SBI expects 16-18% credit growth in FY13

State Bank of India on Saturday said that it expects loan growth of 16-18% in the current fiscal despite a general slowdown in credit offtake.

"There is demand slowdown...We expect a credit growth of 16-18% for 2012-13," said SB Nayar, SBI deputy managing director.

With regard to corporate loans, he said certain sectors which are doing well in terms of credit offtake include ports, consumer goods and cement. However, there are issues with some sectors, including road and powers, he added.

Credit growth of banks has been flat in the second quarter at 0.1% to 16.4%, according to RBI data for the period. On the recent rating action by Standard & Poors (S&P) on SBI, Nayar said the downgrading will have no impact as the agency has only brought the rating on par with the sovereign rating. So, there will be no cost implication on raising of funds, he said. Earlier this week, S&P revised the stand-alone credit profile (SACP) of SBI to 'BBB-' from 'BBB'.

Meanwhile, SBI's newly appointed managing director S Vishvanathan said last year the bank spent R71 crore in corporate social responsibility activities.

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