Cover Story
- Even as we raise a toast to the winners of the BT-KPMG Best Banks Survey of 2011, we need to take note of the many challenges that lie ahead. FULL COVERAGE ALSO SEE: Videos | Winners in pics
- By pacing itself and keeping an eye on all aspects of its performance, Bank of Baroda has won the race.
- IndusInd Bank's Romesh Sobti and his team transform a staid bank into a winner. In the BT-KPMG Best Bank Study 2011, the 17-year-old bank has emerged the overall winner in the mid-sized category of lenders with a balance sheet size of less than Rs 50,000 crore.
- The best banks, across categories and key parameters
- Banks are discovering that serving rural and semi-urban customers, which started out as a regulatory requirement, is good business.
- With soaring inflation and high interest rates making it hard for families to repay debts, bad assets of indian banks are piling up fast. For retail borrowers, high floating interest rates and increased EMIs are causes of concern. Trends for corporate borrowers are similar. As a result, gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks are close to Rs 1 trillion. But no bank wants to go on record about its NPAs.
- Long-overdue reforms could transform the banking landscape.
- Five key developments to expect in the banking space in coming years.
- The ranking covers 63 scheduled commercial banks that provided their annual reports at the time of conducting the study.
- Size eludes Indian banks, but they are neck and neck with Chinese banks when it comes to strength or productivity and efficiency.
How different things work
Recently, there was a midair scare in London after the duct tape used to secure the damaged cockpit window of a Ryanair aircraft came unstuck shortly after take-off. Aircraft windscreens need to be subjected to certain routine checks. Here's a primer:Mango: Microsoft needs to be complimented for building an innovative mobile operating system
BT tries out Microsoft's innovative smartphone operating system PowerGrid proposes joint ventures in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, entailing an investment of Rs 1,500 crore in October this year.Micky Jagtiani's retail business growth
Micky Jagtiani is the richest Indian expatriate in the Gulf Cooperation Council with a fortune of $3.2 billion. His Landmark Group's presence has grown in West Asia, Egypt, Pakistan, and India, where it has 101 outlets in retail, hospitality, and mall management.'Indian households are opting for the relative safety of gold and deposits'
Faced with sticky inflation, sluggish growth, and global uncertainty, Indian households are opting for the relative safety of gold and deposits, says a Morgan Stanley report.Quotes from business and political leaders
Sometimes something appears in the newspapers in our country, something appears in China, that I think invites comments. But overall, our relations are quite good, says Manmohan Singh.Biggest deals in the past 30 days*
Goldman Sachs has invested Rs 1,000 crore ($200.3 million) in ReNew Wind Power, a Mumbai-based renewable energy solutions provider, marking the largest deal in the renewable energy generation industry in IndiaIs the government trying to defang the RTI act?
By initiating a debate on the scope of the Right to Information, or RTI, Act, especially after it has helped unearth some of the biggest corruption cases in the country and put ministers and bureaucrats behind bars, the government has made its intentions very clear.Car makers cashing in on women's growing empowerment
Car makers put women in the driver's seat in their ads to cash in on their growing empowerment.ISB's founding dean feels US regulators are using Rajat Gupta
ISB's founding dean feels US regulators are using Rajat Gupta to warn corporate America.Ranbaxy is set to become the first home-grown company to get a new drug to market
Ranbaxy is set to become the first home-grown company to get a new drug to market.Reserve Bank of India Governor Duvvuri Subbarao on issues facing the banking industry
Reserve Bank of India Governor Duvvuri Subbarao says the central bank has to be sensitive about being independent. However, when it comes to monetary policy, the central bank has to have autonomy because that is good for the government, the system and for the economy.Freeing interest rates on savings deposits may give better returns and provide more options
Inflation has, over the past seven years, consistently outpaced returns to savers. The move to free savings rates is expected to trigger product innovation among banks. RBI, on its part, hopes that depositors will benefit not just from higher interest rates, but also from more choices.
E-commerce as a career for those who have the mettle for it
E-commerce is suddenly a hot option, but only if you have the mettle for it.
Neville Isdell on his book Inside Coca-Cola
Neville Isdell spoke to Suveen K. Sinha on the phone from Barbados, where, at 68, he is enjoying uninterrupted golf in the Caribbean sunshine. Edited excerpts:Isaacson's book comes closest to understanding the late Steve Jobs
Isaacson's book comes closest to understanding the late Steve Jobs
People who made news
Aamir Khan, Nita Ambani, Kavin Mittal, Narayanan Sivasailam, Narayanan Sivasailam
HDFC's Amitabh Chaudhry on his leadership style
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Life Amitabh Chaudhry admires N.R. Narayana Murthy 'The Best of the Lot'
Your annual listing of India's Most Valuable Companies (BT500, November 13) was comprehensive and very well put together. I am glad that instead of ranking PSUs and private companies separately, you decided to offer just one listing.
Chairman of Piramal Healthcare Ajay Piramal says funds can be raised from within
Chairman of Piramal Healthcare Ajay Piramal, talks to BT's Geetanjali Shukla. Edited excerpts:The strike at Maruti fizzles out a third time as labour leaders take their money and flee
The strike at Maruti fizzles out a third time as labour leaders take their money and flee.Vaishnavi Corporate Communications shuts shop
After a year of looking over her shoulder, Niira Radia looks beyond Vaishnavi.Ajay Piramal sets up three teams to work on business opportunities
Ajay Gopikrishna Piramal has not done much with the cash pile of he got as part-payment, when he sold his company's formulations business to the US-based Abbott Lab. While one wonders reasons behind the inaction, Business Today learns that he has set up three strategy groups to look for business opportunities.E-ticketing websites gain traction
Paid a commission of Rs 15 or above for each ticket sold, online ticketing companies now control a Rs 650 crore to 700 crore market. Ticketing companies are working overtime to ensure public enthusiasm continues to rise.
Events of the fornight
Caught at Silly Point: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer became the first cricketers to be sent to prison for corruption, when a London court found them guilty of spot-fixing.
First Indian Grand Prix: Glitz, glamour and 24 racing cars
It was glitz, glamour and the small matter of 24 racing cars.
Wish driving Mahindra's new utility vehicle, the XUV5OO felt as good
Mahindra's new utility vehicle, the XUV5OO, is great to look at and sit inside. Wish driving it felt as good.BMW X1 is taking the market by storm
Despite initial production problems, the BMW X1 is taking the market by storm. 'Legal tests for grant of bail continue to remain the same'
The public sentiment even on bail to undertrials in corruption cases has unfortunately been coloured by extreme views on punishment for corruption. New words in the business - Betamaxed
Betamaxed means when a superior product or service is overtaken by an inferior but well-marketed competitor.
How to build a mutual fund portfolio that can weather all market storms
How to build a mutual fund portfolio that can weather all market storms. 'Though turbulent, these are also exciting and challenging times for banks in India'
Our 18th Banks survey sets the gold standard (our cover image is not accidental) and we bring you a vault stocked by Special Projects Editor Alokesh Bhattacharyya and Senior Editor Anand Adhikari with rich detail and analysis from their team of reporters.
