RBI Repo Rate Cut - How it Affects Borrowers
RBI’s Repo Rate Change
The key rates cut include the Repo Rate and the Reserve Reporate. The repo rate was cut by 75 basis points while the reserve repo rate was
cut by 90 basis points.
Such a step was taken by the RBI of course with best
interests in their hearts. However, it will be creating some problems for both
investors and borrowers.
In this article, let us see what are some of the problems
borrowers shall be facing after this change are.
Impact on borrowers
This unexpected repo rate cut from the RBI is stated to
reduce EMIs, which is important to borrowers. With less interest to pay back
loans, it will be cheaper to take new loans.
Here is how this will affect different categories of
borrowers.
Existing borrowers:
Borrowers who already have existing loans that are linked to
external benchmarks like treasure bills and repo rate, can expect to see their
monthly EMI decreasing in the coming months. As per Reserve Bank of India’s
directive on linking of loan interest rates to external benchmarks, the rates
are to be reviewed by banks every 3 months.
Borrowers with loans linked to MCLR
Borrowers in this category will benefit with lower loan
rates, but only when their banks reduce it. This is because the MCLR is
dependent on not only external factors, but also the bank’s own internal
factors. Going further, the reduction in MCLR rates will only read to lower EMI
when your home loan’s reset date comes.
Want to switch to a loan rate based on an external
benchmark? You need to give an administration cost. However, experts suggest
that you do this only when the difference between the two rates is at least
.50%.
Borrowers whose loans are linked to BPLR or base rate
Borrowers with home loans linked to Benchmark Prime Lending
Rate should think of switching to an external benchmark-based loan. This gives
them better transmission of policy rates.
New borrowers
One of the best things is that new loans shall be considerably
cheaper. Taking a new loan linked to external benchmarks should be a priority
for new borrowers. When doing so, make sure to compare the risk premium and
spread being charged by banks above the external benchmarks. This gives you the
cheapest interest rate.
At the end of the day, please do remember that when RBI
increases the key rates, your interest rates shall go up as well. This makes
interest rates linked to external benchmarks more volatile than MCLR linked
interest rates.
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