Thank you, sir. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Central Bank of India's Q2 FY '27 post-result earnings call.

From the management, today we have: Shri Kalyan Kumar, MD and CEO; Shri M. V.

Murali Krishna, Executive Director; Shri Mahendra Dohare, Executive Director; Shri E. Ratan Kumar, Executive Director; and Shri Vivek Kumar, Chief Financial Officer.

I thank the management for giving us the opportunity and also congratulate the team for a very strong result. I'm handing over now the call to our MD, Shri Kalyan Kumar, for his opening remarks.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah. Thank you.

My colleagues on the board, Shri Murali Krishna ji, Shri Dohare ji, Shri Ratan Kumar ji, my senior team present here, and my dear all the analysts and all connected through VC and also present here. Good morning.

I congratulate each one of you for this good Q2 '27 result. Your beloved bank, Central Bank of India, total business has grew has been actually grown by 20.54% to ₹8,89,541 crore.

Total domestic deposits increased by 14.41% to ₹5,08,509 crore. CASA deposit also stands at 44.65% of total deposits.

Global advances increased by 29.83% to ₹3,81,032 crore, in which domestic advances stood at ₹3,72,939 crore, growth of 27% year-on-year. New entry, we have opened GIFT City branch on 29th June 2026.

They contributed in overseas advance of ₹8,093 crore. In this process, we have given guidance for business growth 14% to 15%, and we have achieved 20.54%.

In deposit growth, our guidance was 10% to 12%, and we have achieved 14.41%. In advances growth, our guidance was 14% to 16%, and we have achieved 29.83%.

CASA guidance was 48% plus-minus 1%. Here, due to obvious reason, due to FCNRB mobilization and all, this we could not meet the market guidance, and we closed at 44.65%.

Towards RAM sector, retail, agriculture, MSME, as Central Bank of India is having its 65% branches in rural and semi-urban area. The RAM being our bread and butter for this organization, this business grew by 21.11%.

The individual sector-wise growth also is very good. Retail, we reached to level of ₹1,12,299 crore at growth of 24.49% year-on-year.

Agriculture reached to ₹67,778 crore, and growth percentage is 19.92%. MSME reached to level of ₹74,196 crore.

Percentage-wise growth is 17.36% year-on-year basis. This is also actually our guidance to market was RAM corporate credit ratio 65:35 plus-minus 5%, and we have closed at 68:32%, and that ratio actually also aligns with our market guidance which we have given.

Towards our efficiency side also, business per employee has improved to ₹25.26 crore on year-on-year basis as against ₹21.48 crore for the quarter ended September 2025. In profitability, year-on-year basis for September '26 quarter, net profit for the quarter has increased by 21% to ₹1,469 crore, up from ₹1,213 crore previous year.

Operating profit for the quarter stood at ₹2,268 crore from ₹1,786 crore with a group growth of 27%. Net interest income grew by 26.28% on year-on-year basis to ₹4,146 crore in Q2 financial year '27 as against ₹3,283 crore in Q2 financial year '26.

Total income for Q2 financial year '27 improved by approximately 15% and reached to ₹11,737 crore for Q2 financial year '27. Cost-to-income ratio, though there is improvement, but still it is on higher side.

It is 58.95% for Q2 financial year '27 as against 62.42% Q2 financial year '26. Cost-to-income ratio, we have given guidance for less than 56%, but here, we could not match the guidance and closed at 58.95%.

Major highlight I will like to make that, apart from staff cost, that is 37.65%, there was 113 basis point improvement in other operating expenses year-on-year basis. Then, as quarter-on-quarter also, it will give you comfort that, quarter-on-quarter basis also, net profit grew by 11%, ₹145 crore in absolute terms to ₹1,469 crore.

Operating profit grew by 3.75%, that is ₹82 crore in absolute terms to ₹2,268 crore. Net interest income grew by approximately 6%, ₹232 crore in absolute terms to ₹4,146 crore.

