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RBI as lender of last resort: A lifeline for NBFCs in crisis
Sunil Kanoria is a Kolkata-based Indian businessman with over 35 years of experience in the infrastructure sector including infrastructure leasing & finance. He had the distinction of serving ASSOCHAM, India's oldest and leading chamber of commerce, as President and has served as Member of the Infrastructure Sector in the 10th Five Year Plan of the Planning Commission of the Government of India. He also served as a Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, nominated by the Government of India. He is the former President of The Agri-Horticultural Society of India. Sunil has been engaged in policy advocacy on matters related to economy. Sunil is a visionary who correctly assessed the Indian economy's infrastructure needs at the beginning of his career and anticipated the imminent role of the private sector in infrastructure creation. With foresight and a knack for taking calculated risks, Sunil converted several pioneering ideas into business reality within the infrastructure domain, many of which were first-of-its kind in India. Focusing on spirituality, Kanoria Foundation has organized confluences with a conglomeration of major issues on Humanity, Power (inner & outer) and Spirituality at Work. Kanoria Foundation organized World Confluences since 2009 which was also attended by former Presidents of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee respectively, among other distinguished luminaries from all walks of life globally. LESS ... MORE
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reportedly set to redefine its role by preparing to act as a lender of last resort for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), mutual funds, and microfinance institutions during severe liquidity crises. As reported by the press last week, this move aims to ensure the survival of these entities when they are excluded from lending markets during crises. Given their deep ties to the banking system through borrowings and investments, this step is vital for financial stability.
The RBI's economic capital framework (ECF) committee recently raised the contingency risk buffer (CRB) band, indicating readiness to intervene in crises. While post-pandemic asset purchases focused on public assets, the RBI is now considering private asset purchases in future crises. This policy shift acknowledges that NBFCs and other regulated entities are as critical to financial stability as banks.
Over the past two decades, the RBI has tightened NBFC oversight, aligning it with banking regulations. Extending the lender-of-last-resort function to these institutions is a logical next step.
However, this initiative is overdue. Past crises have exposed NBFCs' vulnerabilities. For example, during the 2018 liquidity crunch, infrastructure finance companies faced a severe asset-liability mismatch, worsened by the RBI's COVID-19 moratorium
guidelines in 2020. While borrowers received relief, NBFCs were pressured by creditors, leading to bankruptcy proceedings. Timely liquidity support could have averted such outcomes, stabilizing similar institutions and reducing risks to the financial sector.
Globally, central banks have long supported non-bank institutions during crises. In the United States, the Federal Reserve has been instrumental in stabilizing NBFCs and mutual funds. During the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed's Commercial Paper Funding Facility (CPFF) provided liquidity to money market mutual funds and other non-bank entities facing funding shortages. In 2020, the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMLF) enabled institutions to purchase assets from money market funds, preventing a collapse in short-term funding markets. These actions highlight the critical role central banks play in supporting non-bank entities to maintain financial stability.
In Europe, the European Central Bank (ECB) has similarly supported NBFCs during crises. In 2020, the ECB expanded asset purchase programs and offered targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTROs) to indirectly ensure liquidity for non-bank
institutions through banks. The Bank of England's COVID Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) also supported large non-bank firms by purchasing commercial paper, ensuring operational continuity during market disruptions. These global examples demonstrate the effectiveness of central banks extending their lender-of-last-resort function beyond banks.
The RBI's proposed framework aligns India with these global practices. By acting as a lender of last resort, the RBI can prevent systemic shocks from liquidity freezes in NBFCs or mutual funds. Their interconnectedness with banks means their failure could
trigger a domino effect, threatening the financial ecosystem. Past crises affecting infrastructure finance companies underscore the consequences of inaction. Had this mechanism been in place earlier, significant disruptions might have been avoided.
Yet, the RBI must proceed cautiously. Extending this role requires clear guidelines to prevent moral hazard, where NBFCs might take excessive risks expecting bailouts. The RBI should establish strict eligibility criteria and robust oversight to ensure only well-
managed institutions facing temporary liquidity issues receive support. It must also balance interventions to avoid crowding out private market solutions, which could stifle innovation and competition.
The RBI's move to become a lender of last resort for NBFCs, mutual funds, and microfinance institutions is a forward-thinking step. It addresses a critical gap in India's financial safety net, aligning with practices of global central banks like the Federal Reserve and ECB. While commendable, its success depends on precise implementation to ensure stability without encouraging reckless behaviour. Had this framework been introduced earlier, the financial sector might have been spared some amount of distress. The RBI's proactive stance promises a more resilient financial system for India.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.
