IIBF SFB study plan

Map the SFB licensing pathway end to end: eligibility criteria for promoters, the transition from NBFC-MFI or local area bank to SFB, and the role of the RBI in granting the licence.

Distinguish the SFB regulatory envelope from a universal bank by listing capital requirements, permitted and restricted activities, and the branch and area-presence conditions.

Explain the mandatory transition milestones an SFB must meet, including the small finance bank to universal bank route and the timelines attached to it.

Build a one-page timeline from licence application to commencement of operations, annotating each approval step with the authority involved.

Translate the SFB priority sector lending targets into a worked calculation using a sample balance sheet, including the shortfall mechanism and any SFB-specific relaxations.

Differentiate the SFB treatment of PSL categories from that of universal banks, noting where SFB obligations are eased or staged.

Identify the financial inclusion mandates unique to SFBs, such as the 25 percent branch presence in unbanked rural centres and the promotion of small-ticket lending.

Explain how the definition of small value loans interacts with the SFB lending model and the qualifying thresholds.

Categorise each PSL sub-sector under the current master directions and state the qualifying criteria and limits for each in the SFB context.

Compare the treatment of microfinance, MSME, agriculture, education, and renewable energy loans within the SFB PSL framework.

Explain the instruments available to meet PSL shortfalls, including the role of PSL certificates and any SFB-specific carve-outs.

Draft a short note on the financial inclusion obligations of an SFB, including basic savings accounts, small accounts, and the role of business correspondents.

Break down the microfinance credit appraisal process into its steps, from group formation and JLG assessment to individual lending under the household income-based model.

Apply the income assessment method used in microfinance lending to a sample household case and derive a sustainable repayment capacity.

Explain the regulatory protections for microfinance borrowers, including the cap on the number of lenders, the disclosure requirements, and the rules on recovery practices.

Distinguish the underwriting approach for small business lending from that for microfinance, focusing on cash-flow assessment and collateral treatment.

Explain the deposit products an SFB may offer and the constraints on acceptance of deposits, including the treatment of bulk deposits and the restrictions on the SFB deposit book.

Describe how an SFB builds a liability franchise with small-ticket deposits and the role of customer service standards in retaining them.

Explain the customer grievance redressal framework applicable to SFBs, including internal ombudsman arrangements and the integrated ombudsman scheme.

Outline the fair practices code obligations that shape both deposit mobilisation and lending conduct.

Explain the asset liability management framework for an SFB, including the role of the asset liability committee and the structural liquidity statement.

Interpret the key interest rate sensitivity metrics and describe how a mismatch in the short-term bucket affects earnings.

Apply the prudential norms for capital adequacy and income recognition to a sample loan portfolio, including the classification of non-performing assets and provisioning.

Explain the exposure norms and large exposure framework as they apply to an SFB, noting the concentration limits that constrain its lending.

Describe the risk management architecture expected in an SFB, covering credit, market, operational, and liquidity risk, and the role of the risk management committee.

Explain the KYC and customer due diligence requirements, including the simplified and enhanced due diligence triggers and the treatment of high-risk customers.

Outline the anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism obligations, including suspicious transaction reporting and the role of the designated director.

Identify the common fraud typologies in small-ticket lending and deposit mobilisation and the controls that mitigate them, including the role of internal audit and whistleblowing.

Consolidate the eight-week material into a single revision sheet organised by domain weight, prioritising domains one, two, and four.

Complete a timed mock examination and analyse errors by domain and topic to identify the three weakest areas.

Revisit every regulatory threshold, percentage, and timeline noted during the plan and confirm each against the source circular or master direction.

Draft a final one-page cheat sheet of numeric limits and definitions for last-minute revision.