RBI Lifts Supervisory Restrictions on Navi Finserv

On December 2, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lifted the supervisory restrictions imposed on Navi Finserv, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) led by Sachin Bansal. This decision comes after the company took significant corrective measures to address the regulatory concerns that had led to the imposition of restrictions on October 17, 2024, primarily related to loan pricing practices and non-compliance with lending norms.

Background of the Restrictions

The RBI had enforced the ban on Navi Finserv and three other NBFCs—DMI Finance, Asirvad Micro Finance, and Arohan Financial Services—due to material supervisory concerns. These included violations in the companies’ loan pricing policies, particularly the excessive weighted average lending rate (WALR) and interest spreads charged over their cost of funds. Additionally, issues were found with non-compliance to the Fair Practices Code and inadequate borrower assessment processes. This led to the suspension of loan sanctioning and disbursing activities, effective from October 17, 2024.

Corrective Measures by Navi Finserv

In response, Navi Finserv worked closely with the RBI, implementing corrective actions to realign its processes with regulatory guidelines. The company revamped its loan pricing practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance. It also updated its systems to meet RBI standards for borrower assessments and lending operations. Following these efforts, the RBI acknowledged Navi Finserv’s commitment to reform and lifted the restrictions, allowing the company to resume its lending activities.

Impact on Operations and Future Outlook

The lifting of restrictions marks a significant milestone for Navi Finserv, enabling it to return to normal operations and restore stakeholder confidence. Previously, the company had to cancel a Rs 100 crore fundraising plan, and its ratings were put on “rating watch” by CRISIL. With the restrictions lifted, Navi Finserv aims to drive financial inclusion with customer-first, compliant financial solutions, focusing on governance and operational excellence.

Summery of the news

Why in News	Key Points
RBI lifts restrictions on Navi Finserv	– RBI lifted restrictions on Sachin Bansal-led Navi Finserv on Dec 2, 2024.
	– Restrictions imposed on October 17, 2024, due to concerns about loan pricing and interest spreads.
	– The company corrected its processes to align with regulatory guidelines.
	– Navi Finserv can now resume lending activities.
	– Other NBFCs affected: DMI Finance, Asirvad Micro Finance, Arohan Financial Services still under restrictions.
RBI’s Role	– RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is responsible for enforcing regulatory guidelines on NBFCs.
Sachin Bansal	– CEO of Navi Finserv.
Navi Finserv	– Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) led by Sachin Bansal.
RBI’s Concerns	– Violations in loan pricing, WALR, and interest spreads.
Reforms	– Navi Finserv revamped its practices, aligning with RBI’s regulatory guidelines.
Other Related Entities	– DMI Finance, Asirvad Micro Finance, and Arohan Financial Services were also subject to the same restrictions.
Action After Restrictions	– Fundraising activity of ₹100 crore canceled due to restrictions.
CRISIL Ratings	– CRISIL placed Navi Finserv’s ratings on “rating watch” during the restriction period.