Interest income grew by approximately 7%, ₹666 crore in absolute terms to ₹10,357 crore. ROA improved by 3 basis point and stood at 1.03%.

Here, I will like to mention NIM we have given guidance of 3 above 3, and we have maintained at 3.01%. Slippage ratio, we have given guidance of less than 0.25%, and it is 0.24%.

Then regarding asset quality also, our gross NPA stood at 2.39%. That is also aligned with our guidance given to the market that it would be below 2.50%.

Net NPA stood at 0.31%. That is also there is improvement of 17 basis point, and that is also aligns with the our guidance to the market.

Provision coverage ratio stood at 97.16%, and regarding slippage ratio, as I told, for quarter, it is 0.24%, and it is well within our guidance, less than 0.25 on quarter-on-quarter basis. In that way, I can tell you, on almost all the parameter of efficiency, except cost-to-income ratio and business per branch, and CD ratio, I will highlight, that also has reached to 75%.

Liquidity coverage ratio improved to 156%. Overall improvement in almost all efficiency parameters and business numbers, and I really thank all our stakeholders, including our customers, regulators, governments, and all you, beloved shareholders and stakeholders, to this great organization, Central Bank of India.

For towards my initial remark, I conclude here. Now I am open to the questions.

Ajmera ji, we are unable to hear you.

Can you hear me now?

Yeah.

Now,

you are audible, Ajmera ji. Congratula-- Ajmera ji, you are not audible now.

Congratulations to team Central Bank for excellent performance and sustainable guidance. Sir, I was looking at your business mix, and can you throw some color you guided on the CD ratio and the business mix for the second half?

Can you see, within RAM, where are you seeing growth? Or it's per ticket, average housing loans, car loans which are growing, or any other segment like gold loan which has become a major focus at Central Bank and you all have a very ambitious target, that's what I hear from the market place?

Yeah.

Thank you, Mr. Choksey, for asking this very good question.

Regarding business mix, you have seen ratio of corporate and our RAM is 32:68. It aligns with actually our guidance given to 65:35 plus-minus 5%.

Growth of RAM sector was 21%. We reached the level of ₹2,54,273 crores, and within which, retail has grown by 24.49%, agriculture has grown by approximately 20%, MSME has grown by approximately 17%.

Good growth in all these three segments. Rightly told by you, this going to continue because Central Bank of India is having its presence, 65% branches are in rural and semi-urban area, which gives us this capability to actually support this important part of Indian economy.

We will continue to grow with that. Rightly said by you, two latest growth engine, previous quarter, it was also there, but here, during last two days, 15th and 16th October, we were doing mid-term strategy meet with our all zonal managers and regional heads.

Collectively, we brainstorm regarding revisiting our strategies and to focus which area we must focus and how to grow, not only in next half year, but in longer term also. There we have zeroed in an important growth engine for gold loan side.

We are going to open customized 116 gold loan branches, where our TAT would be maximum 30 minutes. Within that, all customization is being done.

In gold loan portfolio, we are planning to add good amount of business not only in next quarter, but also next year, I can tell you. Another focus area is SHG.

We are having tie-up arrangement with 26 states NRLM, and those are actually good opportunity to give loans to credit linkages to those SHG members. That our return is also very good in SHG side, and also there is very good opportunity to support this segment.

In that way, this gold loan, SHG, these are going to be the focus area. Apart from, as housing loan, our more than 50% advances under retail comes from housing loan.

This is going to be the flag carrier now also. Car loan also, better dealer tie-up, both builder tie-up and car dealer tie-up, are going on.

As more and more CASA accounts, salary accounts we are focusing upon in this quarter, and huge actually planning we have done towards entering into that educational institutes, the religious trusts, and also hospitals, and other transport operators in a big way because we have established our marketing setup at different places. 300 marketing officers we have recruited in our bank.

With that work force available and different products available for different segments of customer, those CASA customer will give opportunity, particularly salary account customer, good opportunity for cross-selling of personal account loan also. These are going to be our priority in next quarter.

