Sale of entire 8 per cent will bring down government’s stake to 81.27 per cent. This means another 6.27 per cent will be required to be sold to meet minimum public shareholding norm, as suggested by the market regulator, SEBI.
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MOORTHY RV
Government is offloading up to 8 per cent of its stake in Central Bank of India at a floor price of ₹31. While bid opened for non-retail investors on Friday, retail investors can apply on Monday, May 25.
Shares of Central Bank was being traded at ₹32.15, at 10 am on Friday, which is over 5 per down lower than Thursday’s closing.
This is first offer for sale (OFS) in a public sector institution during current fiscal year. At the floor price, government can earn over ₹2,244 crore. Sale of entire 8 per cent will bring down government’s stake to 81.27 per cent. This means another 6.27 per cent will be required to be sold to meet minimum public shareholding norm, as suggested by the market regulator, SEBI.
On April 30, the bank reported a 30 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in fourth quarter (Q4FY26) standalone net profit at ₹724 crore against ₹1,034 crore in the year-ago quarter as it took a one-time impact of recognition of Deferred Tax Asset (DTA). The one-time impact of DTA recognition at about 25 per cent as against about 35 per cent amounted to ₹632 crore. In FY26, the public sector bank’s standalone net profit was up about 15 per cent y-o-y at ₹4,369 crore (₹3,785 crore in FY25).
The Bank’s board approved fourth interim dividend of ₹0.60 per equity share having face value of ₹10 each for FY26 The Board also approved capital raising plan for FY27 aggregating to ₹7,000 crore via through equity and debt.
Net interest income (difference between interest earned and interest expended) in the reporting quarter was up 18 per cent y-o-y at ₹4,002 crore (₹3,399 crore in the year ago period). Other income, including fee-based income, treasury income and recovery in written-off accounts, declined 33 per cent y-o-y to ₹1,150 crore (₹1,714 crore).
Loan loss provisions declined 22 per cent y-o-y to ₹647 crore (₹830 crore). Net interest margin declined to 3.07 per cent against 3.40 per cent in the year ago period. GNPAs position improved to 2.67 per cent of gross advances as at March-end 2026 against 3.18 per cent as at March-end 2025. Net NPAs position too improved a shade to 0.49 per cent of net advances against 0.55 per cent.
Gross advances increased 19 per cent y-o-y to ₹34,4516 crore as at March-end 2026, mainly on the back of 21 per cent growth in RAM advances and 14.50 per cent growth in corporate advances. Total deposits rose 13.38 per cent y-o-y to stand at 4,67,922 crore as at March-end 2026. Low-cost CASA (current account, savings account) deposits declined to 47.30 per cent of total deposits against 48.91 per cent in the year ago quarter.
According to Kalyan Kumar, MD & CEO, the bank has projected a credit and deposit growth at 14-16 per cent and 10-12 per cent, respectively. He expects gross non-performing assets to dip below 2.50 per cent and net interest margin to stay above 3 per cent.
Published on May 22, 2026
