Economy Desk: Deposit and loan interest rates have started increasing after the removal of the interest rate cap. Meanwhile, the loan interest rate has increased by two and a half percent to reach around 11 and a half percent. The deposit interest has also increased at the same rate. As a result, cash in people’s hands has started returning to banks.
According to the statistics of Bangladesh Bank, in the last four months, out of the total cash out of the bank, about Tk 46 thousand crore has returned to the bank as deposits. As a result, there has been an increase in the deposits in the banking sector.
Bangladesh Bank introduced new rules for setting interest rates last July in view of the start of the outflow of money from banks. Introduced new rules called smart interest rates out of the 9 percent cap on interest rates. Smart is the six-month moving average rate of Treasury bills. The Central Bank informs us of this rate at the beginning of every month.
Smart was 7.10 percent last June, which increased to 7.72 percent in November. Banks can add up to 3.75 percent interest with smart interest rates. As a result, the interest rate has increased to 11.47 percent. Most banks have waited a while to fix interest rates, but they are now changing. Because of this, the loan interest rate increased from 9 percent to 11 and a half percent.
The Asset-Liability Management Committee (ALCO) determines the deposit and loan interest rates after reviewing the liquidity situation of the banks. Apart from this, some distressed banks are now raising funds at more than 12 percent interest.
According to the data from Bangladesh Bank, the amount of money in the hands of people outside the bank was 2 lakh 55 thousand 829 crores last May. In the following month, June, the amount of money outside the bank increased to 2 lakh, 91 thousand, 913 crores. That is, 36 thousand 84 crore rupees went out of the bank in one month.
According to the data of the central bank, due to the increase in interest rates, the amount of money outside the banks decreased to 2 lakh, 66 thousand, 354 crores in July. It further decreased to 2 lakh, 58 thousand, 356 crores in August. In September, the amount of money outside the banks fell to 2 lakh 53 thousand 505 crores, which further decreased to 2 lakh 45 thousand 943 crores in October.
According to that report, the amount of deposits in banks in May was 15 lakh 64 thousand 79 crore taka, which increased to 15 lakh 95 thousand 254 crore taka in June. Interest is added to bank deposits during this period. As a result, deposits have increased. Bank deposits increased to 16 lakh 7 thousand 895 crore taka in July, which increased to 16 lakh 18 thousand 508 crore taka in August, to 16 lakh 23 thousand 740 crore taka in September, and to 16 lakh 36 thousand 592 crore taka in October.
