Dear Shareholders,
It gives me immense pleasure to place before you the highlights of your Bank's performance during FY2023. Details of the achievements and initiatives taken by your Bank are provided in the Annual Report for FY2023.

The past year has been another turbulent year with the global economy marred by profound shocks and unprecedented uncertainty. The global economic growth has moderated amidst the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, even though the effect of the pandemic has receded. Food and energy price shocks affected the general prices, with wage- price spiral leading to elevated inflation across countries. The recent failures of banks in the United States are a reminder of the challenges posed by the interaction between tighter monetary and financial conditions and the build- up in vulnerabilities. Though inflation has receded with central banks raising interest rates, underlying price pressures are proving sticky, with labor markets being tight in several economies. In parallel, debt levels remain high, limiting the ability of fiscal policymakers to respond to new challenges. Commodity prices have moderated, but the elevated geopolitical tensions are the key risks. However, earlier than expected opening of China is easing supply chain disruptions and renewing hopes for moderate economic recovery. As per IMF projections, world growth will bottom out at 2.8% this year before rising modestly to 3.0% in 2024.

Against this backdrop of global uncertainties, Indian economy has remained resilient with robust agriculture and services sector. Meanwhile, on the external front, exports of goods and services reached new heights supported by strong demand of Indian services. India’s GDP in FY2023 grew at 7.2%, driven by buoyant investment and private consumption. Looking ahead, real GDP growth is projected at 6.5% in FY2024 (RBI), with economic activity backed by improving rural demand, the Government’s thrust on infrastructure spending, revival in corporate investment, healthy bank credit, and moderating commodity prices.

Chairman

During the year FY2023, your Bank’s business grew at a faster pace than the banking industry, both in deposits and credit.

Deposits

In FY2023, the whole Bank deposits grew by 9.19% YoY to `44.23 Lakh Crore, of which domestic deposits increased by 8.50% to `42.53 Lakh Crore and foreign offices deposits by 29.60% to `1.70 Lakh Crore. CASA deposits grew by 4.95% to `18.62 Lakh Crore and CASA ratio of your Bank is at 43.80% as of March FY2023. Current account deposits grew by 7.47%, while saving bank deposits grew by 4.51%. Your Bank has opened 1.24 Crore Regular Savings Bank Accounts, of which 64% accounts were acquired digitally through YONO during FY2023.

Credit

Your Bank’s gross advances grew by 15.99% to `32.69 Lakh Crore, compared to a growth of 11.0% in FY2022. While domestic advances grew by 15.38% to `27.76 Lakh Crore, foreign offices advances grew by 19.55% to `4.92 Lakh Crore. You will be happy to know that your Bank’s domestic advances growth (15.38%) is higher than the banking industry’s growth of 15.0% in FY2023, led by robust growth in all the sectors. Among all the business segments, retail personal loans registered the highest YoY growth of 17.64% touching `11.79 Lakh Crore followed by SME advances which grew by 17.59% to `3.59 Lakh Crore. Agri & Corporate loans registered a YoY growth of 13.31% to `2.58 Lakh Crore and 12.52% to `9.79 Lakh Crore, respectively.

The 3-year CAGR of retail personal loans indicate a 16.0% growth and now accounts 42.5% of domestic advances in FY2023. Among the retail personal loans, Xpress credit loans crossed the `3 Lakh Crore mark, with YoY growth of 22.72% to `3.04 Lakh Crore in FY2023. Home loans and Auto loans, grew by 14.07% to `6.41 Lakh Crore and 23.22% to `97,523 Crore respectively during FY2023. As on March 2023, your Bank’s market share in Home loans and Auto loans is at 33.1% and 19.4% respectively.

