SBI cautious in India but looking to increase corporate lending in Europe

SBI Frankfurt is looking at around 20-25 per cent growth in business over the next years

State Bank of India is trying to increase corporate lending in Europe. SBI Frankfurt, which has the status of an independent bank in Europe, has traditionally lent for trade financing but now wants to fund Indian business houses in Europe and European firms in India.

In the recent past, there has been a conscious shift in strategy to lend more to European companies, according to an executive with SBI Frankfurt. Now nearly 50 per cent of the bank’s non-trade finance business portfolio consists of syndicated loans to European companies. SBI Frankfurt’s growth in business over the next few years would