Thank you.

Sir, I had asked you if there's an uptick in average ticket in gold loan, not only because of price, but the borrowing pattern. In the same for housing loan and car loan, because a lot of traditional Indians are moving from small cars to SUVs, the similar way, gold prices have moved up, and housing market is also 10% to 20% up on an actual average basis.

Is the number of loans increasing, or the average ticket is increasing?

Both. I will give you one example.

Very recently, in home loan, ₹22 crore green home loan we have provided. Even ticket size is not a bar for us, any restrictions is there.

Now, I can tell you, average ticket size is increasing day by day for housing loan also, car loan also. Depending upon our credit underwriting and eligibility of borrower, that is never a bar.

Naturally, we are more focusing towards the good builder side, where better ticket size is available. As we are having our branches at rural, semi-urban, where lower ticket size is also Up to ₹30 lakhs, it is totally online basis.

Above ₹30 lakhs, normal underwriting part is there. Ticket size, as you are seeing, that it is going to be our priority, as we have geared up our CPAC also.

We have revisited CPAC structure so that they are in a position to take even big ticket loan, not only in housing loan or car loan processing, but also for MSME loan. 32 sector places we have identified.

Separate chief managers are posted so that they can even underwrite the higher ticket size MSME loan also. It is both, I will say, numbers of customers and also ticket size-wise also, good number of customers we will underwrite with the strength which Central Bank of India is having now.

Sir, two questions: how do you see CASA growing from here till March end? The deposit base, I know your guidance number would be 12% to 14%, 15%, but strength of Central Bank has always been CASA.

If you look historically over last 15 years or 10 years, despite being in PCA, that time also deposit was our strength, and the franchise is very strong in Western region. How are we strengthening further for cross-selling this CASA base?

You said about salary accounts, but what other factors, including digitization, digital apps, cross-selling? You've tied up with multiple insurance as well as mutual funds.

You may be tying up for brokerage houses. To enhance Central Bank's strength with certain multiple new ventures.

Second, what does the corporate pipeline looking from now? I understand we are very good at RAM, but a balance of 65:32 65:35 or 62:38, what area of business are we focusing on corporate book too?

The third question would be your outlook on treasury.

Regarding CASA growth, rightly said by you, people love Central Bank of India, having its presence 115 115 years in service to the nation. Therefore, it is being reflected in our CASA numbers also, as I will give you one number.

Our CASA has grown by 9.23%. We have crossed ₹2 lakh crore, ₹2,26,774 crore, growth of 9.23%.

Saving has grown by 9.32%. Current account also have grown.

Actually, the kind of initiatives we have taken, as I told you, we have multiple customer acquisition centers, and also government business centers also we have opened. In that way, we are geared up to play whatever strength we are having, geographically, you also told western side, we have good presence, but we are having good presence in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and in also Maharashtra side.

See, these are the areas, Madhya Pradesh also, we are having good number of branches and good presence. 2,658 branches out of 4,622 branches of Central Bank of India are having CASA percentage 50% and more.

That is the strength Central Bank of India is deriving due to its geographical presence and the initiative which we have taken since last one year, setting up of the customer acquisition centers, government business centers, placement of the 300 additional marketing officers, 200, 250 marketing officers were already there, this 500, 600 marketing team, and also, we have started wealth management. It is just we are beginning and we have recruited some marketing officer under wealth segment, and we are going to in a big way from I understand in January to June quarter, it may come in force fully.

Now, we have started. Those things also will support our bank in not only mobilizing good CASA accounts, but also maintaining those CASA account with us.

The CASA is strength of this organization, and with that initiatives which we have taken, certainly it is going to continue. Credit card also next year, in June or like that, we are going to start with our credit card franchise, which will support in mobilizing salary accounts and all.

No doubt, if salary account increases, then it have good opportunity for cross-selling for all the retail products, and also selling of other ancillary business and everything would be there. Cash management services also is going to be launched very soon, two modules already launched, other modules in next few months, we are going to launch.