Investment

With the interest rate hikes across the globe to tame inflation, your Bank’s prudent investment decisions helped contain the impact of rising interest rates on the investment portfolio. Your Bank’s investment portfolio increased by 6.3% to `15.87 Lakh Crore in FY2023, of which 96% are domestic investments. Within the domestic investment portfolio, 62.94% is in HTM category while the rest is under AFS & HFT category. The yield on investment at 6.51% is in line with the interest rate scenario of FY2023. Your Bank’s liquidity position remains comfortable, and it is well-placed to handle any moderation in liquidity.

Profitability

During FY2023, your Bank optimally leveraged the opportunities inherent in the resurgent and resilient Indian economy. Buoyed by relentless pursuit of best practices and strategies across niche segments, the standalone net profit during FY2023 rose by over 58% to `50,232 Crore from previous year’s net profit of `31,676 Crore (FY2022). Your Bank has registered significant improvements on the asset quality front, provision coverage ratio, RoE/RoA, NII and NIM, while also giving highest standalone profit in FY2023 by any listed corporate, domestically.

The Net Interest Income (NII) of your Bank registered a robust growth of 19.99% over the previous year at `1,44,841 Crore in FY2023 (`1,20,708 Crore in FY2022). Lending book grew across all segments and remained adequately diversified with traditional bastions like Xpress credit and Housing loans growing handsomely, all contributing to higher interest income. Control in slippages and moderation in credit costs showed marked improvements. Credit costs further improved by 23 basis points to 0.32%, continuing its momentum. Total provisions made during FY2023 stood at `33,481 Crore, falling 7.51% (`2717 Crore) over FY2022 level. The operating profit of your Bank during FY2023 stood at `83,713 Crore, a marked improvement of 11.18% over FY2022 (`75,292 Crore that had grown by 5.22%). The cost to income ratio increased by 56 basis points in FY2023 (over FY2022), though standing a little elevated at 53.87 for the FY2023 against 53.31 (FY2022) due to higher provisions on account of wage hike negotiations.

Return on Assets (RoA) for Q4 FY2023 stood at 1.23% (0.96% for the full FY2023 against 0.67% for FY2022), signalling that the journey towards guidance of ROA of 1%+ was on track with continuous improvement in ROA from FY2020 onwards. Return on Equity (RoE) showed marked improvement of 551 basis points, rising to 19.43% for the FY2023 against 13.92% during FY2022 (as against improvement of 398 basis points displayed in FY2022).

Capital

The capital ratios of the Bank continued to improve during the financial year on the back of better planning, plough back of profit, and efficient risk management of the banking book. The CET-1 ratio improved by 33bps to reach 10.27% as of March 2023.

The overall Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) as at the end of March 2023 stands at 14.68%, improving by 85 bps YoY. With healthy profits in FY2023, the capital position of the Bank remains comfortable to tap future growth opportunities.

Dividend

I am happy to announce that the Board of your Bank has declared a dividend of `11.30 per equity share (i.e. 1130%) for the financial year ended March 31, 2023.

Asset Quality

The focus on asset quality and containing risk has been an area of continued attention for the Bank. There was a broad-based improvement in the asset quality of your Bank in FY2023. The gross non-performing assets (NPA) of the Bank dropped by 119 bps YoY and stood at 2.78% as of March 2023. The net NPA ratio accordingly stands at 0.67% as of March 2023 down 35 bps YoY.

Slippage, which indicates the incremental fall in credit quality during the year, was down by 26.38% compared to FY2022 and as a result, the slippage ratio for FY2023 improved by 34 bps YoY reaching 0.65% as of March 2023.

The proactive management of risk during the year resulted in improvement in Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) by 135 bps YoY, standing at 76.39% by the close of financial year.

Customer Centricity

At SBI, customer-centricity is of paramount importance, and we undertake a proactive and flexible approach to cater to the changing financial needs of our customers.

We employ cutting-edge technology and new solutions to offer seamless and efficient banking experiences, keeping our finger on the pulse of market developments. Our objective is to significantly increase our presence across the country and penetrate deeper into new regions to ensure that all our customers have access to our services.

