Without an understanding of basic credit concepts, people are not well equipped to make decisions related to financial management.

When you're young, you have many dreams that you wish to accomplish over the years.These dreams are never too far away if you plan well for them.

Owning a home is an essential goal in every common man's life. However, sometimes not having enough savings can make a delay.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), a market leader in the Utility Vehicle segment, has signed a MoU with the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ) for financing of vehicles.

Under the arrangement, customers can avail of a loan up to 85% of the on road price of the vehicle, with tenure of up to 7 years. In addition, they can also avail low interest rates amounting to 12% for passenger vehicles and 11.75% for commercial vehicles.  

M&M’s Automotive Sector makes a wide range of vehicles including MUVs, LCVs and three wheelers.

Royal Sundaram Online, one of the leading general insurance company, has entered into a tie-up with American Express Payment Gateway.

Under the arrangement, all existing and potential customers of Royal Sundaram, who have an American Express card can now log on to company's website and buy or renew their policies online through the American Express Online Payment Gateway.

The latest initiative is in addition to the existing Citibank Payment Gateway tie up, which allows online transactions by Visa or Master cards.

According to a report released by rating agency Crisil, a nearly three-fold increase in gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of the banks is projected by the year 2011 - the figures are likely to go up from the last year's 2.3 percent of advances to 5 per cent of advances by 2011.

Speaking in absolute terms, the gross NPAs would from last year level of Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 1.9 lakh crore.

The report says increased gross NPAs would result from increasing defaults in payments by companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), because of their puny risk profile and severe strain on operating margins.