SBI Cuts Car, Home Loan Rates 50bps

State Bank of India on Wednesday cut interest rates on loans for homes and cars, a move that could benefit millions of consumers. By cutting rates, the country’s largest lender is trying to capture the growing retail segment in the face of falling demand for loans from corporates. 
The move will force rival private sector and state-run peers to lower interest rates, which could put pressure on their profitability. SBI did not say whether lower rates will be applicable to existing customers. 
“We have targeted the retail segment because the instrument of interest rate should be used for increasing credit flow,” SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri said in an interview to ET NOW. “Large term loan proposals are very few and working capital for good corporates is already happening below base rates...So, for a bank like us, the option is to accelerate the retail (lending).” The rate on car loans now stands at 10.75%, down from 11.25%, which will translate into a monthly repayment of . 1,699 on a seven-year loan, compared with . 1,725 earlier. The rate on home loans up to . 30 lakh will fall to 10.25% from 10.5%. Forloans between . 30 lakh and . 75 lakh, the rate will be 10.4%, down from 10.75%. For home loans over . 75 lakh, the rate will be 10.4%, compared with 11% earlier. The new rates will be effective from August 7.