or credit card loan than on an automobile loan. That is why lenders have all the incentive to push such loans.

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Easy Credit Does not Mean Right Credit

Now, let us consider the impact of current trends on personal finance.

Easy credit means borrowing for a financial goal rather than saving and most people are not good at waiting. As credit becomes easier, people will start first borrowing and fulfilling a financial dream and then paying it back. There are two important questions here –

  1. Are you borrowing for something that will generate income or reduce your expenses somehow?
  2. Is your return from the asset built using credit enough to justify the cost of an unsecured loan you are planning to take?

If you are going to use the credit for lifestyle expenses, you are making a financial mistake. You all have desires that may not always be justified or handled rationally. A small loan may not affect you, but if it becomes a habit, then it can ruin your financial situation and suck you into a debt trap.

A major problem with indebtedness is that it decreases your risk tolerance significantly and with that the kind of return you can get from your investments.

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