That will support us in mobilizing current account from our corporates and also new customers. Regarding your second question, corporate.

See, corporate, approximately ₹7,000 crore, we are having undisbursed sanction. That we are having.

Under process is ₹5,000 crore, and under consideration, ₹11,000 crore. Corporate loan book, ₹24,000 loan book under consideration we are having.

In very near future, we are sure that we will get good traction in this corporate line. You see previous year our corporate book was ₹83,000 crore.

This year, it has grown by 42%, ₹1,18,666 crore. There is good growth.

Major area was actually roads, infrastructure, and also data center, technology side. All these things were our focus area, HAM, these were focus area, agri food processing.

Also, some finances to NBFC, hospitality sector, these were actually major area where we focused, and in coming quarter also, we are going to focus upon. Regarding treasury, as treasury yield is hard hit.

We ended by more than 7%, 7.19% yield during the 30th September period. Now also, it is progressing higher, 7.25, 7.40.

That actually due to global turmoil and also rising rate interest scenario, and also rising inflation, and also having US rate 5.35% plus %, that scenario actually does not give comfort towards better treasury income. If you see our AFS previous quarter from ₹843 crore to this quarter, ₹1,023 crore, there was reduction.

Mark-to-market challenge was there. In the coming scenario also, we are observing as yield is getting increased.

In that circumstances, from treasury, there are challenges, though our treasury team has done good job. They earned ₹56 crore by selling IPOs by participating in IPOs.

Also in the higher yield condition, the reinvestment side also, we will reinvest our maturing the securities and all to get better benefit. Outlook of treasury, the best opportunity, market is not good, you are aware, because in AFS side, which is more exposed to market condition, is a challenge, and it is, in my opinion, it is going to continue in near future also.

Building our portfolio judiciously and look not only driving the interest rate, but also understanding properly and building our portfolio and reinvesting the things and opportunity available within the law, I feel that treasury outlook would be challenge, but it would contribute to the profitability as it has contributed this quarter also.

Sorry, sir. There was some technical problem, and I have missed some of your replies also.

Can you hear me now?

Ajmera ji. You are always welcome.

Yeah.

Sir, congratulations, sir, for very good set of numbers. The bank is really doing very well, sir, even under your leadership also.

Sir, going forward, most of the questions are initial your address, you have answered, but one is that, on the ECL provisioning, I might have missed your answer that how prepared we are? What is the total quantum will be to be provided?

Can you give some color on that, sir, some information?

Ajmera ji. Actually, ECL provisioning, previous quarter also, I told ₹1,525 crore for stage 1, stage 2, we have provided till now.

Stage 3, 100% provision is there. Bank is prepared for meeting this requirement.

Models are being prepared. Data quality and all those aspects we are working, and we expect that we have given guidance previous quarter approximately ₹5,000 to ₹5,500 crore may be required.

With the kind of profit Central Bank of India is garnering, we are sure that it is not going to be a challenge for Central Bank of India for meeting ECL requirement scheduled for implementation from 1st April '27.

Sir, point well taken, sir. Sir, we are doing very well in the retail side of the loans.

Even our home loan rates are also very, very competitive. Going forward, sir, I might have missed your answer, what is the plan of increasing the corporate book, and where do we stand?

What is the average yield now we are expecting from the corporate book? What is the sanction pipeline and the proposals which are in pipeline, sir?

Yeah. See, previous year, if you see our corporate book in September '25 was ₹83,000 crore, and this September '26, we have closed by ₹1,18,666 crore, growth of 42%.

Out of total book, 32% comes from this corporate side. There is increase of year-on-year basis 42% in corporate book size.

Regarding pipeline, answering your question, pending disbursement is ₹7,000-plus crore. Proposal of ₹5,200-plus crore is under process.

And ₹11,000 crore under consideration, they may come in the NBG and all. Approximately ₹24,000 crore corporate loan book at present, we are actually having.

