Innovative lending ideas? RBI turns to writing competition

To find innovative ways of lending to the MSME segment, Reserve Bank of India's Pune-based College of Agricultural Banking will conduct a case study competition for the bankers.

The topic of the competition is 'Case Study: Lending to an MSME Borrower in an Innovative Way', RBI said in a circular on Monday.

"The purpose of holding the competition is to encourage bankers to contribute case studies where finance was extended to a micro, small and medium enterprise  borrower in an innovative way, which has the potential to sensitise other bankers as well," RBI said.

The central bank said the bank staff, members of faculty from banks' training establishments, Small Industries Development Bank of India, regional rural banks, state cooperative banks and urban cooperative banks, can take part in the competition.

Reserve Bank of India has invited case studies, in English or in Hindi, from participant banks by January 31.

The winners will be given a cash prize of Rs 20,000 (1st), Rs 15,000 (2nd) and Rs 10,000 (3rd) apart from certificates.

RBI said MSMEs play a pivotal role in the economy of the country and there is a compelling need to carefully nurture and support this sector.

"To nurture the MSME sector, banks need competent functionaries who are entrepreneurially sensitive to meet the twin requirements of entrepreneurs - adequacy and timeliness."

Innovative borrower selection practices coupled with processes that build robust MSME portfolios are the need of the hour.

It said just remaining within the confines of a bank and its standard processes are likely to be quite inadequate in this quest.