‘We have a robust loan pipeline of over ₹70K cr’

Bank of India’s asset quality improved in the September quarter. Rajneesh Karnatak, MD & CEO, Bank of India, tells Mahesh Nayak a focused one-time settlement scheme, to drive swift resolutions across the MSME and retail segments, has been launched. Karnatak believes the proposed acquisition financing norms can unlock new growth levers.

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The bank’s asset quality has improved with gross NPAs at 2.54% and net NPAs at 0.65%...

Inthe September quarter our GNPAs and NNPAs contracted by 187 bps and 29 bps y-0-y,respectively.The slippage ratio dropped to 0.14%, and recoveries were 1.6 times of fresh slippages. The SMA accounts above %5 crore stood at just 0.89% of gross domesticadvances.We have enhanced underwriting, deployed pre-delinquency models and set up 69 zonal collection centres to improve asset quality. Also, we have launched a focused onetime settlement scheme to drive swift resolutions across the MSMEand retail segments.

Could you give us some colour on the corporate loan pipeline?

The corporate loan sanction pipeline is around %60,000 crore with power, petroleum products, renewable energy and roads accounting for more than 50%.We are also focusing on data centres, logistics, and sectors eligible under the PLI scheme.

How will the ECL framework impact the bank?