You will have good growth in corporate side. Regarding the average yield, this year, our overall average yield was 7.87% in yield on advances, if I can tell you, 7.87%.

Major areas where we are focusing upon, it is renewable energy, roads, and also data center, some exposure in real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing segment, NBFC, agri food processing, logistics side, these are the major area where actually we are focusing upon in this quarter and coming quarter.

Very good, sir. Sir, coming to the recoveries, recovery from the written-off book has been decent.

Going forward, what do we expect? We expect some more major bounty from this?

What is our total written-off book balance outstanding, and how much we expect on an average in percentage terms? Secondly, on the recoveries, that old aviation account.

What is the status there, that additional collateral which we had of 1,200 or 1,500 crores, whether that has been realized, and how much recovery has already taken place, and how much more we do expect to recover from that account, sir?

See, recovery in written-off was ₹485 crore in this quarter. Good number we have got.

If we talk about the pool, it is ₹31,301 crore. We are having ample pool now also as of written-off accounts from where we can actually recover good significant amount.

Previous year, you have seen more than 2,000 to ₹2,700 crore we have recovered for the full year. This year also, I find sufficient ground and sufficient resources available to recover ₹2,500-plus crores in this segment.

Regarding answering your aviation sector account, recovery expected in Q3 ₹700 crore through SARFAESI. SARFAESI, the auction process is going on, and we have got bidder also.

We may get ₹700 crore in this aviation account in this current quarter or next first quarter. There are other accounts also, big accounts also and smaller accounts also, from where we will improve our recovery numbers.

I can assure you that kind of book and things available with us, recovery numbers are going to be better what we have done in this quarter. I am fully confident about that.

Very good, sir. About the recovery for the small account like that under the OTS, how are we framing our policies, and are we liberal to get at least those accounts where 100% provision has already been made, and the securities are minimal?

What is our emphasis of recovering on those small recoveries which may make a good amount in the absolute terms?

Thank you, Ajmera ji, for asking this question. See, smaller accounts, for that, special OTS scheme we have got approved from our board.

It is very transparent process. We are coming with this technological capability.

We call it E-OTS. Here, age of NPA and availability of security and provision, these are the logic through which system itself derives that this amount if you pay, OTS would be done through digital process and branch assisted process.

This we are going to implement very soon. There is another scheme,

which

is called Krishi Rin Mochan scheme. Through BC agents,

for

small value accounts, we are actually recovering good amount of recovery in a very transparent process in that. You are right, because we deal with retail business, good number are under slippage under ₹10 lakh ₹10 lakh segment.

There, all these measures, electronic OTS and also this Krishi Rin Mochan scheme through BC agents, and all these things are going to be very effective tool and support us in recovering the desired amount as per regulatory guidelines, and also cleaning up our books. That side also, our focus is there.

Auctioning the property where collateral security are there, I am giving you one example. Previous year, total auction of properties was 485.

This half year, we reached that number. Very effective monitoring of SARFAESI process, that also giving us actually bringing those customers on the negotiation table.

Through OTS board, also we are recovering significant amount and closing those accounts through OTS also. That is in that way, I can tell you from recovery side, asset quality which you are observing, 2.39% and 0.31% net NPA, it is going to be continuously you will find improvement in these numbers in coming days.

Thank you, sir. Good morning, Mr.

Kalyan.

Good morning.

From the last few quarters, we have been tracking Central Bank, and let me congratulate you for the kind of numbers that you've given in the last quarter and followed by this quarter. It was really good, I would say.

I would say, we are very satisfied with the kind of numbers because we have recommended to so many of our clients. There was just one query which I would like to have a clarification like reported gross NPA, net NPA, slippages, they all improved.

Yet, provisions went up. Can you throw some light on the breakdown of the provisioning, whether into standard assets or floating or technical?

Why this specific provision went up, and which segment, maybe specifically retail, MSME, or unsecured lending, were the reasons for this higher provision? The last one would be, what is your credit cost guidance for FY '27?

