Skip to main content

Banks and the security for the loan

Many a time whenever Banks lend , they try to cover their risk with a primary security as well as a Collateral security. Collateral as the meaning indicates is only  secondary . It is additional to the primary security.

But many banks insist Primary as well as adequate Collateral Security since the Primary security may lose value over time and use. Mostly movable fixed assets like plant and Machinery are given as primary security but these assets get depreciated over the period of their use.As a backup Banks will ask for a Collateral to have sufficient cover for the value of the loan.

Banks in India esp. PSU banks adopted a funny logic while lending to King Fisher airlines which went phut after crash landing some years back. The logic was valuing the brand KingFisher Airlines and use it as a Collateral for the loans extended to the airlines.But when the airlines went down the drain , the Brand also lost its value and as a result Banks lost their money. So such Collateral ingenuity invented by the unscrupulous led to PSU Banks' rut. 3Cs expected of the borrower are presumed to be present with the banker or lender. If they are absent on either side or on both sides then the Tax payer bears the brunt. This is the biggest moral hazard of the financial sector of any country and more so of India.

In Ramayana, when Lord Rama was in the forest, his younger brother Bharatha came to invite him back to the country and anoint himself as the King of Ayodhya.Instead Rama gave his sandals as requested by Bharatha and Rama remained in the forest. the sandals were placed on the throne representing Rama.There is a beautiful hymn sung by Swamy Desika in which he says Sandals of the Lord are valued much more than the Lord Himself because Rama was released by Bharatha by taking his sandals as security!!!Finally Rama kept his word, came back and redeemed his sandals.!!

Therefore one must understand that the security perse is not of much intrinsic value if it is not backed up by the most important C-Character. The security should have a moral binding on the borrower and the value of the security is dependant on the strength of this binding.

My banker friends would vouch for that!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

India's Semiconductor play-now only semi-final!

India's Semiconductor Manufacturing in 2026–2030: PLI Impact, Global Standing, and AI-Era Policy Needs How India's PLI scheme is building semiconductor capacity, what it means for global supply chains, and what government must do next as AI demand reshapes the industry. 14 min read Modern semiconductor fab with Indian innovation flags and growth trajectory Semiconductors-Policy in India India's PLI scheme commits $10 billion to build semiconductor manufacturing capacity over 5 years, with TATA and Micron fab projects expected to deliver 1–2 million wafers monthly by 2027. By 2030, India could claim 2–3% of global semiconductor production - a major jump from today's <1%, though still far behind Taiwan and South Korea. Geopolitically, this matters: as supply chains de-risk away from Taiwan and China, India becomes a critical third hub for mature-node and memory-chip manufacturing. However, success hinges on three critical gaps the government must address. First...

Why Indian Rupee is falling steeply against US dollar?

  The Indian Rupee recently crossed the 97 mark against the US Dollar, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. If you've been tracking exchange rates or planning a trip abroad, you've probably felt the pinch. Everything from imported electronics to cooking oil is getting more expensive. And your money just doesn't stretch as far as it used to. This isn't a one-day blip. The rupee has been on a steady downward slide for months, and the reasons go deeper than most headlines suggest. It's a mix of what's happening inside India's economy and what's happening across the globe. Trade deficits, foreign investors pulling out money, rising oil prices, the US Federal Reserve keeping interest rates high — all of these are pulling the rupee in the wrong direction at the same time. In this post, we'll break down the key domestic pressures weighing on the rupee and the global forces making the US Dollar stronger. We'll also look at what the Reserve Bank ...

How to prepare for the consequences of Iran war

  The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us valuable lessons about resilience in business. One key takeaway is the importance of conserving cash and other resources that may become scarce during challenging times. Businesses must prioritize financial prudence to sustain operations and navigate uncertainties effectively. This approach not only helps in weathering immediate crises but also positions organizations for long-term stability and growth. Reflecting on these lessons can guide future strategies and enhance preparedness for any unforeseen events.