Regulatory Alerts2017-05-26 | Circular No. 02 of 2017Interest Rates on Credit Products
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued Circular No 02 of 2017, effective July 1, 2017, granting licensed banks the flexibility to set interest and penal rates on credit products according to their internal policies. Licensed banks must publicly disclose applicable rates and penal interest computation methods on their websites, notify borrowers of rate changes before implementation, and report all rates weekly through a designated web-based surveillance system. Penal interest is now restricted to the outstanding arrears during the overdue period, and this directive supersedes four prior circulars governing credit card and loan interest rates.
CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA BANK SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT ?t.N4av 2017 CIRCULAR No.02 of20l7 Interest Rates on Credit Products Instructions of the Monetary Board on interest rates on credit cards and other loans and advances and penal interest rates charged on overdue loans and advances by licensed banks are hereby issued for implementation commencing 01 July 2017. 1 InterestRates 1.1 Commencing 01 July 2017, licensed banks may offer or charge interest rates on credit products as per their policies. 2 Adequate Disclosures Basis of Computing the Penal Interest 2.1 Licensed banks shall publish: (i) Applicable interest rates per annum on credit products, in a legible manner when promoting credit products in any media at all times. (ii) Applicable penal interest rates per annum , if any, and the basis of computation, at least in the bank's website for the information of the public and shall be updated regularly to reflect the current rates. 2.2 Licensed banks shall inform the borrowing customers of: (i) Applicable interest rates on credit products prior to completion of credit documentation with respective borrowers. (ii) Any subsequent changes to the interest rates prior to effecting such revision to existing credit. (iii) Applicable penal interest rates, if any, and the basis computing such rates prior to charging of penal interest at point ofsuch overdue credit. i. f Penal interest, if any, shall be charged only for the amount in arrears during the overdue period. of the
2b NfLav 2017 CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA BANK SUPERVISION DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR No.02 of20l7 4 Weekly Reporting 5 Revocation of previous circulars 4.1 5.1 Licensed banks shall report interest rates on all loans and advances and penal interest rates through the Web Based Off-Site Surveillance System retum BSD-V/F- 1 3-IR-Interest Rates. The following circulars applicable to interest rates issued by the Director of Bank Supervision are hereby revoked: (i) Circular Ref. No. 02117160010021001 dated 21 September 2010 on Reduction of Interest Rates. (ii) Circular Ref. No. 02117160010021001 dated 17 April 2012 on Interest Rates on Credit Cards and Housing Loans. (iii) Circular Ref. No. 02117160010021001 dated 07 June 2013 on Interest Rates on Credit Cards and Other Loans and Advances. (iv) Circular Ref. No.02117160010021001 dated 26 July 2013 on Cap on Penal Interest Rates Charged by Licensed Banks on Loans and Advances. ,l'lA A M Thassrm Director of Bank Supervision