Striking It Big

SBI has set its sights higher – and it shows in its first podium finish

- Clifford Alvares

SIZE NEEDN’T BE A CON- STRAINT to fast-paced growth, and State Bank of India is showing the way. With over 17,000 branches, it has expanded its balance 14.8 per cent to Rs 27.05 lakh crore in fiscal ’17. Bad loans were held firmly in check. Net non-performing loans dipped 10 basis points to 3.71 per cent in fiscal ’17 against 3.81 per cent in fiscal ’16. The bank’s operating profits zoomed 17.55 per cent to Rs 58,488 crore, while net profit increased to Rs 10,484 crore, up 5.3 per cent over fiscal ’16.