Industry profile:
The banking industry in India today comprises of 27 public sectors, 31 private banks and 29 foreign banks.
The Indian banking sector is headed for consolidation. The presence of many regional players will see few banks emerging as global competitors.
Moreover, the likely rise in interest rates will see bank margins under pressure. Treasury gains may wilt in the current scenario. Bank profits in future may again be driven by core income.
Indian banking industry in general and SBI in particular has positioned itself to take advantage of such economic growth, India is likely to achieve.
Company profile:
There are a total of 350 Commercial banks in the country, with more than 70,000 offices. STATE BANK OF INDIA owns 28% percent of these along with its seven associates. The bank has reach. Its three-and-a-half times the size of the next biggest bank, and bigger still than the next five banks put together. The bank has dominance. It has 28% percent of the total banking business in India.
Despite its sheer size, and the legacy of the public sector, the bank is surprisingly nimble. It’s computerizing its branches at a rapid pace, having already done so in 4,000 branches. It hopes to computerize 95% of the branch network by September 2005, and all the branches by December 2005. The bank has tied with TCS to develop core banking solutions, which will help network the branches.
For the moment, SBI is distancing itself from its old ways and charting new territories. A few years from now people will be asking whether it can remain efficient despite the high -growth blueprint. But for now, it can be safely said; the bank is moving forward and taking on competition head on.
Products, services and departments
The bank has brought about a lot of innovation in its products and departments and has come out with various schemes.
SBI is providing quality services for its customers, and has been successful in