The bank chairman AR Moorthy told mediapersons here that the bank's credit deposit ratio at 56.14 per cent was in line with the previous year's level. The bank's CD ratio in Kerala where it has the maximum number of branches -- 108 of a total 161 -- is above 50 per cent. However, the bank did not announce the profits, NPA level and the percentage of dividend to be given to the shareholders as the auditing was yet to be completed.

Moorthy said that despite the target of reducing the NPA which stood at 9.87 per cent in 1997-98 to a lower level of 5 per cent, the final figures would not show any striking improvement. "In view of the steps taken by the bank in the last year, the auditedfigures could show it at the last year's level," he said.

The bank has set a higher business target of Rs 2,800 crore during the current fiscal. As part of the centenary celebrations, the bank is planning to raise its NRI deposit base to 30 per cent from the existing 18. The strategy involves streamlining its operations in key pockets which are having potential for NRI deposits. The bank would be adding a few more branches in places like Calcutta, Angamali, Vashi-Mumbai, Coonoor, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam and Kulasekharam.