The number of domestic commercial-bank branch offices has risen by almost 10% over the past four years – from March 2004 to March 2008 – indicates a drive to create a broader and more peneterative network by Indian banks across the country.
Branches of nationalised banks have gone up from 34,492 in March 2004 to 38,726 in March 2008. However, during the same period foreign banks increased their branch offices from 221 to only 280.
In total, the number of offices has risen substantially from 69,248 in March 2004 to 77,773 in March 2008, exhibiting trends of an increase in number and reach over the past four years, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India which was released on Monday. Despite aggressive plans by state-owned banks to expand overseas, the number of offices established by Indian banks abroad has gone up from 106 in 2006, to 129 in 2008.
The liabilities and assets of branches of Indian scheduled banks in foreign countries have gone up.
According to RBI data, total liabilities increased from $29,336 million in 2006 to $60,558 million in 2008. Total assets of the domestic banks rose from $28,767 million in 2006, to $60,558 million in 2008.
Customer deposits also went up from $12,041 million in 2006, to $20,268 million in 2008.Regarding non-performing assets (NPAs) in the banking system, central bank data showed that since 2003, NPAs have risen from Rs 7, 76,507 crore in 2003 to Rs 2,331,679 crore in 2008. The NPAs for foreign banks have tripled from Rs 53,743 crore in 2003, to Rs 1, 63,000 crore in 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of workers, including officers, clerical staff and others employed by scheduled commercial banks throughout the country stood at 8, 99,407 as of March 2007.
