The chemical symbol of gold is AU from Aurum, the latin word for gold. Gold is an element which cannot be broken down further, it is indestructible and permanent. Gold is an inactive metal, not affected by air and water i.e. doesnot oxidize (tarnish, rust or corrode). Gold has ability to be pound into thin sheets, a single ounce oif gold can be hammered into 100 square foot sheet.
Pure gold (24 carat) is yellow in color, soft and easily damaged so it is not often used in jewelry, it is alloyed with different metals like copper, silver and zinc to give strength and durability and different proportions of these alloys make different shades of gold red (COPPER, GOLD) or rose gold, white gold (GOLD, NICKEL,ZINC, SILVER, PLATINUM), green gold (GOLD, SILVER, COPPER, ZINC) or yellow gold (GOLD, COPPER, SILVER).
Gold is metal occuring freely in nature. Carat, an indication of gold content in any gold ornament or jewelry, is the basic terminology used for defining and classifing the purity of laymen terms, a 22 carat has around 91.6 % gold and rest is a composition of other metals.
| Karat | Part | Purity | Fineness |
| 10KT | 10/24 | 41.66 % | 416 |
| 14KT | 14/24 | 58.33 % | 583 |
| 18KT | 18/24 | 75 % | 750 |
| 22KT | 22/24 | 91.66 % | 916 |
| 24KT | 24/24 | 100 % | 1000 |
Gold loan is handy product extended to valued customers against fine gold and gold ornaments. Bank can provide quick finance to customers against the security of gold.The amount of loan depends upon the security of gold, applicants repayment capacity, purity of golds. Upto 60% of the value of gold is offered after the valuation.
A Nepali citizen can apply online or by visiting bank branch, only specific bank branches provide gold loan. A Nepali citizen willing to apply for gold loan should fill up application form along with photograph, PAN, copy of citizenship, address proof. Gold loan is provided upto 10 million amount for maximum 1 year (renewable), applicable service charge 0.25 % of loan amount. Gold loan helps to utilization of investment blocked in gold jewelry with faster loan processing and flexible repayment options even in absense of credit history .