Top public sector banks: A financial snapshot

PSBs rose due to the direct effect of Reserve Bank of India's asset quality review

Listed public sector banks (PSBs) posted a 20 per cent rise in operating profit at Rs 1,51,534 crore in 2016-17, an improvement over the 3.6 per cent drop in 2015-16. The provisions and contingencies, that predominantly capture amounts set aside for bad loans jumped 87.5 per cent to Rs 1,50,599 crore in FY16. It was the direct effect of Reserve Bank of India’s asset quality review to the clean up bank books. In FY17 the per cent increase in provisions over FY16 was much smaller (1.7 per cent). But in absolute numbers, it was higher at Rs 1,53,146 crore for FY17. PSBs as a group went in the red in FY16 because of high burden of provisions. They continued to post net loss in 2016-17, though the extent of loss was much less at Rs 1,159 crore. 

Common sample of 22 PSBs

Compiled by BS Research Bureau. Source: Capitaline