Our multichannel delivery model – digital, mobile, ATM, internet, social media and branches, offer customers a wide choice to carry out their transactions, as per their convenience at any time and place. Your Bank has one of the largest ATM networks in the country, with 65,627 ATMs, including Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines (ADWMs), as on March 31, 2023. On an average, ~1.3 Crore transactions are recorded every day at your Bank’s ATMs/ADWMs and 5.66 Lakh cash deposit transactions at ADWMs.

Your Bank has established a centralised dedicated cell, CLIC (Customer Liability Identification Centre), across all 17 circles. This cell expedites the resolution of complaints related to unauthorised electronic debit transactions (UAED), ensuring a swift and efficient customer experience.

To ensure optimal service quality, incognito visits were carried out at various branches. These visits assessed various aspects such as infrastructure availability, staff readiness, and overall branch activity.

To improve customer convenience and ease of banking, your Bank is extending doorstep banking services through agents to all customers at the top 100 banking centres. Senior Citizens more than 70 years of age and differently abled persons are being extended doorstep banking services at all banking centres.

With a presence across all time zones through its 235 points of presence in 29 countries, your Bank has gradually spread its wings globally and has become a pioneer of International Banking among the Indian banks. During FY2023, your Bank has opened one India visa application centre at Khulna (Bangladesh) and 5 branches and 3 extension counters through its overseas subsidiary in Nepal.

Technology & Innovation

Your Bank uses technology in every aspect of the value proposition - from business, designing products, streamlining processes, and improving delivery, to monitoring. Your Bank has taken several initiatives to build a quality SME portfolio in a risk-mitigated manner and has implemented significant changes to ensure ease of banking.

YONO Business combines all corporate banking needs by being a one-stop solution for the customer. Your Bank deploys the most advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and business analytics, among others, to augment its product offerings to enhance customer delight each time, without exception. Under YONO, Pre- Approved Business Loan (PABL) has recorded a YoY growth of 1076% to `3,605 Crore in FY2023.

Following initiatives have been implemented during the year:

1. New digital products under development in collaboration with Fintech/ AA/ GST

MSME SAHAJ Seller’s Invoice Financing on Yono Business providing digital loan and financing of GST invoice Seller’s Invoice Financing Scheme under GST Sahay, a GoI initiative, provides digital loan through GST Sahay app, which is a marketplace.

2. Contactless Lending Platform (CLP):

Your Bank is one of the stakeholders in SIDBI-led PSB Consortium, which offers SMEs quick and simple access to loans through CLP platform psbloanin59minutes.com. Eligible proposals receive instant in-principle approval based on GST returns, IT returns and account statements.

For FY2023, your Bank has already sanctioned 6,342 leads worth `2,940.24 Crore, with ticket size ranging from `1 Lakh to `5 Crore.

To facilitate digitalisation and streamline the issuance of credit, a new mechanism for the auto-renewal of leads obtained from CLP has been launched. This approach will guarantee the prompt renewal of accounts considered good and financially satisfactory, with minimal need for manual work. It allows Relationship Managers (SME) to concentrate on sales and marketing activities.

3. Assisted Journey for ETCB/ NTCB/ NTB Customers

The Assisted Journey allows operating functionaries such as RM (SME) team, field officers and Branch Managers to initiate the CLP journey on behalf of the customer without needing them to input any details. These can be uploaded directly on the portal.

4. Supply Chain Finance

By leveraging technology and branch network, your Bank has been a major player in supply chain finance while strengthening corporate relationships across sectors. During FY2023, supply chain finance was extended to 34,592 dealers with total sanctioned limits of over `44,565 Crore e-DFS (Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme) and `16,437 Crore e-VFS (Electronic Vendor Financing Scheme) respectively.

