Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das has asked non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), including housing finance companies, to strengthen governance standards and assurance mechanisms.

The RBI Governor held a meeting with the MD & CEOs of select large Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Government NBFCs and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) in Mumbai yesterday. These Entities constitute nearly 50 per cent of the total assets of all NBFCs including HFCs. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Governors M. Rajeshwar Rao and Swaminathan J. and the Managing Director of National Housing Bank (NHB), S. K. Hota, besides a few senior officials of the RBI.

The Governor in his opening remarks complimented the NBFCs and HFCs for their improved financial health and operational resilience in recent years. While acknowledging the important role played by the sector in delivering credit to the unbanked and underserved areas, the Governor advised that the NBFCs and HFCs need to remain alert to avoid any complacency during good times. 

The Governor highlighted the need for further strengthening the governance standards and assurance mechanisms viz. Compliance, Risk management, and Internal audit in these entities. Discussions were also held on diversifying the resources for NBFCs and HFCs to contain the increasing reliance on bank borrowings, prioritising the upgradation of IT systems and cyber security, strengthening Balance Sheets with improved provisioning cover; monitoring of stressed exposures and slippages among other issues.