Go First exposure, pension provisions restrict Bank of Baroda Q4 net growth to 2 pc
Bank of Baroda on Friday reported a 2.3 per cent growth in its standalone net profit of Rs 4,886 crore for the March quarter, restricted by a hit due to its exposure to the grounded airliner Go First and also setting aside money towards pension liabilities. On a consolidated basis, the lender's net profit declined to Rs 5,132 crore from Rs 5,255 crore in the year-ago period. For 2023-24, the same rose to Rs 18,767 crore from the Rs 14,905 crore in the year-ago period.
For the reporting quarter, the core net interest income rose 2.3 per cent to Rs 11,793 crore on the back of a 12.5 per cent increase in advances, and a 0.26 per cent decline in net interest margin to 3.27 per cent.
The non-interest income rose 20.9 per cent to Rs 4,191 crore on the back of an increase in treasury income and fee income, and supported the overall profit growth.
Without naming Go First, its Chief Executive and Managing Director Debadatta Chand said the bank recognised an aviation account with a Rs 1,700-crore exposure as a non-performing asset during the quarter, and also decided to provide for it fully within a single quarter leading to a huge jump in provisioning for NPAs to Rs 1,485 crore from the Rs 320 crore in the year-ago period.
A senior official said the bank has been making provisions on the aviation account for some time now but in this quarter, it decided to take full provisions, including the one-third portion which enjoys government guarantee.
When asked about the lack of securities with the lessors being allowed to
