Centre open to further consolidation of banks depending on need: Anurag Thakur

Last year, the government announced mega amalgamation of 10 public sector banks into four to cater to the needs of the aspirational and New India.

This exercise will create six global sized banks, effective April, and will bring down the number of public sector banks to 12 from 27 in 2017.

“We have successfully done the mergers and recapitalisation of the banks. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has been successful which has brought back more than Rs 4 lakh crore to the banks. Further consolidation or merger will depend on the need,” said Thakur.

Creation of global sized banks through consolidation will facilitate Modi government’s resolve to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25, he said.

Bigger banks would have wider reach, stronger lending capacity and better products and technology to serve customers of New India.

Last year in August, the government announced merger of United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce with Punjab National Bank, making the proposed entity the second largest public sector bank (PSB). It was decided to merge Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank, while Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank. Similarly, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank are to be consolidated with Union Bank of India. In April 2019, Bank of Baroda in a first three-way merger exercise amalgamated Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with itself.

SBI had merged five of its associate banks - State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Travancore and State Bank of Hyderabad and also Bharatiya Mahila Bank with itself effective April 2017. Asked about listing of LIC as announced in the Budget, Thakur said it will help bring in greater transparency, public participation and also deepen the equity market.