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RBI Prepayment Charge Ban on Floating Rate Loans

4 July 20251 min read
BANKING & FINANCERBI PrepaymentCharge Ban onFloating RateLoans4 July 2025safalsetu.com

Why in the news

RBI stopped lenders from penalising early repayment of floating rate loans, to give borrowers flexibility and ease switching.

Key facts

  • Effective 1 January 2026, for term and demand loans newly sanctioned or renewed from then.
  • Borrowers: individuals and MSEs, for personal or business needs; co-obligant cases included.
  • Lenders: commercial banks (not payment banks, SFBs, RRBs, LABs), Tier 4 urban co-operative banks with deposits above ₹10,000 crore, NBFC-UL, AIFIs.
  • Applies to part or full prepayment from any funds, with no lock-in.
  • Still barred: fees on lender-initiated prepayment and retrospective charges after waivers.

Why and legal basis

  • RBI’s review found inconsistent practices, MSE grievances and refinancing barriers.
  • Powers drawn from the Banking Regulation Act 1949, RBI Act 1934 and National Housing Bank Act 1987.

Exam angle

  • Date: 1 January 2026; loan type: floating rate; borrowers: individuals and MSEs.

Test yourself

1. From which date does RBI's ban on prepayment charges on floating rate loans to individuals and MSEs take effect?

The notes state the ban is effective from 1 January 2026.

2. For a dual rate loan, when are prepayment charges barred under the RBI directions?

Charges are barred only if the loan is floating when it is prepaid.

3. Which Act's Sections 45JA, 45L and 45M did RBI use for its prepayment charge directions?

RBI Act, 1934 sections 45JA, 45L and 45M are cited.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 4 July 2025 (15 topics).

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