'J&K Bank restructuring loan accounts hit by Kashmir unrest'

Asserting that there is no substantial impact of Kashmir unrest on J&K Bank's business, its Chairman Parvez Ahmed today said loan accounts which have been badly effected by the unrest are beingrestructured.
"There is no serious effect on J&K Bank due to unrest. No substantial impact is on J&K bank. Once the situation revives cash flow will be again in the business, which is down by 30 per cent, will be back", Ahmed said.
"I don't see any concern", Ahmed told reporters here today. There was serious concern raised by trading and industry over the stressed loan accounts due to unrest, he said further.

On stressed loan accounts, he said, "Those loans which were badly effected due to unrest, we are planning to restructure them. Such loan accounts in Kashmir and Jammu would be covered under package subject to approval of the RBI".
After approval from RBI, these loans will have a moratorium after September 30, he said, adding that during this period interest would be funded by J&K Bank.
"They will get sufficient one year period to revive their business", Ahmed said.

Speaking about impact of unrest on the bank's business, he said, "The situation has eased our considerably. 40 per cent of account books are on government employees, whose salaries are routed through J&K Bank and it has no impact of the unrest."

Although there was initial problems in agriculture more so horticulture sector (fruits and harvesting) due to transport issue, he said, adding that now it is available but now the transport has been made available to growers.
"The trade/export of agriculture/horticulture produce, which comprise of 23 per cent of GDP of the state, has doubled than last year", Ahmed said.
The Chairman of J&K Bank further said "during the unrest period, we were consuming the commodities --grocery shops, stores etc were all open during odd hours and they were doing their business".
"We have only 30 per cent stress in loan books. We have managed the situation during militancy and floods as well. There were more serious concerns due to loss of property and human lives. Today, we are in better situation", he said.

Ahmed said, "Today, a disruption to a section of business sector have taken place. We are assessing the losses in this direction".
Replying to another question about warning that there would not be any bottom-line growth in the next 18 months, resulting in "no dividend, no tax provisions and no contribution to the CSR, he said, "The situation is such that it will take longer period of 18 months to consolidate the financial situation."
"If situation improve, we will not take much time to consolidate. It will be done in a year".
"If unrest prolongs it will impact our business. We will need to do provisioning and profitability will be impacted. So we took 18 months period into view", he said.

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Ahmed, who took over a new J&K Bank Chairman and CEO last week, said, "We have dedicated and competent work force and senior employees. With their moral up, we will improve the present state of the bank".
Ahmed got in legacy from his predecessor drop of 85 per cent in profit in first quarter and Rs 56 crore losses in last quarter of 2015-16 and nearly 10 per cent NPA amounting to Rs 4,368.62 crore coupled with longest ever unrest in Kashmir valley.
Jammu & Kashmir Bank has reported a 85.6 per cent plunge in net profit at Rs 22.88 crore for the first quarter ended June 30.

J&K Bank, the state's only listed company, reported a net loss of over Rs 56 crore in the quarter ended March 31 -- a first in its operational history of 75 years -- largely attributed to bad loans.
Over 100-day long unrest and violent situation has hit business, industry, trade and travel sectors in Kashmir badly, thereby impacting the business of J&K Bank.
"We have set 18-month period as the target to bring back the situation. If the situation improves (in Kashmir) we will not take much time to consolidate", he said.
He said that once the situation revives cash-flow will be again there and business, which is down by 30 per cent, will be back on rails.

J&K Bank chairman exuded confidence that employees have got a positive energy and optimism. "We will manage this situation. We have managed it is the past.