Yeah. Thank you, Rajesh Agarwal ji, for your good words for Central Bank of India.

You are right. Our gross NPA, net NPA, and slippage ratio are under control.

Provisions have increased actually. Credit cost also, you see, 0.53 is in this quarter.

Though they are well within, because credit cost, we have given guidance of that it will be remain up to 0.75%, it is 0.53%, and PCR is 97.16%. That is also well within our guidance given to the market.

Reason, what you have asked, actually, we must build enough provision in good times for facing any challenges or anything which may come in future. With that, it is very resilient and I will say, the resilient approach which bank has taken.

For that purpose, you must have been observing our provision coverage ratio have increased since last quarter. That is the main reason.

Otherwise, actually, another, one important reason: our standard advances also have grown significantly. Because previous year, on September '25, provision on standard advances was 30 or 37, now it is ₹399 crore.

That also increase is there. These are the reasons behind increase in credit cost side.

Hope I have answered your question, Rajesh Agarwal ji.

Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.

Best wishes for future quarters too. Thank you so much, sir.

Thank you, Rajesh. Thank you.

Hi, team. Good morning.

Sir, a few questions from my side. Firstly, on the ECL, you have reported a credit cost of roughly 50 basis points in this quarter.

Do you have a sense of how much your credit cost will be next year after you have transitioned to the ECL regime?

Yeah. Ashlesh, thanks for this question.

Actually, ECL, we are preparing. I understand better the banks which are having better credit underwriting would have better control over the credit cost.

This year credit cost 0.53 is actually, you must have observed, what the answer which I have just now given to Rajesh Agarwal ji, we have just to give you comfort and make you understand in a better way how Central Bank of India is prepared or preparing itself to face the consequences of implementation of ECL, that will give you answer. March '25, our slippage ratio was 1.47%.

March '26, it came down to 1.16%. This quarter, it is 0.24%.

For half year, it is 0.41% to 0.45%. What I mean to say, we are preparing ourselves, graduating ourselves to take challenge of ECL.

For starting from better credit underwriting quality, there we are having one processing centers, that we call CPAC, Credit Processing Center, which is normally at all regional office, this CPAC setup is there. Earlier, in-principle approval concept was not there.

It is you all are aware that, at branches, credit underwriting skills are very rare. Therefore, all branches, whatever leads they are generating, they will send to the credit processing centers at regional office.

They will give in-principle sanction. Also the underwrite after that, better control of this underwriting quality.

After that, monitoring of those advances, monitoring NACH mandates, SI, and also proper alignment with the field force, feet-on-street persons, and also regional collection centers, head office war room, and all the technological capability also for generating alert, early warning signal alerts, and acting upon those alerts. In a very structured way, we have implemented these aspects.

Therefore, credit monitoring division, this is doing good job in maintaining good asset quality, starting from underwriting to post-credit monitoring also. In that way, I can tell you that this credit cost next year also, I am expecting quarter-on-quarter basis it is going to be remain less than 0.75%, up to 0.75% only.

This guidance which we have given, we are going to maintain this guidance next year also. Ashlesh, hope I have answered your question.

Understood, sir. Sir, one follow-up there.

On the ECL one-time transition, you indicated that the quantum is roughly ₹5,000 crores. That would be taken as a direct hit to the net worth on the 1st of April.

Is that understanding correct?

Actually, see, our total requirement would be ₹5,000 to ₹5,500 crore. Out of that, ₹1,525 crore already we have kept additional provision.

Difference only will have to take. The way we are making profit, it would not be a big call.

Options given by regulator both, taking one-time hit or staggered, we will discuss together, and we will take a call on this. Currently, I am not in a position to comment on this part, whether we will take at one way or we will stagger it.

Understood, sir. Sir, and just one last thing.

The ROA seems to have improved quite a bit over the past few quarters. Can we assume that this ROA will remain, let's say, about 1% for the foreseeable future?

