State-run United Bank of India has said it will focus its lending on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and retail according to news agencies.
The bank is planning to raise up to INR 1000 crore in one or more tranches through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) for which it sought shareholders’ approval at its Annual General Meeting.
“In 2016-17, the bank’s focus areas for lending would be in the MSME and retail segments“, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer P. Srinivas told the shareholders.
The bank will strive to achieve all its targets under Mudra Scheme, Standup India scheme and strengthen its retail channels, particularly housing, education and vehicle loan segments, he said.
“While making advances, the bank will endeavour to avoid sectors which are capital guzzlers and concentrate on government guarantee schemes. The bank will also augment its resources to ensure wealth generation for the future“, he said.
Srinivas said capital is scarce and so costly. The lender will try to conserve and strengthen capital position in the current financial year. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio under Basel III stood at 10.08 per cent with Tier I capital at 7.93 per cent as on March 31, 2016. Srinivas said the bank posted a net loss Rs 282 crore in 2015-16 as against a profit of Rs 256 crore in the previous year.
