Covid-19 related provisioning knocks off 45% of top private banks' profits

Analysts at Edelweiss estimate that banks like Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank have 25-30 per cent of their loan book under the moratorium

A look at Q4FY20 numbers of top private-sector banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IndusInd Bank, shows that Covid-19 related provisioning has dented their profits.

On a cumulative basis, Covid-19-related provisioning at Rs 8,678 crore has shaved off 45 per cent of their pre-tax profit. In other words, had these banks not made the provisions, their combined reported pre-tax profit of Rs 10,792 crore would have stood at Rs 19,740 crore.

Due to a likely deterioration in borrowers’ credit profile, banks were mandated to make provisions in Q4. The Reserve Bank of India