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Microlesson · 5-min read

NPA Income Recognition — Miscellaneous Points (Memorandum Account, Leased Assets, Partial Recovery, Out-take Finance)

## NPA Income Recognition — Miscellaneous Points

### (i) Memorandum Account

For NPA accounts, interest income is recognised on a cash basis only — not on accrual.

However, the bank may record the interest accrued in a Memorandum Account purely for internal control purposes (to track what would have been earned).

> Critical rule: Interest recorded in the Memorandum Account must NOT be included when computing Gross Advances. It has no balance-sheet recognition.

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### (ii) Leased Assets Becoming NPA

When a leased asset is classified as NPA:

  • Any financing income that was previously accrued (under accounting standards for leases) must be reversed or provided for.
  • You cannot continue to hold past-accrued income once the asset turns NPA.

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### (iii) Partial Recovery in NPA

If a payment is received against an NPA account:

  • Income is recognised on realisation basis only.
  • Whether recovery is partial or full → Add to income only the amount actually received.
  • However, do NOT upgrade the NPA account to Standard unless and until it is fully recovered.

> Receiving some money does not restore the credit quality of the account — classification remains NPA until the entire dues are cleared.

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### (iv) Out-take Finance (Loan Sold to Another Institution)

When a bank (e.g., HDFC Bank) sells a loan (that was NPA in its books) to another financial institution:

  • The NPA status of the loan carries over — the acquiring institution cannot treat it as a standard asset simply because it acquired it.
  • The classification in the old books was NPA, and the acquiring entity must continue treating it as NPA.

Worked example

### Example 1

Memorandum Account:

Bank has a term loan of Rs 10,00,000 to borrower X (classified NPA). Annual interest rate = 12%.

  • Interest accrued in the year = Rs 1,20,000
  • This Rs 1,20,000 is NOT booked in P&L.
  • It is recorded in the Memorandum Account for control.
  • Gross Advances reported = Rs 10,00,000 (NOT Rs 11,20,000).

### Example 2

Partial Recovery:

NPA account with outstanding of Rs 5,00,000. Borrower pays Rs 1,50,000.

  • Rs 1,50,000 is recognised as income (cash basis).
  • Remaining Rs 3,50,000 stays in NPA — account is NOT upgraded to Standard.
  • Upgrade happens only when all Rs 5,00,000 + dues are fully cleared.

### Example 3

Out-take Finance:

HDFC Bank has a loan of Rs 20,00,000 classified as NPA. It sells this loan to ABC Finance for Rs 16,00,000.

  • ABC Finance cannot reclassify this as a Standard Asset.
  • It must continue treating it as NPA in its own books, consistent with the status at the time of acquisition.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Including Memorandum Account interest in Gross Advances — this inflates advances and is incorrect.
  • Upgrading an NPA account to Standard as soon as any partial recovery is received — upgrade requires full recovery.
  • Failing to reverse or provide for previously accrued financing income when a leased asset turns NPA.
  • Allowing the acquiring institution to treat a purchased NPA loan as Standard just because it is a new acquirer.
Bare-Act text Paragraph on Income Recognition for NPA Accounts — Miscellaneous Provisions · RBI Master Circular — Income Recognition, Asset Classification and Provisioning Norms (IRAC Norms) · click to expand
In respect of non-performing assets, banks should not recognise income on accrual basis but should book it only when it is actually received. Interest recorded in the Memorandum Account should not be taken into account for computing Gross Advances.
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