Gold loans are secured loans acquired by borrowers by depositing their gold ornaments as collateral or security to lenders. Banks and other financial institutions are the most common lenders.
The loan-to-value or LTV ratio is the amount loaned against a borrower’s pledged gold. It is determined by their gold’s quality and market value and generally goes up to 75%. For instance, when the LTV is 75% and the borrower’s gold jewellery’s value is ₹1,00,000, he/she can receive up to INR 75,000.
Gold loans are quick and convenient to avail even without proof of income or CIBIL score report in most cases. Homemakers, pension holders, students, and salaried and self-employed individuals can all apply for them.