Fitch: Indian banks to write off more loans

Indian banks are likely to take significantly more loan write-offs to reduce bad loans against a backdrop of rising provisions and weak recovery prospects, Fitch Ratings said on Thursday.

The state-owned banks account for around 90 per cent of impaired loan stock, and have cumulatively written off nearly USD 30 billion in bad loans in the past three years.

"Indian banks' performance for the first half of the financial year ending March 2020 (1HFY20) was characterised by overall weaker loan growth (compared with FY19) and slow resolution of legacy impaired loans," Fitch said in a report.

However, the sector's overall profitability turned positive for the first time since 2017-18 due to downwardtrending credit costs, it said adding that state-owned banks reported losses, albeit smaller than previously.

"Resolution delays coupled with rising provision cover on large legacy bad loans (nearing 90 per cent) could mean that loan write-offs will continue to be high for Indian banks, particularly state-owned banks," it said. "Write-offs exceeded recoveries and upgrades for nine out of 14 state banks reviewed in 1HFY20, while it was the reverse for private banks."

Loan growth fell to 9 per cent from 11 per cent in 201819, Fitch said adding that its expects overall loan growth to remain muted, with banks maintaining their cautionary stance against a backdrop of continued liquidity stress for the real estate and NBFC sectors and a slowing economy.

"Retail loan growth has been robust thus far, but banks could turn cautious if economic fundamentals continue to deteriorate," it said.

Fitch said it believes that the government could allow a one-off restructuring of realestate loans -- given the sector's severe challenges and the rising risk of defaults.