Banks' deposits up 16.8%, credit rises 17% in 2010: RBI

Deposits of scheduled commercial banks in the country grew by 16.88% to Rs 46,01,925 crore, while the credit offtake rose by 17.08% to Rs 33,45,619 crore in 2010, according to the RBI data.

As per the 'Statistical Tables Relating to Banks of India' released by the Reserve Bank, total deposits of banks were Rs 39,37,335 crore and credit offtake was Rs 28,57,525 crore in 2009.

The highest rate of increase in deposits was registered in the metropolitan areas. The deposits grew by 17.77% to Rs 26,09,101 crore in the metropolitan areas in 2010.

In semi-urban areas, deposits went up by 16.22% to Rs 6,18,207 crore in 2010 over the previous year.

Bank deposits in rural areas grew by 15.87% to Rs 4,23,502 crore in 2010.

Interestingly, urban areas accounted for the lowest rate of growth in deposits at 15.36%. Deposits of scheduled commercial banks from urban areas stood at Rs 9,51,116 crore in 2010 against Rs 8,24,463 crore in 2009.

In contrast, the maximum growth rate of 21.10% in credit was seen in urban areas in 2010. Credit from scheduled commercial banks in urban locations stood at Rs 5,59,330 crore in the last year.

In semi-urban zones, credit was up 20.11% to Rs 3,20,372 crore in 2010.

According to the RBI data, credit offtake in rural areas grew to Rs 2,49,804 crore in 2010, up 19.70% from Rs 2,08,694 crore in 2009.

The lowest growth in credit was reported from metropolitan cities where it went up 15.41% to Rs 22,16,113 crore in 2010 from Rs 19,20,225 crore in the previous year.