A primer on navigating the gold loan process
Mon June 17 2024
India’s gold loan industry is poised to register a significant growth this fiscal year, thanks to the surging credit demand in the country and gold loan’s metamorphosis as an attractive loan option.
India
is the second-largest consumer of the yellow metal in the world and its
organised gold loan market is worth Rs 6 trillion, which represents only 35% of
the total business. Walking into this evolving market, a first-time borrower
has to keep the following things in mind:
1. Proof of identity
Along with gold, the borrower has to produce authentic identity proof, bank account details and KYC documents for availing a gold loan. The documents include identity proof, address proof, and photo of the customer.
2. Quantum of disbursal
RBI has instructed lenders to provide only up to 75% of the gold value as loan amount. It is known as ‘loan-to-value’ (LTV). Normally, public sector banks (PSB) offer low LTV, private banks offer high LTV and gold
loan NBFCs provide highest LTV. RBI assigns every lender – PSBs, private banks, cooperative banks and gold loan NBFCs –a lending limit. They can disburse loans within their permissible limits. Moreover, the loan
amount will directly be credited to your bank account. If you want cash, only up to Rs 20,000 is allowed to be given in hand.
3. Interest rates
You must compare the interest rates available in the market. Understand whether it is fixed or floating. The borrower should read the complete material provided by the lender in order to avoid any hidden charges,
processing fees, pre-closure charges and additional fees.
4. Purity standards
The value of your gold varies with its purity. If the gold is 22 karat, it is good for business. If the yellow metal is 22 karat, its purity is higher and therefore it will fetch higher valuation. Below 18 karat gold is not considered
for pledging. Further, if your gold jewellery carries precious stones, they will not be considered for valuation. Only the gold component determines the market value.
5. Online repayment
You don’t need to visit offline branches to repay. Now, almost all institutions provide online facilities to service the loan. You can easily repay the loans using the new age repayment solutions. You have to visit the branch
only when you decide to close the loan and retrieve your gold.
6. Loan renewal
Renew gold loans periodically. Since a gold loan is a short-term loan -- issued only for a period of six months or one year -- the borrower has to pay interest regularly and renew it as and when the loan tenure expires.
Failing to do so will lead to loan default and loss of the collateral.
7. Price factor
The biggest risk in the gold loan business is price fluctuation. If the gold price surges, it is a win-win situation for both lender and borrower. The borrower can avail top-up loans. If it slides and the total value of the pledged
gold falls below the loan amount, the lender will ask borrowers to pledge additional gold to match the LTV standard or pay the difference (the difference between the loan amount and the total gold value) till the gold price
appreciates and surpasses the loan amount.
8. Safety and security
Since gold ornaments carry emotional value, pledging it with untrustworthy financiers will lead to its complete loss. Avoid unregulated entities and local moneylenders who will charge exorbitant interest rates and offer little security to your invaluable assets. Always do business with institutions that are under the scrutiny of the Reserve Bank of India.
Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/