ICICI Bank’s initiatives to de-risk loans have held it in good-stead with impact on asset quality likely to be manageable. An under-appreciated aspect is that its operating profit grew at 19-20% in FY19-20 & 18% YoY in first half of FY21. It has narrowed the gap with HDFC Bank and as retail growth & corporate-ecosystem banking pay-off with normal credit cost, ICICI Bank can grow normalised profits by 17-20%. Uptick in CASA growth is key for ICICI Bank.
Jefferies believes that ICICI Bank will be able to leverage retail lending demand and even deepen relationships with corporate customers through ecosystem banking initiatives: Reuters
