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RBI Drafts Rules to Let Banks Lend to REITs From July 1 With 49% Exposure Cap

The proposal aims to open a longer‑tenor bank funding channel for listed REITs under strict prudential guardrails.

Overview

  • Banks would be allowed to lend only to SEBI‑registered, listed REITs that have at least three years of operations and no material adverse regulatory action in the past three years.
  • The draft caps the aggregate exposure of all banks to a borrowing REIT and its SPVs or holding companies at 49% of the trust’s asset value as of the prior financial year, with scope for lower board‑set limits.
  • Loans must be amortising with no bullet or balloon repayments, and lenders must tightly monitor end‑use to prevent financing prohibited activities such as land acquisition.
  • RBI has invited public comments through March 6, 2026, with implementation targeted for July 1, 2026, or an earlier notified date.
  • The framework also proposes harmonising InvIT lending norms with these safeguards and permits overseas branches of Indian banks to fund foreign REITs where effective insolvency regimes exist.