Your Bank entered into 16 new e-DFS and 37 new e-VFS tie-ups during the year. Your Bank has already implemented CLP for e-DFS and e-VFS. Your Bank has also simplified the e-VFS processes and built a new digital interface “psbloansin59minutes.com” on CLP for improved customer experience. It has also introduced Supply Chain Finance Centralised Processing Centres to reduce TAT for proposal processing. To ring-fence the supply chain portfolio, it has implemented suitable risk mitigation measures and risk-based pricing. Your Bank is also launching various campaigns for onboarding dealers/ vendors and broadening the channel finance base.

Your Bank is the first Public Sector Bank to register as a financier on the TReDS platform and is present on all the three TReDS platforms in the country -RXIL, M1 Exchange and Invoicemart, to provide finance to MSMEs. In FY2023, your Bank has discounted 26,973 bills amounting to `9,800 Crore, registering a YoY growth of 144%.

To further penetrate the agriculture and rural market, your Bank has floated State Bank Operations Support Services (SBOSS), which is expected to help your Bank reach out to a larger populace, coupled with improved efficiency in sourcing and renewal of KCC loans.

Your Bank is actively looking to partner with agri-techs and start-ups to cater to the financial needs across the agriculture value chain. Your Bank has opened specialised Start-up branches at Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai to offer one-stop solutions to Start-ups.

In order to make banking more convenient for customers, your Bank has introduced the V-CIP digital process, which allows account opening from home, eliminating the need to visit branches. During FY2023, 4.70 Lakh customers joined us through V-CIP.

As a result of the various initiatives taken by your Bank, 64% of total Regular Savings Bank Accounts have been opened digitally during FY2023.

Your Bank has ensured customer convenience and portfolio growth by offering a comprehensive range of products on multiple platforms, with higher profit margins. YONO offers digital loans in real-time, eliminating the need for physical documentation or visiting a branch. Additionally, real-time pre-approved personal loan eligibility by sending SMS has been introduced.

Key initiatives during the FY on ATMs/ ADWMs front chiefly include:

• Implementing Enhanced cash dispensation logic for small denomination notes at all Bank’s ATMs.
• OTP based Cash withdrawal – addition of new feature – 30 sec Timer display on ATM screen to make customer aware about the time available for entering the OTP and avoid time out.
• Pro-active reversal of failed transactions to customers.
• Installation of 15000 new GCC machines.
• Cassette Swap has been implemented in 12907 Branches managed by CAPEX ATMs/ ADWMs
• 49,719 sites have been covered under electronic surveillance solutions (eSS)
• SMS is being sent to customers for availing free Balance Enquiry & Mini Statement from SBI ATMs and the above services are also available on WhatsApp banking.
• Replacement of 3,250 old SWAYAM machines has been completed.
• Display of “Cash not available” on ATM Screen whenever the ATMs are out of Cash (Before the transactions are undertaken by the customers).

Your Bank has deployed 20,137 Barcode Based Passbook Printing Kiosks (SWAYAMs) at 17,643 branches and 13 lakh transactions are processed on daily basis, migrating ~3.65 Crore passbook printing transactions every month from branch counters. Your Bank has also deployed 33,077 GCC terminals at 21,446 retail branches for transactions through debit cards to promote Green Banking. To combat the Cybercrimes, Ministry of Home Affairs has rolled out cybercrime reporting Portal with dedicated email (www.cybercrime.gov. in) and a helpline number 1930 to report the cybercrime incidents by the victims. Cybercrime cells at 17 circles of your Bank work in multiple shifts to attend to customer complaints concerning cyber frauds.

As on 31.03.2023, a total of 3,04,450 complaints have been attended, and an amount of `51.50 Crore has been put on hold.

Financial Inclusion

Your Bank has taken significant steps to promote financial inclusion through a vast network of Business Correspondents (BCs)/Customer Service Points (CSPs). As on 31st March 2023, your Bank has 76,089 CSPs, providing access to 32 banking products and services in unbanked areas while reducing footfalls in the branches. The BC/CSP channel has recorded around 53.32 Crore transactions amounting to `3,30,389 Crore during FY2023. On an average, around 25-30 Lakh transactions per day are routed through the BC/CSP channel.

