The HDFC Bank will offer a three-month moratorium to the customers who have taken different kinds of loans from the bank, considering the directions issued by the Central Bank, Chief Operating Officer of HDFC Bank, M.K. Nambiyarooran told the Daily News.
This measure has been taken following a Central Bank directive issued last Wednesday to support borrowers affected by the Covid-19outbreak. The Central Bank requested the commercial banks to offer customers a three month moratorium for personal and leasing rentals below a million rupees. The Central Bank said, “Detailed instructions on foregoing shall be issued on 27.03.2020.”
Nambiyarooran said, the customers who have taken loans from HDFC Bank should submit a request letter from any of the branches, requesting this facility.
He said, an official circular will be sent out to all the branches by next Monday. “We have already attended to a few requests when the bank branches were opened during off-curfew hours on Wednesday,” he said.
However, he said, a majority of the customers has indicated to them that they would not make use of the moratorium facility. “And any requests by defaulters will be considered with a different strategy.”
Central Bank directions:
In line with the decision taken by the cabinet of ministers at the cabinet meeting held on 20.03.2020on the direction issued by the President to provide relief measures to assist businesses and individuals who are adversely affected by the prevailing Covid-19outbreak, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka hereby issues this circular to the licensed commercial banks, licensed specialised banks and leasing companies, hereinafter referred to as financial institutions.
1. All such financial institutions shall implement a debt moratorium (on capital and interest) as follows:
a. A six-month moratorium on the leasing rentals of all three-wheelers, school vans, lorries, small goods transport vehicles and buses operated by the self-employed;
b. A moratorium until 30.05.2020on personal loans granted to all private sector non-executive employees;
c. A three-month moratorium for all personal loans and leasing rentals of value less than Rs.1million; and
d. A six-month debt moratorium for affected industries in small & medium enterprises, tourism, apparel, plantation, IT and related logistic service providers.
2. Financial institutions shall provide working capital requirements at an interest rate of 4%and waive-off interest payments for at least 6months for sectors in item 1(d) above. An interest subsidy will be included in refinance.
3. Financial institutions are required to accommodate customers to submit loan applications for items 1and 2above until 30.04.2020and financial institutions are required to finalise the same within 45days.
4. Financial institutions shall charge a maximum interest rate of 15percent on local credit card transactions of value up to Rs. 50,000; the minimum monthly payment on credit cards shall be reduced by 50percent; and repayment of all credit cards below the limit of Rs. 50,000to be extended until 30.04.2020.
5. Licensed banks shall extend the validity period of cheques valued less than Rs. 500,000until 30.04.2020.
6. All branches of licensed banks shall be kept open from 8.00a.m. to 1.00p.m. on non-curfew days with a minimum number of employees, and the corporate branches shall be kept open during curfew days to facilitate international transactions relating to food, medicine, travel and other customers.
7. Detailed instructions on foregoing shall be issued on 27.03.2020.
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