Rahul and Nikhil Reshaping Rural Finance with Gold Loans from Yellow Metal

From Ornaments to Opportunities

Gold loans are transforming the financial landscape in India, unlocking the potential of an estimated 24K tonnes of gold held by Indian households. This vast reserve, valued at $2T, is being leveraged to drive economic growth and empowerment of households across the country. The impact is particularly significant in rural India, which holds 60% of the gold.

In India, gold loans act as enablers of critical financial access to farmers, allowing them to invest in seeds, fertilisers, and machinery, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and rural incomes.

For women entrepreneurs, especially in rural areas, these loans open doors to business opportunities, contributing to household income and community development. In rural areas, gold loans fill gaps in working capital financing for SMEs. The industry's rapid expansion, with advances reaching $12B and growing at 15% CAGR in the last 2 years, demonstrates its increasing importance in India's economy. With only 5.3K tonnes out of the 24K tonnes of household gold used as formal collateral, there remains enormous untapped potential.

Moreover, institutional gold loans offer a safer alternative to exploitative, predatory lending practices, where interest rates can soar to 50% annually. By providing flexible, regulated financial products, gold loans protect vulnerable, new to institutional credit, borrowers.

Redefining Rural Credit: Yellow Metal's Tech-Driven Gold Loans

Yellow Metal's caters primarily to rural and Tier 3+ cities - areas that are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. Their doorstep service, available across 20 towns such as Chintamani, Tirupati, Mulbagal and Sidlaghatta, brings formal credit to the homes of underserved communities, transforming the way rural India accesses financial services. They disburse loans, typically of $2,500 each in value, in the privacy of the borrower’s home, in less than 10 minutes. Similar services offered by other players typically take several hours of waiting, even in the same village / town. Moreover, customer service is poor, and pricing is opaque.

In a market where informal lenders charge 30-50% annual interest rates, Yellow Metal's fair and transparent pricing has saved borrowers an estimated $700K in interest. This significant saving directly improves the financial health of rural households and businesses. Technology plays a crucial role in Yellow Metal's operations. Their 100% e-KYC process and streamlined 4-page loan agreements (reduced to only what is mandated by banking partners) have improved accessibility and efficiency, reducing barriers to formal credit.

This is possible because of the company's innovative app-based platform that allows customers to apply for loans, track their accounts, and receive repayment reminders. This digital approach has dramatically reduced operational intensity and cost to serve. Hence, even with lower interest rates, all loan cohorts yield positive returns for Yellow Metal. Each month, Yellow Metal disburses $3M in fresh loans, opening 1,200+ new accounts.

The impact of Yellow Metal's customer-centric approach is reflected in its impressive retention rates. 59% of loans are disbursed to first-time repeat borrowers, while 39% of the loans are advanced to those who had already taken more than two loans (second-time repeat). The company is building deep, long-lasting financial relationships in these communities. High repeat rates demonstrate customer satisfaction, paving the way for long-term financial inclusion.

By unlocking the financial value of household gold jewellery, Yellow Metal is empowering rural communities with fair, accessible credit. Their low Gross Non-Performing Assets, standing at just 0.1% of AUM before gold auctions, showcase their robust risk assessment and management practices.

To date, Yellow Metal has taken just 10 accounts to gold loan auction out of 15K lifetime accounts opened. This transformation is turning family ornaments into tools for economic growth and financial stability, potentially breaking predatory cycles of informal debt from local, unregulated pawn brokers.

Tailored Solutions for Rural Borrowers

Yellow Metal goes beyond traditional gold loan services by implementing innovative strategies to engage customers and promote financial literacy in rural areas. Recognising the unique needs of its customer base, which primarily consists of farmers, small agricultural traders, and MSME owners in Tier 3+ cities, the company has developed tailored approaches to empower its clients financially.

One of Yellow Metal's most innovative offerings is its flexible "partial payment option" for loan repayment. This unique feature is particularly beneficial for rural households who often need to use their pledged jewellery temporarily, such as during festivals or family events. This option allows borrowers to make partial payments and retrieve specific ornaments from their pledged items, providing unprecedented flexibility in managing their gold assets.

YellowMetal provides each borrower with a pledge card and app access, offering a comprehensive digital tool for loan management. This innovative feature includes loan details, repayment reminders, and uniquely, a live visual of pledged gold with real-time value updates.

By providing this level of transparency and accessibility, YellowMetal empowers rural customers with up-to-date information about their assets, enhancing financial awareness and decision-making. The real-time value update enables them to seek top-up loans when gold prices are on an upswing - all of this - directly from the app - without the need to visit a branch and file additional paperwork.

This approach significantly eases the financial burden on rural families, allowing them to manage their cash flow more effectively and align repayments with their irregular income patterns. It's especially valuable for farmers and seasonal workers who have fluctuating incomes throughout the year. This technology-driven approach effectively bridges the digital divide in rural communities, introducing modern financial management practices to traditionally underserved areas.

Through these initiatives, Yellow Metal is not just providing access to credit but is actively working towards creating a more financially informed and empowered rural population. This strategy positions YellowMetal as a responsible and forward-thinking pioneer in the rural financial services sector.

Ravi's Mid-Day Meal Program Revival

Ravi Kumar, a 38-year-old entrepreneur from a small town in rural India, ran a successful mid-day meal program for local schools, until the government discontinued its support. Determined to continue this essential service for the community's children, Ravi turned to Yellow Metal for assistance.

Pledging his family's gold as collateral, Ravi secured a loan from Yellow Metal. The process was quick and straightforward, allowing him to restart the mid-day meal program without delay. His wife, Priya, took charge of the day-to-day operations, while Ravi oversaw the financial aspects.

For two years, Ravi has been a loyal customer of Yellow Metal, consistently making his payments through their user-friendly UPI system.

The loan enabled him not only to provide nutritious meals to school children but also to create employment opportunities for local women who assist in meal preparation.

Recently, Ravi approached Yellow Metal again, this time to expand his business. With another gold-backed loan, he plans to establish a small catering service, building on the success and experience gained from the mid-day meal program.

Ravi's story exemplifies how Yellow Metal's accessible financial services can empower local entrepreneurs to make a significant impact in their communities, bridging the gap left by discontinued government programs.

Anand's Silk Farming Venture

Anand Patil, a 36-year-old farmer from Karnataka, owned 2.5 acres of farmland. But he could cultivate crops on only a small portion of it due to limited resources. Seeking to maximize his land's potential, Anand turned to Yellow Metal for financial support.

Using his family's gold jewellery as collateral, Anand secured a loan of $2,400 from Yellow Metal. The efficient loan process allowed him to implement his plan to diversify his farming activities quickly. With the loan, Anand invested in growing mulberry leaves for silkworm cultivation, a venture known for its low maintenance requirements and steady returns. This new crop covered a larger portion of his previously underutilised land. The investment paid off within a few months.

For every crop cycle of 3-4 months, Anand now earns between $960 to $1,200, significantly increasing his income compared to his previous farming practices.

Yellow Metal's timely financial support helped Anand expand his agricultural activities and introduced him to a more profitable and sustainable farming method. This success has inspired other farmers in his village to explore similar opportunities, contributing to the overall economic growth of the community.

Anand's story highlights how Yellow Metal's accessible loans can empower farmers to take calculated risks, diversify their income sources, and improve their financial stability.

By providing accessible, transparent, and efficient gold-backed loans, Yellow Metal is not only addressing immediate financial needs but also fostering entrepreneurship, supporting local initiatives, and contributing to the overall economic development of underserved areas.

As the company continues to expand its reach, it is poised to play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion and empowering individuals to leverage their gold assets for personal and community growth.