The BC/CSP channel has opened 14.69 Crore BSBD accounts with `50,091 Crore deposits and has brought the unbanked / underprivileged sections of society within the ambit of the formal Banking system by promoting various social security schemes, low-cost microinsurance products (PMJJBY, PMSBY) and pension schemes (APY).

Your Bank is the undisputed market leader in customer enrolment for government-sponsored social security schemes viz, PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY. The share of banks in PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY are 43.83%, 40.85% and 31.78% respectively, among all Public Sector banks. During FY2023, your Bank has achieved 27.88 Lakh APY enrolments as against the target of 17.90 Lakh allotted by PFRDA (~156% of the target), simultaneously winning major awards from the PFRDA under various APY campaigns.

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Practices

We believe that our success is intertwined with the prosperity of the society we serve, and therefore, we actively engage in initiatives focused on education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and community development. By embracing corporate social responsibility, we strengthen our bond with stakeholders, foster inclusive growth, and contribute to building a better and more equitable future for all.

For FY2023, an amount of `316.76 Crore has been allocated for undertaking CSR activities by your Bank. Out of which, an amount of `194.78 Crore is allocated to SBI Foundation for undertaking CSR activities in project mode.

Your Bank has developed an ESG financing framework aligned with sustainable finance guidelines and principles. This framework serves as a guide for our future bond and loan issuance programs, ensuring that proceeds are used to finance or refinance eligible assets and projects with environmental or social benefits. It has received a Second Party Opinion to validate its robustness and adherence to policy prescriptions.

To promote ESG and to underscore the Bank’s longstanding commitment to supporting green and social projects, your Bank concluded its largest inaugural Syndicated Social loan of $1 billion ($500 million + green shoe of $500 million) making it the largest ESG loan raised by a commercial Bank in the Asia-Pacific market.

Taking cognizance of the importance of managing the efficiency of our owned facilities, your Bank is making continuous efforts to develop a green ecosystem. Under this initiative, your Bank’s prominent establishments viz Corporate Office, Global IT Centre and 6 of the Local Head Offices (LHOs) have shifted to green power through green tariff policy or through open access channels via solar/wind.

In line with the country’s vision for scaling up Renewable Energy (RE) power generation, your Bank is also facilitating RE financing in a big way. Your Bank has availed lines of credit from multilateral agencies viz. the World Bank, KfW German Development Bank etc., for onward lending to RE power developers.

Strategic New Initiatives

During FY2023, your Bank has continued undertaking strategic initiatives to achieve the long-term objectives set by the Bank. Some of the important initiatives are:

