Indian microfinance lenders are coming under renewed pressure as weak monsoon prospects and rising prices threaten rural incomes, increasing default risks across the sector's $35 billion loan portfolio, reported Bloomberg.
“A weak monsoon could slow loan growth as lenders tighten underwriting standards and borrowers’ repayment capacity deteriorates,” Geeta Chugh, sector lead for financial institutions at S&P Global Ratings, said in an interview. About 20% of microfinance borrowers have loans from more than two lenders, she estimated, adding that this segment has begun posting much higher delinquency rates than borrowers with few lending relationships.
