Aim to strike balance between secured, unsecured loans: Ujjivan SFB CEO

'The retail deposit mobilisation is our focus right now. We'd like to grow the retail base - all our branches are working towards it'

Ittira Davis, managing director and chief executive officer, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB), in conversation with Bhaskar Dutta says the margins may face some pressure in the short run, even though lending rate hike the bank plans from October 1 will address this. Edited excerpts:

You posted a strong set of numbers in the first quarter (Q1) and said there is continued traction on collections at 99 per cent. What is your estimate for loan growth for the entire year?

For the current financial year (2022-23), we are looking at a loan growth of 25-30 per cent. We have seen