I am fully confident that ROA is going to be above 1. The guidance which we have given, I am still agreeing to it, and I am sure because in the see, 25 basis point repo rate has increased.

We have maintained our deposit cost of deposit at 4.60% and yield on advances 7.87%. Now, we are focusing upon gold loan side, SHG side.

These are the growth engines where we are focusing upon, apart from our retail, agriculture, MSME. Our 61% loan book are linked to external benchmark link.

In rising rate scenario, which we expect, our books are going to be more actually it is going to benefit our book side. In that way, I'm sure that our ROA is going to remain above 1.

Sir, and this expectation holds true for, let's say, next year also, FY '28, FY '29? Is that an endeavor you have?

See, our endeavors are like that, but situations are changing very fast. It would not be prudent to comment upon for next year because, things are changing very fast.

Global conditions are also impacting, then within country also, some drought condition, El Niño effect, all these things are there. I am confident about the strategies which we have taken and the strength which Central Bank of India is having.

In CASA side, mobilization of low-cost deposit while other organizations are struggling, our growth in saving growth is still more than 9%. The low-cost deposit mobilization is not a challenge for us.

Advances side also, this external benchmark repo rate, I am tell 61% books are belonging to that. Gold loan would have very good traction always, and SHG also good yield is there.

Therefore, I am hopeful that our ROA is going to remain above 1.

Understood. Perfect, sir.

Thank you very much for answering my questions.

Thank you, Ashlesh.

Hello?

Yeah. Good morning, sir.

Congratulations for such good numbers. Sir, my question is on yield on advances.

When I see the yield on advances of our bank, it's comparatively lower when we compare it with the other banks. Could you please tell me the steps we are taking to increase the yield on advances?

Deepak. Actually, thanks for this question.

You are right, yield on advances 7.87%. As I told you, this is actually for this quarter also and earlier quarter also, if you see, our more than 61% book are linked to external benchmark.

That is repo rate. Previous year, 125 basis point reduction was there in reference lending rate.

That has impacted our book very high. If you see the cost of deposit side, as it is a contract-based, it takes time.

It comes with lag when it gets stabilized. Now it is 4.60, and yield on advances, that's why we were able to manage NIM above 3 and ROA more than 1.

The yield on advances, that's why we were biggest impacted. Our portfolio actually impacted due to this rate cuts.

In coming scenario, when rates are there are scenario when rates are going to increase, it will benefit in improvement in yield on advances, one thing. Another aspect which is also very important: gold loan.

More than 8.5% is the average yield which we derive from the gold loan side. We have book built book ₹41,000 crore.

There is good growth, and with the kind of initiative gold loan cell we have established under direct leadership of our Executive Director Business. Gold loan is going to because 686 branches we are having in South India.

We are focusing upon Chennai and Hyderabad these two zones upon gold loan side. That will also support us in improvement in yield.

SHG, more than 26 states, we are having tie-up with NRLM. There also credit linkage in SHG, there are also good return and very less NPA is there.

That's why these are the focus area where I am expecting that yield on advances will increase in coming quarters.

Sir, thank you for the answer. Sir, one more follow-up.

I want to know about the investment in technology the bank is making, because when I compare the apps of our bank and when I compare it with the apps of, let's say, the biggest bank in India, there is some difference in the technology and interface.

Deepak, actually, see, current customers wants very good technological platform. There is no second thought about it.

Where mobile banking and other technological, like internet banking, like all these user experience is very important. For that purpose, we have created new banking emerging department, NBED.

The person who can understand customer's requirement, he is heading that division. He was earlier heading our biggest zone.

We have given them this opportunity to lead this division so that the person who have better understanding about user experience so that we can bring fine-tune the changes which is desired from the customer's perspective. It is our topmost priority.

What you are indicating, I understand. That area, if not improved, then all these improvements we can't sustain.

That also I agree with you. For CASA or any other, user experience is very much important.

