Banking

India’s central bank has proposed new regulatory measures aimed at strengthening consumer protection in digital banking transactions. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft amendments designed to enhance safeguards against fraud and clarify the framework governing customer liability in unauthorized electronic transactions. The initiative reflects the rapid expansion of India’s digital payments ecosystem and the need for stronger oversight as online financial activity increases.

India’s largest public sector lender, State Bank of India, has significantly expanded its workforce by recruiting 5,783 junior associates across various states and union territories. The move forms part of a broader hiring initiative during the current fiscal year, under which the bank has already added more than 18,000 employees across multiple roles and grades. The recruitment effort reflects the bank’s strategic focus on strengthening branch operations, improving customer service, and supporting its extensive nationwide network.

State-owned Bank of Baroda has successfully raised Rs. 10,000 crore through the issuance of long-term green infrastructure bonds, marking a milestone in India’s sustainable finance landscape. The seven-year bond offering attracted strong investor interest, receiving bids worth Rs. 16,415 crore—more than three times the base issue size of Rs. 5,000 crore. The overwhelming response underscores growing investor appetite for environmentally focused financial instruments and highlights the increasing role of green financing in supporting sustainable infrastructure development.

The Directorate General of GST Intelligence has arrested Rishi Gupta, managing director and CEO of Fino Payments Bank, in connection with an alleged Goods and Services Tax evasion case tied to online betting operations. The Hyderabad unit of the intelligence agency initiated the action following an investigation into suspected tax irregularities involving digital payment channels. Authorities are examining whether banking infrastructure was used to facilitate transactions associated with betting platforms that allegedly bypassed statutory tax obligations.

Canara Bank, one of India’s leading public sector lenders, has announced plans to raise Rs. 5,000 crore through a bond issuance aimed at bolstering its capital adequacy and supporting strategic growth initiatives. The funds are expected to enhance the bank’s lending capacity, meet regulatory capital requirements, and fund expansion into retail and corporate banking segments. Analysts view this move as a proactive step in strengthening balance sheets while optimizing long-term financial flexibility.

State-owned lender Canara Bank has successfully raised Rs. 5,000 crore through the issuance of 10-year Tier-II bonds, priced at a coupon rate of 7.24 percent. The fundraising initiative forms part of the bank’s broader capital augmentation strategy aimed at strengthening its regulatory capital base and supporting credit expansion. The bond issuance reportedly attracted healthy investor interest, reflecting confidence in the bank’s financial stability and India’s banking sector resilience.

India’s largest lender, State Bank of India, is sharpening its focus on the startup ecosystem as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises. By investing in young, technology-driven companies, the bank aims to address long-standing gaps in MSME financing, digital adoption, and operational efficiency. The strategy reflects a shift in traditional banking, where collaboration with startups is increasingly viewed as essential to inclusive growth.

Officers of Indian Overseas Bank launched a coordinated strike, disrupting services across several regions as employee unions protested what they described as coercive and target-driven management practices. The action reflects mounting unease within public sector banks, where staff argue that escalating business targets, constant monitoring, and punitive performance reviews are undermining professional autonomy and ethical banking norms. Officers say the pressure to deliver aggressive growth has intensified without adequate operational support.

Indian equity markets staged a measured rebound as benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed higher, supported by renewed buying in banking and metal stocks. After recent volatility, investors selectively returned to sectors viewed as closely tied to economic momentum and balance-sheet strength. Banking shares gained on expectations of steady credit growth and stable asset quality, while metal stocks benefited from improving demand signals and firmer global commodity trends.

IndusInd Bank has significantly expanded its gold loan footprint, increasing the number of dedicated branches offering the product to 500 across India. The move reflects the bank’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in secured retail lending while tapping into the enduring demand for gold-backed credit. As borrowers seek faster, collateral-based financing amid economic uncertainty, gold loans have emerged as a resilient and high-margin segment for banks.