The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted three more months to banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to implement the modified norms for levying penal charges in loan accounts, as part of fair lending practice.

The new norms will thus come into effect from 1 April 2024

In August, the RBI issued a circular on 'Fair Lending Practice - Penal Charges in Loan Accounts' and it was to come into effect from 1 January 2024.

"However, considering that certain clarifications and additional time has been sought by some regulated entities (REs) to reconfigure their internal systems and operationalize the circular, it has been decided to extend the timeline for implementation of the instructions by three months," the RBI said.

Accordingly, regulated entities, which include banks and NBFCs, have been asked to ensure that the instructions are implemented in respect of all the fresh loans availed from April 1, 2024 onwards.

In the case of existing loans, the RBI said the switchover to new penal charges regime should be ensured on the next review/ renewal date falling on or after April 1, 2024, but not later than June 30, 2024.

Concerned over the practice of banks and NBFCs using penal interest as a revenue enhancement tool, the RBI on 18 August had modified norms, under which lenders would be able to levy only "reasonable" penal charges in case of default in repayment of loans.

The banks and other lending institutions will not be allowed to levy penal interest with effect from January 1, 2024, it had said.

"Penalty, if charged, for non-compliance of material terms and conditions of loan contract by the borrower shall be treated as 'penal charges' and shall not be levied in the form of 'penal interest' that is added to the rate of interest charged on the advances," the August circular said.

It further said the quantum of penal charges "shall be reasonable and commensurate with the noncompliance" of material terms and conditions of loan contract without being discriminatory within a particular loan/product category.

Also, there should be no capitalisation of penal charges -- no further interest computed on such charges.

The instructions do not apply to credit cards, external commercial borrowings, trade credits and structured obligations which are covered under product-specific directions.