That is that I can tell you. A lot of initiatives we are taking in digital side also.

45 journeys already we have launched. We are revisiting also so that looking to the changed customer's choice or also having better alternatives provided by our competitors, we are also fine-tuning all those journeys and channels to improve user experience.

That is topmost priority, and in next quarter, you will find significant improvement in these areas also.

Thank you for the answer, sir. That's it from my side.

Thanks, Deepak.

Yeah. Thank you for the opportunity.

Sir, our NIM has come down say 5 basis point this quarter, but the repo rate--

Yeah. Awaz nahi aa raha hai.

Hello? Am I audible now, sir?

Ha.

Yes.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes.

Sir. Sir, the repo rates have started to move up, what is our assumption?

Will our margins also improve from Q3?

See, as I told, our advances book, total advances book, 68% is RAM segment. Out of those, 61% linked to external benchmark.

There if in repo rate reference rate increases, then certainly there is positive impact on yield of our book portfolio. Therefore, there are every likelihood that margin will increase in this increasing rate scenario.

Sir. Sir, how do you see, sir, our gross slippages are kind of hovering down for the last three quarters, but what is your understanding, sir?

How do you see the implications of El Niño? One state has declared drought and others could also, how do you see this scenario evolving?

Do you see any impact on the collections in the rural areas?

In this quarter, we didn't sense any such kind of stress signals. Recovery is very good, including agriculture side also, except some places like Pune zone, there was slippage in agricultural segments.

There might be other reasons for it. Apart from that, we didn't find any signal of distress in asset quality in rural area, particularly you are asking about rural area.

That's why there is significant drop in slippages number. Thanks to the vertical, CRMD, for taking all the corrective steps and proactive steps rather, and also field of soldier and technology integration, war room, better coordination, that has really supported us in maintaining slippage ratio.

Regarding your question of El Niño impact or drought in the country, right, this might impact, but we have to look at in future how it actually progresses. Current time, based upon my experience of this quarter, I can't comment that there might be big challenge.

How it pan out in coming quarter and afterwards regarding this drought, let data come, then I will be in a position to comment about this.

Sir. There was a reversal in provision in the investment part in the SRs.

Can you throw more light on that, sir? Or reversal of provisions?

Ha. Theek hai.

I request Mr. Bhaskar will answer this.

This is

Good afternoon. This one is mainly on account of we have received some amount as a part payment.

Achha, NPI jo aya, wo na?

Yes, sir.

Received Jaiprakash account? Yes,

sir.

Other security

receipts, sir.

Kuch amount aya, sir.

We have received some amount as a part payment. That's why the provision made is lower when compared to the previous quarter.

However, we made 100% on that one. Outstanding reduced, we have seen the reversal in the provision.

Okay.

Siddharth, clear?

Yes. Clear, sir.

What is the total sanction and disbursement under the ECLGS scheme now? The ECLGS 5.0?

Sir, under ECLGS, under MSME segment, we have sanctioned around ₹4,000 crore, and out of that, fully we have disbursed. Only 50 to ₹60 crore is balance remaining for the disbursement.

Okay. Sir, what is the amount of FCNRB deposits that we have raised in the quarter?

We have raised good amount, actually $926.74 million across 731 accounts.

Sorry, sir. What was the amount?

$926.74 million across 731 accounts. Yeah.

Sir. What is the overseas loan that is provided against this deposit, sir?

$794.60 million. Okay.

Sir,

what is our current average LCR?

Average LCR, that is 156%.

Yeah. Sir.

Thank you. I am done.

Siddharth, thank you.

Yeah. Thank you.

Really, from core of my heart, I thank all the stakeholders. I assure that, in coming quarter and also next quarter, the kind of interventions we have taken for bringing overall improvement in people, process, and technology will certainly going to sustain these numbers, and also there would be significant improvement in efficiency numbers in coming quarter.

Once again, thanks for connecting, and thanks for showing interest in Central Bank of India. Thank you.

Thank you.