Big Banks or More Agile Banks?

Source: BS

Context:

India’s banking sector is witnessing a major shift driven by digital innovation, competition from fintechs, evolving customer needs, and heightened regulatory expectations. This has sparked an important policy and market question: Are large banks better suited for future challenges, or are smaller, more agile banks the real drivers of innovation?

Big Banks: Strengths and Limitations

Big Banks in India include institutions such as SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Bank of Baroda, known for their nationwide presence and large balance sheets.

Strengths

• High Capital Strength & Systemic Stability: Ability to absorb shocks due to diversified loan books and strong capital buffers.
• Trust & Brand Equity: Long-standing customer relationships and high public confidence.
• Comprehensive Product Suite: Retail, corporate, international banking, treasury, insurance, and wealth management.
• Risk Diversification: Exposure across geographies and sectors minimises concentration risk.

Limitations

• Slower Decision-Making due to layers of hierarchy.
• Legacy Technology Systems that make modernization expensive and time-consuming.
• High Operating Costs due to branches, staff, and compliance requirements.
• Limited Flexibility to adopt niche, experimental business models.

More Agile Banks: Strengths and Limitations

Agile banks include small finance banks (SFBs), payments banks, digital-first banks, and tech-driven NBFCs/neo-banks.

Strengths

• Rapid Innovation with digital-native operations, AI-based underwriting, and customer-centric products.
• Lower Operational Costs due to limited branch presence and automated systems.
• Niche Focus on underserved segments like MSMEs, gig workers, rural markets, and young consumers.
• Faster Credit Delivery using alternative data and real-time analytics.

Limitations

• Smaller Capital Buffers, making them vulnerable to credit shocks.
• Limited Product Range compared to universal banks.
• Lower Trust Levels, especially during financial stress episodes.
• Compliance Burden, as smaller institutions have less capacity for regulatory complexity.

RBI Norms for Bank Mergers in India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plays a central role in approving, regulating, and supervising all bank mergers. RBI ensures that mergers strengthen systemic stability, protect depositors, and maintain financial discipline.

Key RBI Norms & Requirements for Bank Mergers

• Prior Approval Under the Banking Regulation Act
  • RBI approval is mandatory under Sections 44A, 45, and related provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • Both boards must approve the proposal before seeking RBI’s consent.
• Fit-and-Proper Criteria for Management
  • Post-merger boards and senior management must meet RBI’s “fit and proper” standards concerning integrity, experience, and financial soundness.
• Financial Health Assessment
  RBI evaluates:
  • Capital adequacy (CRAR),
  • Asset quality (NPA ratios),
  • Liquidity profile,
  • Exposure concentration,
  • Governance track record, and
  • Compliance history.
• Customer & Branch Integration Guidelines
  • The merged entity must ensure seamless transition of:
    • Accounts
    • IFSC codes
    • Loan servicing
    • Digital platforms
  • No disruption to essential banking services is permitted.
• Compliance With Prudential Norms
  • The merged bank must meet regulatory requirements on:
    • Capital adequacy
    • Priority sector lending
    • Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
    • Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
    • Exposure norms
    • Corporate governance standards
• Special Cases: RBI-Directed Mergers
  • Under Section 45 of the BR Act, RBI may force mergers to protect depositors (e.g., Global Trust Bank with Oriental Bank of Commerce, 2004).
  • In such cases, the acquiring bank gets regulatory flexibility for a transition period.