• In line with government policies on electric mobility, your Bank has partnered with Tata Power to set up EV charging facilities at various identified premises, including our corporate office, local head offices, and residential premises across the country. This initiative promotes sustainable mobility and encourages the use of electric vehicles among our employees.
• As a part of its commitment to sustainable development, your Bank has incorporated rooftop solar photo voltaic systems financing as a component of the home loan project cost. This, coupled with an extensive micro market study and the opening of 133 processing centres across India have enabled greater penetration of home loans in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
• Furthermore, IT has developed ‘SBI- Easy ride’, an end-to-end digital product which enables two-wheeler financing without the need to visit any branch for sanction or disbursement.
• In case of personal loan products, your Bank has integrated Digital Document Execution into Xpress Credit loans, utilising e-stamping and e-signature for real-time document execution to make it customer-centric.
• For the benefit of its NRI clientele, your Bank has launched a number of services in FY2023 including tie- up with ‘Remitly’ to facilitate swift remittance to India, remittance facility using UPI Application, launch of NRE non-callable deposit scheme, increase of daily limit for forex outward remittances through FX-Out (INB Channel) from NRE Account to US$ 25000, among others.
• Your Bank has introduced SBI e-Forex facility in the YONO Business - Android app to enable customers to book foreign exchange rates on the go. The same is expected to be rolled out shortly for the iOS platform as well.
• External benchmark (T-Bill Rate) linked interest rates have been rolled out to WCL and LC Bill Discounting facilities to incentivise top-rated borrowers and encourage the utilisation of their limits. To stay competitive, this option is even offered for Rupee Export Packing Credit facilities.
• Project Kuber was launched in your Bank, which is driving a special focus on marketing of current account deposits and various transaction banking products in CCG vertical.
• Your Bank recognises the contribution of its ex-employees, whose dedicated lifelong services brought your Bank to its present height. It initiated ‘Project SBI Cares’ for automation and streamlining of various pre-retirement and post-retirement benefits and processes through its HRMS portal.
• Further, your Bank has adopted a branch-based model for manpower planning linked to productivity parameters at the branches.
• Your Bank has been at the forefront of launching various innovative solutions. Some of the initiatives taken during the year include development of Internal Financial Controls over Financial Reporting (IFCoFR) Portal, a dashboard for monitoring of gold retention limit, and new features in SBI Digi Vault Application.
• Your Bank has launched a Fund Management Solution to meet the requirements of Government of India pertaining to Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) under Single Nodal Account (SNA) covering 433 schemes of 23 States/UTs and Central Sector Scheme through Central Nodal Account (CNA) mechanism covering 124 schemes.

Subsidiaries

Through its subsidiaries, your Bank provides a complete bouquet of financial products and services to its customers.

On a consolidated basis, SBI Capital Markets Limited has posted a profit after tax (PAT) of `725.39 Crore for FY2023 as against `635.42 Crore in the previous year. SBICAP Securities Limited (SSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Limited and broking arm of the SBI Group posted a net profit of `308 Crore during the year ended FY2023 as against `233 Crore in FY2022.

With a total Gross Written Premium (GWP) of `10,888 Crore and a YoY growth of 18%, the SBI General Insurance Company Limited achieved the milestone of `10,000 Crore GWP in FY2023. SBI General increased its market share from 4.15% in FY2022 to 4.21% in FY2023. The company’s presence has grown from 17 locations in 2011 to over 141 branches across India. The company has served over 34 Crore clients to date, with claims of `22,000 Crore handled.

SBI Life Insurance Company Limited has proven its market leadership in the year ended March 31, 2023, with numero- uno position in Individual New Business Premium, Individual Rated Premium, Total Rated Premium and Total New Business Premium among the private insurers. The company witnessed growth in Individual New business premium of 26.7% vis-à-vis the industry growth of 15.4% with a private market share of 24.3% & Industry market share of 14.5%. The company generated a PAT of `1,721 Crore in FY2023 against `1,506 Crore in FY2022.

SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited registered PAT of `2,258 Crore in FY2023 as compared to `1,616 Crore in FY2022, an increase of 40% YoY.

SBI Funds Management Limited is the fastest growing AMCs with a growth of over 10.83% against the industry average of 5.55% in FY2023. It has one of largest investor bases with over 121.80 Lakh live investor folios with about 27 Lakh new investor folios added in FY2023. The company posted a PAT of `1,331.20 Crore for FY2023 as against `1070.65 Crore earned during FY2022.

SBI Global Factors Limited, a leading NBFC factor providing both Domestic and Export Factoring services under one roof, registered a turnover of `5,544 Crore for FY2023 as compared to turnover of `4,773 Crore in FY2022.

SBI Pension Funds Private Limited has earned net profit of `53.51 Crore for FY2023. The total Assets Under Management (AUM) of the company as on 31st March 2023 is `3,39,006 Crore (YoY growth of 20.01%). The company maintains lead position among 10 PFMs in terms of AUM with market share of 37.71%.

Awards and Recognition

Your Bank’s efforts in various areas of banking were acknowledged and many awards and recognitions were received during the year. Your Bank was awarded ET BFSI Best Brands award for 2022 and 2023. The Global Finance Magazine also awarded "The Best Bank Award 2022".

