After reducing its retail loan book for 7 quarters right from the start of 2008-09, ICICI Bank has started increasing its loan book. The loan book of the bank, including car loans has posted an increase of Rs. 1,81,206 crore on 31st March 2010 as against Rs 179,269 crore in the earlier quarter.
Although the bank’s loan book may be below the highest amount of Rs. 225, 616 crore as on 31st March 2008, the bank is looking to capitalize on the opportunities available in the recovering economy.
The percentage of retail loans have been decreased to 43% as compared to 49% previous year while there is an increase in corporate loans to 18% from 12% previous year. The portion of foreign lending is steady at 25%.
Chanda Kochhar, ICICI Bank’s MD & CEO said, “The growth has been mainly on the domestic book, with corporate advances contributing more to the balance sheet. We have seen loan growth in housing, car, commercial vehicles, project loans and trade finance books”.
The bank anticipates reaching a credit increase of a slightly less than 20% in this fiscal. It would focus on lending to corporates as well as individuals.
The CASA ratio of the bank has jumped from 28.7% a year back to 41.7%. The CAR of the bank is 19.4% and it’s NPA levels have fallen to 1.87% as on 31st March 2010 as against 2.19% a year back.