Public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) has reduced their prime lending rate by 50 basis points, with effect from January 1.

The BPLR of PNB would now stand 12 per cent, from the existing 12.50 per cent.

In addition, PNB also announced a reduction in its peak deposit rate by 100 basis points to 8.5 per cent for deposits of one year to less than three years beginning New Year.

Privates and foreign banks are likely to cut interest rates in the coming days. Public sector banks have already decided to reduce interest rates following decrease in key interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India. Personal and commercial loans would be available at lower rates after cutting lending rates by public and private banks. It is to be noted that reserve bank is taking many steps to inject more liquidity in the market. Recently, it has cut cash reserve ratio, SLR and Repo rate leading to injection of more than Rs 2,60,000 crore into the system.

US credit card and banking giant, American Express is likely to start retrenchment drive in India and other locations. It would retrench about 10 percent workforce, cutting around 7,000 jobs. The staff would be eliminated in all business units, including markets and staff groups. Some staff in its Indian operations is also likely to be laid off.

SBI Card would release a financial package for defaulting clients. SBI card is the joint venture company of State Bank of India and GE Money. SBI card intends to help those customers who have been good at repaying in the past, but have failed to repay following the turbulent global financial conditions. The company said that it would restructure its card-portfolio to check further defaults.

Public sector lender Dena Bank has revealed its plans to launch co-branded credit cards in coming months.

According to sources, Dena Bank's credit card would be launched in association with State Bank of India (SBI).

Besides launching credit cards, Dena Bank also plans to open 26 new branches and 12 retail assets centers during the current fiscal, besides 108 off-site ATMs.

Dena Bank’s net profit for the second quarter ended September 30 grew 11.6% at Rs 102.8 crore over the Rs 92.15 crore in the corresponding period a year ago.

UTI Mutual Fund, the country's oldest fund, has launched its unique 'UTI Wealth Builder Fund-Series II', an open ended equity oriented scheme in the Indian market.

UTI claims that UTI Wealth Builder Fund-Series II is the first of its kind in the mutual fund industry to offer asset allocation which combines traditional as well as non- traditional asset class i.e. Equity and Gold.