on Oct 18, 2021)Mumbai: HDFC Bank has reported a significant increase in restructured loans under the Covid relief scheme. Analysts are concerned that a large chunk of these loans might turn into non-performing assets (NPAs).
On the positive side, the bank has reported an improvement in gross NPA ratio by 12 basis points (100bps = 1 percentage point) quarter on quarter to 1.35%. Its subsidiary HDB Financial Services also reported a improvement in GNPA to 6.1% from 7.8% in the corresponding quarter last year.
“However, the restructuring pool for the bank surged sharply quarter on quarter to Rs 20,300 crore (1.7% of loans vs. 0.68% in Q1), mainly led by liberal restructuring in the personal loan book. As a prudent strategy, the bank made additional Rs 1,200 crore provisions in Q2 and now carries a contingent plus floating buffer of Rs 9,200 crore (0.8% of loans),” said Anand Dama of
Global in a research note.
Addressing analysts on Saturday, HDFC Bank chief credit officer Jimmy Tata said, “Restructured loans are considered while making the provisions. If there were to be another shock, the balance sheet needs to be much more resilient, historically we have been conservative and our stance does not change”. He added that the bank was monitoring the restructured loan portfolio based on both pre- and post-Covid behaviour of the borrower. “We do not think the impact will be more than 10-20bps on our NPAs at any point in time,” he said.
The country’s largest private lender on Saturday reported a net profit of Rs 8,834 crore for the quarter ended September 2021, up 18% from the previous year.
