Glossary
NPA and SMA
NPA stands for non-performing asset, a loan on which the borrower has stopped paying for an extended period, as classified by the lender under RBI norms. SMA, special mention account, is an earlier warning stage for loans that are overdue but not yet NPA. Both signal stress on a loan and can serious
Related terms: Default, Arrears, Settled vs Written-off.
Published 12 Nov 2026
The whole glossary