How do loans against shares work, and should you get one?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. If you need urgent cash and have a significant equity portfolio, you can opt for a loan against shares (LAS) instead of selling your stocks. This facility allows individuals to borrow funds from banks or non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) by using their shares as collateral.
However, you need to carefully monitor specific rules and market risks associated with this type of credit. First, let’s find out how you can get such a loan. The process begins with completing a one-time KYC with the lender using your PAN and Aadhaar details.
If your Aadhaar is linked to your mobile number, the required information is fetched automatically through DigiLocker. Once the KYC is done, shares are pledged using the depository participant (DP) ID, and the DP sends a confirmation once the pledge is created. Note that pledging shares is permitted only on working days.
Your bank account will then be verified online through an e-mandate, after which you must read and digitally sign the loan agreement to complete the process. By pledging your shares, you can avail an overdraft facility from the lender. An overdraft facility is a flexible line of credit that allows a borrower to withdraw funds up to a pre-approved limit, with interest charged only on the amount actually used and for the period it remains outstanding.
RBI rules stipulate a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 50%. For example, if your pledge shares worth ₹8 lakh, you can get a loan of up to ₹4 lakh. If the lender offers the maximum permissible LTV ratio of 50%, the biggest loan you can get is ₹1 crore (by pledging shares worth ₹2 crore).
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