Banks taking strong stance on corporate defaulters: ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar

With high NPAs weighing down on the books of several banks, ICICI Bank has adopted a strategy of 'proactive action' on its corporate portfolio and is focusing on higher-rated clients, its chief Chanda Kochhar said in Davos.

Besides, the bank's strategy also involves increasing the proportion of retail clients in its portfolio, the top banker said.

"Asset quality in the retail segment continues to be healthy and stable. In the corporate sector, there continue to be challenges given the time taken for projects to generate cash flows and high leverage levels in some areas or companies. Banks are working actively to resolve these through asset sales and change in management; they are taking a strong stance vis-a-vis the promoters to ensure that these actions are taken," Kochhar said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting.

"In cases where the promoters do not cooperate, the banks are enforcing contractual rights through the legal route," she added.

Talking about her own bank, Kochhar said: "ICICI Bank's strategy comprises close monitoring and proactive action on the corporate portfolio; increasing the proportion of retail in the portfolio mix; and focus on higher rated clients."

Kochhar, Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank, further said that the regulator RBI is also in discussions with banks at various level to address these concerns.

"I am confident that over time the coordinated efforts of the government, regulator and banks should help in addressing these concerns," she added.

Asked about her outlook for the banking sector's financial performance in the quarters to come, Kochhar said, "In the banking sector, retail business will continue to grow at a faster pace. Corporate lending may take some time to pick-up. We will see gradual improvement as recovery in economic activity strengthens. In fact, if we look at the history of the Indian financial sector, we have never seen the level of crises that we have witnessed in other regions."

Giving credit to the strong regulatory framework in the country, Kochhar said, "The Reserve Bank of India has norms which are in line with, or in some areas stricter than global standards, which has resulted in healthier position of Indian banks. The capital requirement prescribed by RBI is a percentage point higher than the global standard prescribed by Basel committee on banking supervision. Banks in India are required to maintain statutory liquidity ratio, cash reserve ratio and liquidity coverage ratio requirements resulting in healthier liquidity position."

She also said the balance sheets of most banks in India are largely deposit funded and there is limited reliance on wholesale borrowings.

"Further, the government has also initiated a reform programme for public sector banks called Indradhanush, which will help in strengthening the balance sheet of these banks. All put together, there is significant resilience in the Indian banking system."

She maintained the banking system remains stable and as activity in the economy strengthens further, there should be an improvement in project implementation as well as cash flows and in turn corporate balance sheets.

"Indian banks are resilient and ready to seize the opportunities that would come up in the next phase of growth in the economy," she added.