Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

26-08-2023

10:43 AM

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1 min read
Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Blog Image

Overview:

MD and CEO of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) recently said that IPPB wants to convert itself to a universal bank.

About Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB):

  • IPPB has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication, with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
  • IPPB was launched on September 1, 2018.
  • Vision: To build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India. 
  • Mandate: To remove barriers for the unbanked and under-banked and reach the last mile leveraging a network comprising 160,000 post offices (145,000 in rural areas) and 400,000 postal employees.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Functions:
    • It will accept deposits upto Rs 2 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into a post office savings account.
    • The products and services of the bank will be made available through various mediums such as counter services, micro ATMs, mobile banking apps, messages, and interactive voice response.
    • The IPPB will use Aadhaar to open accounts, and a QR card and biometrics will be used for authentication, transactions, and payments.

What arePayments Banks?

  • A payments bank is like any other bank but operates on a smaller scale without involving any credit risk. 
  • It was set up on the recommendations of the Nachiket Mor Committee.
  • Objective: Widen the spread of payment and financial services to small businesses, low-income households, and migrant labor workforce in a secured technology-driven environment.
  • They are registered under the Companies Act 2013 but are governed by a host of legislations such as the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; RBI Act, 1934; Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, etc.
  • It needs to have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 100,00,00,000.
  • Activities that can be performed:
    • It can take deposits up to Rs. 2,00,000. It can accept demand deposits in the form of savings and current accounts.
    • The money received as deposits can be invested in secure government securities only in the form of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). This must amount to 75% of the demand deposit balance.
    • The remaining 25% is to be placed as time deposits with other scheduled commercial banks.
    • It can offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases, and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking, and third party fund transfers.
  • Activities that can be performed:
    • It cannot issue loans and credit cards.
    • It cannot accept time deposits or NRI deposits.
    • It cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non-banking financial activities.

 


Q1) What is a Universal Bank?

A universal bank is a bank that combines the three main services of banking under one roof. The three services are wholesale banking, retail banking, and investment banking. In other words, it is a retail bank, a wholesale bank, and also an investment bank. As well as being able to offer an all-encompassing service, universal banks can reap the synergies that exist when they operate in the three services simultaneously.

Source: India Post Payment Bank wants to convert itself to universal bank: CEO