Banks cuts car, personal loan rates, fees in festival offers

Banks are showering discounts on customers opting for car loan. Discounts range from lower interest rate to lower processing fee and documentation charges.

Many PSU banks such as IDBI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank and Bank of India have introduced festival offers. Most of them said their offer would be applicable till the end of year. Some other banks, too, may roll out schemes for the festive season soon.

Despite base rate hike by banks, they are not revising their car loan interest rates as they see demand for car loans going up during the festival season.

During October-November period, banks see a huge demand in personal loan, car and home loans, as this is considered to be an auspicious time to buy homes, car and other assets. In fact, every year during this period, most banks offer special schemes featuring discounts to woo customers.

IDBI Bank is offering discount of 0.5 per cent in interest rate in auto loans and 50 per cent reduction in processing fee for smaller cars. Punjab National Bank is also offering 0.5 per cent discount in interest rate for auto loans. Allahabad Bank is giving a concession of 1 per cent on loans. UCO Bank has offered the waiver of processing and documentation charges.

?During the festival season, especially on Dussehra and Diwali, many people buy vehicles and homes. It is considered an auspicious time to buy new things. So, we have come out with festive schemes. It is also a good time to attract new customers,? said RM Malla, CMD, IDBI Bank.

A senior official of Bank of Baroda said that the banks see a surge in demand for car loan during this period so the bank has waived off processing charges on car loan.