Your Bank has been awarded by ET HR World Future Skill Awards, ‘Gold’ under the category ‘Best Learning Management System’ for Gyanodaya “e-learning” and askSBI, and ‘Silver’ under the category “High Impact Certification Programme” for Role Based Certifications. In HR policies, your Bank received 3-Gold Awards at ET Human Capital Awards, namely HR Leader of the Year - Large Scale Organisations; Excellence in Business Continuity Planning & Management and Most Valuable Employer during COVID-19.

Your Bank was adjudged the “Winner”, for the fourth year in succession, in Best Digital Financial Inclusion category among Large Banks in IBA Annual Banking Technology Awards 2022. In home loans, Government of India awarded “Best Performing Bank under CLSS” under ‘PMAY-U Awards 2021: 150 Days Challenge’.

ICAI recognized your Bank’s financial reporting standards by awarding the Gold Shield-Category-I for Public Sector Banks- FY 2021-22. Additionally, your Bank also bagged “India’s Best Annual Report Awards 2022.

For its ESG initiatives, your Bank has been awarded CDP score of “B”, the highest score in the last 5 years by CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), the global disclosure system for companies to manage their environmental impact. The score of B represents that the organisation has addressed the environmental impact of their business and has ensured good environmental management.

Your Bank was awarded “Issuer of the Year Private Placement” at the 5th National Summit & Awards on Corporate Bond Market 2022 by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Further, NASSCOM DSCI Excellence Awards 2022 awarded “Best Security Awareness and “Best Security Operations Centre of the year”.

Way Forward

Overall FY2023 has been a good year for the Bank. Despite the geopolitical headwinds, resurgence of COVID-19 in China, Indian economy showed remarkable resilience and the same reflects in your Banks financials.

Nevertheless, last financial year was not without its share of surprises. The episodes of financial instability in the US and European banking took markets by surprise but did not impact the Bank. However, vulnerabilities may emerge as interest rates normalise from their ultra-low levels. This warrants proactive identification and mitigation of risk in the current financial year.

Your Bank has had a healthy run of reporting robust financial results successively for the last three years. Despite the challenges, your Bank’s ability to absorb unexpected losses has improved. Healthy internal accruals reinforce its ability to tap capital markets, if warranted, in future. Risk management practices have been strengthened over the years and incremental improvements remain a perpetual work in progress.

Accommodating environment induced financial risk in the bank's overall risk management strategy is the next milestone that the Bank will aim for in FY2024. It is widely expected that RBI will make tangible progress in this direction during this financial year. Your Bank remains committed to incorporating principles and practices that promote sustainable banking operations and the same reflects in our CDP score of “B” for FY2022, highest in last five years.

The conscious strategy to structurally transform your Bank through digitisation of systems and process has progressed well. The Bank’s flagship digital offering SBI YONO has shown growth across products and business lines. The Bank aims to be agile and imaginative in respect of its digital offerings so that YONO becomes a “Primary digital bank of choice” in coming years.

The use of business analytics and AI/ ML in decision making and operations will be taken to the next logical level by deploying NextGen Data Warehouse and Data Lake. Mutually beneficial partnerships with fintechs and NBFCs under RBI’s co-lending framework will be explored.

Your Bank is comfortably placed in terms of growth capital in the current year. With declining credit cost, opportunities for lending in sunrise sectors such as sectors identified under PLI scheme, renewables as well as electric mobility will be explored to diversify the portfolio. The RBI’s guidelines on green deposits opens new opportunities on the liability side to green the Bank’s balance sheet.

Summing up, despite the economic headwinds, your Bank has innovated well to respond to the challenges posed by the operating environment. I am more than hopeful that the performance achieved in FY2023 will continue in FY2024.

“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity- not as a threat”

Yours Sincerely,

Dinesh Kumar Khara