The recent deposit shortfall is a wake-up call for banks in India
Mint New Delhi|December 31, 2024
They should treat depositors as business partners if they are to garner enough deposits for lending
DEEP MUKHERJEE is a quantitative risk management professional and a visiting faculty member at IIM Calcutta

Since 1998, there have been at least six occasions when deposit growth trailed credit growth. So, the recent brouhaha over a deposit crunch was surprising, considering it was the sixth, extending from April 2022 to October 2024. As surprising is the relative comfort due to better alignment between credit and deposit growth. In the previous five instances, the deposit-credit growth alignment was a result of both a rise in deposit growth and a fall in credit growth. The current alignment is due to a fall in credit growth and no improvement in deposit growth. This is worrisome. It may be a harbinger of more structural changes in the saving behaviour of households. If the banking system aspires to go back to the 14-16% deposit growth rate before 2016, it may have to treat depositors differently.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MINT NEW DELHIView all
Mint New Delhi

The Treasures of Nimrud Pieced Together Again

Archaeologists Have Been Reassembling Bas-Reliefs, Sculptures and Decorated Slabs

time-read
2 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

How Bhansali elevates the first encounter

An excerpt from a new book on the Hindi director considers the importance of first sightings in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's cinema

time-read
4 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

From arrack to wine, a bar crawl across Sri Lanka

Cocktail bars in the island nation are drawing on local traditions and flavours to give a heady twist to familiar spirits

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

Only human-centred AI can charm humans to adopt it

The AI industry could learn from carmakers how to focus on the consumer and modify perceptions

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

How Emerging Economies Could Prosper in a Protectionist World

As manufacturing export success gets harder, they should focus on service exports. These are unlikely to face big trade barriers

time-read
4 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

The Asian Dream Is Waking Up To Realities Of Middle-Class Life

Asians are realizing that staying middle-class is not guaranteed

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

Fix India's bond market to lift economic growth

As India's economy slows, we should revive public-private partnerships to attract private investment. But, for debt funding, we'll need to reform and invigorate our market for bonds

time-read
2 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

Lessons from the 75-year-old National Sample Survey

Its impressive history tells us much about innovation, autonomy and state-level data collection

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

We should let clarity prevail over nonsense: Here's a handy guide

We must use simple language, empathize with people, not take ourselves too seriously and be kind

time-read
4 mins  |
January 09, 2025
Mint New Delhi

Clear Goals and Discipline: How Small Investors Can Build Lasting Wealth

There is no one-size-fits-all, the answer will depend on your needs, personal preferences

time-read
3 mins  |
January 09, 2025