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Business News/ Industry / Banking/  Insurance broking model of banks to gain traction in time: Irda
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Insurance broking model of banks to gain traction in time: Irda

Irda chief T.S. Vijayan says no timeline has been fixed for banks to act as insurance brokers

Irda chief T.S. Vijayan said some banks are reluctant to act as brokers as many of them have entered into tie-ups with insurers. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/MintPremium
Irda chief T.S. Vijayan said some banks are reluctant to act as brokers as many of them have entered into tie-ups with insurers. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

Mumbai: Notwithstanding the tepid response by banks to act as brokers for selling products of multiple insurers, sectoral regulator Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) is hopeful that this model will pick up in due course even as it said it is renewing the corporate agency licence of banks as of now.

“We have brought out the guidelines for banks acting as insurance brokers. We expect this to happen in due course of time. It can’t be abrupt. It takes some time...," Irda chairman T.S. Vijayan said on the sidelines of a global conference of actuaries here on Monday.

Asked about banks’ reluctance to act as brokers, Vijayan said, “Some banks are reluctant as many of them have already entered into tie-ups with insurers".

He wondered when an insurance company owns a bank, a case in many western economies, whether it will do only insurance business. He, however, said no timeline has been fixed for banks to act as insurance brokers.

Last year, Irda had released final guidelines on bancassurance, which allowed banks to sell insurance products of many companies. However, the new model has not picked up as many banks have floated their own insurance subsidiaries or have tied up with one insurer or other exclusively.

Meanwhile, talking on the need for correct pricing of insurance products, Vijayan said actuaries play a critical role in determining prices. “Actuaries should not be swayed by short-term goals. They should see that customers get a better deal," he said, adding that there has to be a balance between policyholders’ interest and company’s interest.

Emphasizing on correct pricing of general insurance products saying non-life companies should not only chase topline, Vijayan said there is a need of actuaries in the general insurance companies as well. The comment has come at a time when general insurers have seen price wars in commercial lines of businesses in the recent past.

The regulator also raised concern on the persistence levels of life insurance industry, saying product design is very crucial for high persistence and also stressed on lowering expense ratio.

Asked about the premium for third-party motor insurance for the next fiscal, Vijayan said the regulator has put out an exposure draft and decision would be taken after receiving feedback from all stakeholders.

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Published: 17 Feb 2014, 08:42 PM IST
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