Mumbai Dec 28 PTI Indian banks need to bolster their capital positions build adequate buffers and strengthen corporate governance to deal with emerging risks as the economy recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic a report by the Reserve Bank said Sounding a note of caution the RBI in its annual report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2020-21 said that the disruption in economic activity in the wake of the pandemic resulted in corporate and household sector stress and weakening of demand conditions Through concerted efforts the Reserve Bank and the Government managed to contain the risks to financial stability As the economy revives renewed focus may need to be placed on building up of adequate buffers and being vigilant of the evolving risks the RBI said The report said during 2020-21 scheduled commercial banks SCBs reported a discernible improvement in their asset quality capital buffers and profitability notwithstanding the disruptions of the pandemic While credit offtake remained subdued elevated deposit growth on the liabilities side was matched by growth in investments on the assets side Nonetheless incipient stress remains in the form of higher restructured advances Banks would need to bolster their capital positions to absorb potential stress as well as to augment credit flow when policy support is phased out it said It further said most of the regulatory accommodations announced by the RBI including restrictions on dividend payouts by banks deferment of implementation of the last tranche of capital conservation buffer CCB have already expired As the pandemic situation is dynamic the regulatory response will be calibrated in response to the evolving situation the central bank said The report further said with rapid technological advancements in the digital payments landscape and emergence of new entrants across the FinTech ecosystem banks would also be required to prioritise upgrading their IT infrastructure and improving customer services together with strengthening their cybersecurity Banks would need to strengthen their corporate governance practices and risk management strategies to build resilience in an increasingly dynamic and uncertain economic environment the RBI said in its report Although credit offtake by banks remained subdued in an environment of risk aversion and muted demand conditions during 2020-21 a pick up has started in the second quarter of 2021-22 with the economy emerging out of the shadows of the second wave of COVID-19 Going forward revival in bank balance sheets hinges around overall economic growth which is contingent on progress on the pandemic front it said During 2020-21 the consolidated balance sheet of scheduled commercial banks SCBs expanded in size notwithstanding the pandemic and the resultant contraction in economic activity In 2021-22 so far nascent signs of recovery are visible in credit growth Deposits grew by 101 per cent at end-September 2021 as compared with 11 per cent a year ago the report saidSCBs gross non-performing assets GNPA ratio declined from 82 per cent at end-March 2020 to 73 per cent at end-March 2021 and further to 69 per cent at end-September 2021 the report said On recapitalisation requirements after COVID-19 the RBI said that based on the capital position as on September 30 2021 all public and private sector banks maintained the capital conservation buffer CCB well over 25 per cent Going forward however banks would need a higher capital cushion to deal with challenges on account of the ongoing stress experienced by borrowers as well as to meet the economys potential credit requirements it said The apex bank also stressed that concerted strategies for timely capital infusion need to be carried forward by the banks PTI NKD CS MR MR

Mumbai [India], December 28 (ANI): The consolidated balance sheet of scheduled commercial banks expanded in size during 2020-21 despite the contraction in economic activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to 'Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2020-21' released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday.