HDFC Bank has revised the average quarterly balance (AQB) requirements of various deposit accounts. In case of regular savings account, the minimum AQB to be maintained will be Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 for urban and rural branches, respectively. For kid’s advantage accounts and senior citizen accounts, this figure stands at Rs 5,000 across branches. These changes will come into effect from April 1, 2010, for its existing accountholders. Earlier, the bank had revised rates for its new customers as well.
WE ARE all familiar with the anxiety and uncertainty that we feel when applying for a loan. After all, it's the lender who decides whether we can own our dream home, our first car, or whether our children can pursue higher education. In a nutshell, a better life depends on the lender's decisions. While other factors do play a part in the lender's decision, the Cibil Credit Information Report ( CIR ) plays a crucial role in a lender's decision to approve a loan application. Previously, lenders would treat all loan seekers equally. Each applicant, if approved by the lender's internal credit policy, would be charged at the same interest rate for a particular loan size and purpose. The lenders would charge a higher interest rate to all the borrowers, in order to compensate for the possible default of a small portion of the loan disbursed. In other words, it's like a professor (the lender) punishing an entire class (borrowers) for the mischief played b...