1. Opening Hook
Public sector banks were written off faster than airline refunds.
Then Central Bank of India walked in, flexing a 31% profit jump and a CD ratio nobody expected this soon.
While markets were busy debating rate cuts and global doom, this 114-year-old PSU quietly fixed its balance sheet, cleaned NPAs, and decided growth is cool again.
The MD calmly announced they missed guidance on just three parameters — and still sounded disappointed. That’s confidence, not humility.
This wasn’t a “we survived” concall.
This was a “we’re back, please update your Excel” concall.
Read on — the real fun starts when management explains why margins slipped, provisions jumped, and yet profits refused to cooperate.
2. At a Glance
- Net Profit up 31.7% – All-time high, PSU banks suddenly remembering capitalism.
- Advances up 19.5% YoY – Credit growth woke up violently in Q3.
- Deposits up 13.2% – Without CDs or bribing depositors.
- GNPA down to 2.70% – Another PSU escaping its NPA past.
- NNPA at 0.45% – Practically private-bank territory.
- CD Ratio at 72% – Reached FY26 target… in Q3.
- NIM at 2.96% – Missed 3%, cue dramatic sighs.
- Cost-to-Income at 57.8% – Efficiency still stuck in traffic.
3. Management’s Key Commentary
“Total
business has grown by 15.77% to ₹7.74 lakh crore.”
(Yes, we finally decided to grow on both sides of the balance sheet 😏)
“Net profit increased 31.7% to ₹1,263 crore, an all-time high.”
(Even we didn’t expect this to sound so casual)
“We achieved 11 out of 14 guidance parameters.”
(Missed three, still passed with distinction)
“NIM guidance was above 3%, we achieved 2.96%.”
(Blame RBI, gravity, and repo linkage)
“Cost-to-income was guided below 56%, it is 57.84%.”
(PSU muscle memory still loading)
“Credit cost is 0.37% and slippage ratio is 0.25%.”
(Asset quality behaving like it went to finishing school)
“Recovery from written-off accounts was ₹1,026 crore this quarter.”
(Zombie loans officially put down 🧟♂️)
4. Numbers Decoded
Metric Q3 FY26 What It Really Means
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit ₹1,263 Cr Growth with buffers, not jugaad
Advances