The Reserve Bank of India has started publishing the data on lending rates of scheduled commercial banks on its website (www.rbi.org.in). The data, released today on the RBI website relate to quarters ended June and September 2002. The data include the range of actual and median lending rates for credit above Rs. two lakh as well as actual and median lending rates for export credit in rupee terms. Both these categories of data are available bank-group wise. An additional table presenting the lending rates of individual banks for credit above Rs. two lakh and for export credit in rupee terms is also presented. The data will be updated every quarter.

It may be recalled that the Reserve Bank of India had, while announcing the Monetary and Credit Policy for 2002-2003 in April 2002, indicated its intention of collecting and publishing maximum and minimum interest rates on advances charged by the banks. This was intended to enhance transparency with regard to banks' lending rate.

Alpana Killawala
General Manager

Press Release : 2002-2003/890