We continue to be selective on corporate loans: Indian Bank MD & CEO

Our margins in the first quarter was 3.1 per cent, while it was 3.2 per cent in Q2 and 3.7 per cent in Q3, says Shanti Lal Jain

Indian Bank expects recoveries to be more than slippages in this financial year, which will result in improved asset quality. Shanti Lal Jain, managing director and chief executive officer of Indian Bank, tells Manojit Saha in an interview that the lender will continue to focus on retail, agriculture, and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) loans. Edited excerpts:

Indian Bank’s loan growth till December 31 was below that of industry. Are you being cautious?
 

The growth in RAM (retail, agriculture, and MSME) is 12 per cent, and retail loan growth is 15 per cent. All retail components are growing between