Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), has announced the expansion of its dedicated Start-up Banking Network. The Public Sector Bank has expanded its exclusive start-up focused branches to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, building on the success of its first branch in Chennai.

Launched in June 2024, the Chennai start-up branch has supported 33 start-ups operating in emerging sectors such as EVs, clean energy and robotics handled business exceeding ₹100 crore.

The bank has also introduced ‘IOB Gram Sweekar’, a focused rural outreach programme. The programme will focus on strengthening credit delivery, enhancing financial literacy and ensuring universal access to the Bank’s flagship financial products and services. The bank aims to take the initiative to 90 gram panchayats across 14 districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala.

The initiatives were inaugurated by M Nagaraju, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, along with the Bank’s top management.as part of IOB’s 90th Foundation Day.

“These initiatives underscore IOB’s future-ready approach, combining technology, outreach and collaboration to serve the evolving needs of citizens, entrepreneurs and communities. The Bank remains committed to innovating and expanding its services to contribute meaningfully to India’s economic progress,” said Ajay Kumar Srivastava, MD & CEO, Indian Overseas Bank.

Published on February 15, 2026

FILE PHOTO: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
| Photo Credit:
FRANCIS MASCARENHAS

The RBI tightened rules for loans taken by firms that undertake proprietary trading in shares and commodities and offer leverage to clients, the latest measure aimed at reducing speculative market activity in the South Asian nation.

All credit facilities to securities firms will have to be backed by collateral, while lending for trading on their own account or investments by brokers will be prohibited, according to a statement published on the Reserve Bank of India’s website late Friday. The so-called prudential rules for capital market intermediaries such as stock and commodity brokers will come into effect from April 1, the central bank said. 

The stricter measures would raise the cost of raising capital by proprietary trading firms and squeeze profits. While Indian banks traditionally do not directly finance proprietary trading, the directive closes a loophole that allowed short-term working capital loans given by banks to be diverted for trading by brokers.

Proprietary trading firms accounted for more than 50% of equity options turnover on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. — the country’s biggest stock bourse — last year, according to data. In cash equities trading, their share hit a 21-year high on the NSE at around 30%.

The latest step comes just days after India sharply raised transaction tax on trading of single-stock and index derivatives in a bid to reduce speculative trading. Combined with the central bank’s new rules, market participants fear the rules will hurt volumes.

The RBI has also asked banks to demand that guarantees extended by them on behalf of a broker for proprietary trades to be fully secured, with 50 per cent of collateral being in cash and rest as cash equivalents and government securities. The new rule will narrow the type of securities trading firms can offer as collateral to banks.    

The central bank also tightened lending rules for margin trading facility under which stock brokers offer leverage to their clients. Loans given by banks for the product will have to be fully secured by cash and other liquid securities. Stocks offered as collateral by brokers will be considered at a 40% valuation discount. 

Margin trading facility has grown rapidly into a more than 1 trillion rupees ($11 billion) market for stock brokers, where clients can get leverage of upto five times their capital.

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Published on February 15, 2026

Kerala-based Manappuram Finance Ltd (MFL) on Saturday said it has received the Reserve Bank of India’s final approval for the proposed acquisition by Bain Capital of up to 41.66 per cent of the Company’s paid-up equity capital / convertible instruments.

With this approval, Bain Capital will be classified as a promoter of MFL and will jointly control the gold financier along with the existing promoters. The Board will be reconstituted and will include nominee directors of Bain Capital, in line with the transaction agreements, per a MFL statement.

The RBI approval, is in connection with the definitive agreements executed on March 20, 2025, under which Bain Capital (through its affiliates — BC Asia Investments XXV Limited and BC Asia Investments XIV) committed to invest approximately ₹4,385 crore to acquire an 18.0 per cent stake in MFL on a fully diluted basis through preferential allotment of equity shares and warrants at a price of ₹236 per share.

The transaction also triggers a mandatory open offer for the purchase of an additional 26.0 per cent stake from public shareholders at ₹236 per share.

V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Limited, said: “The RBI approvalis an important milestone in our partnership and reflects the strength of our governance framework and business model. With Bain Capital coming on board as a joint controlling shareholder, we are well-positioned to accelerate growth in our core segments, invest further in technology and risk management capabilities, and build a professionally managed, future-ready financial services company.”