Karnataka Bank Ltd Guidance Report - SOIC x StockScans Report
as of Sep 2026
- IT solutions - loan originating system revamp, DevSecOps, HRMS, Treasury, BHIM 3.0 in FY26-27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management said major IT solutions planned for completion in FY26-27: loan originating system revamp with collateral management, DevSecOps, HRMS revamp, Treasury revamp and BHIM 3.0, reiterated in the Q1 FY27 PPT. These IT solutions were in progress as of Q1 FY27.
- ECL implementation - 1%-1.5% impact spread over 4-5 years
Pending - At the Q4 FY26 call, management said the ECL guideline impact of around 1% to 1.5% will be spread over the next 4-5 years, 25-30 basis points per year, and is "sufficiently taken care of"; at Q1 FY27 it said it is well prepared for the mandate becoming implementable from next year. No ECL implementation has occurred yet.
- Gold loan portfolio - scale by approximately ₹6,000 crore
On track - In the FY26 Annual Report, management stated intent to scale the gold loan portfolio by approximately ₹6,000 crore, with the MD noting around 800 of \~950 branches can contribute ₹1 crore each. Growth was constrained in FY26 by regulatory checks, resuming from April 2026; Q1 FY27 disbursement was ₹3,674 crores and ₹1,500-1,800 crores was added since September 2025.
- Branch expansion - 31-32 branches in FY27
On track - At the Q1 FY27 call, management planned to open around 31-32 branches during FY27, with the Q4 FY26 call confirming the expansion guidance remains in place. One branch was opened as of Q1 FY27, with 12-13 more planned before end of H1, taking the branch count to 976.
- Recovery target - 50% of NPA book and 50% of technical written-off book
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management set a recovery target of recovering 50% of the NPA book and 50% of the technical written-off book. Q1 FY27 recoveries excluding upgrades were ₹74.25 crores against an NPA book of ₹2,233 crores and a technical written-off book of approximately ₹2,500 crores.
- Slippages - stopped for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management committed to stopping slippages. Q1 FY27 slippage ratio was 0.14%, down from 0.20% in Q4 FY26 - very low levels though not a complete stop.
- NIM - 3% plus for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management reiterated working on NIM of 3% plus, and at Q1 FY27 assured NIM "will continue to improve". Q1 FY27 NIM was 3.20%, above the 3% plus target.
- ROA - 1% plus for FY27, raised to 1.35%-1.40%
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management reiterated ROA guidance of "1% plus" for FY27, raising it at Q1 FY27 to 1.35%-1.40% going forward. Q1 FY27 ROA was 1.29%, above the original 1% plus target but below the raised range.
- Cost-to-income - 52%-53% for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management guided cost-to-income of 52% to 53% for FY27. Q1 FY27 cost-to-income was 55.14%, above the guided range.
- CASA - 33% plus for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management committed to maintaining CASA percentage of 33%-plus, with the Q1 FY27 PPT targeting \~34.0%. Q1 FY27 CASA ratio was 32.42%, below the target, after 33.61% in Q4 FY26.
- Advances growth - 15%-20% for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management guided advances growth of 15% to 20% for FY27, reiterated at Q1 FY27. Q1 FY27 gross advances were ₹86,610 crores, up 17% YoY, within the guided range.
- Deposit growth - 10%-15% for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management guided deposit growth of 10% to 15% for FY27, reiterated at Q1 FY27. Q1 FY27 deposits were ₹1,10,396 crores, up 7% YoY, below the target range.
- Overall business growth - \~15% for FY27
On track - At the Q4 FY26 call, management guided overall business growth of around 15% for FY27, reiterated at Q1 FY27; at Q3 FY26 the MD had committed to a long-term plan of \~15% (advances 15-20%, liabilities 10-15%). Q1 FY27 aggregate business was ₹1,97,007 crores, up 11% YoY.
- MSME GNPA - reduce to 5% or below by end of Q3 FY26
Missed - At the Q3 FY26 call, the MD expected MSME GNPA to be reduced to 5% or below by end of Q3 FY26 from 7.6%. MSME GNPA was 7.22% at March 2026 and 6.65% by June 2026, above the 5% target.
- IBPC book - reduce to ₹1,000 crores by March 2026
Missed - At the Q1 FY26 call, management targeted reducing the IBPC book to ₹1,000 crores by March 2026. The IBPC portfolio was ₹1,707 crores at March 2026 and ₹1,375 crores by June 2026, above the target.
- RAM segment - ₹7,000-8,000 crores accretion for rest of FY26
Missed - At the Q1 FY26 call, management targeted adding ₹7,000 crores to ₹8,000 crores of advances in the RAM segment for the rest of FY26. RAM grew from ₹47,793 crores in FY25 to ₹51,197 crores at March 2026, an accretion of approximately ₹3,404 crores.
- Retail advances - ₹51,000 crores by end of FY26
Missed - At the Q1 FY26 call, management targeted growing retail advances from ₹44,029 crores to at least ₹51,000 crores by end of FY26. Retail advances were ₹46,973 crores at March 2026 and ₹48,622 crores by June 2026, well below the target.
- Standard restructured advances - ₹750 crores guidance for FY26
Missed - In the FY26 Annual Report, management disclosed FY26 guidance of standard restructured advances of ₹750 crores. Standard restructured advances closed FY26 at ₹806.44 crores, above the guidance.
- CASA - ₹34,500-35,000 crores for FY26
Delivered - In the FY26 Annual Report, management disclosed FY26 guidance of CASA of ₹34,500-35,000 crores. FY26 CASA was ₹36,559 crores, exceeding the guided ceiling.
- Aggregate business - ₹1,92,000 crores for FY26
Delivered - In the FY26 Annual Report, management disclosed FY26 guidance of aggregate business of ₹1,92,000 crores. FY26 aggregate business closed at ₹1,92,118.67 crores, exceeding the guidance.
- Cost-to-income - 53%-56% target range (FY26 framework)
Missed - In the Q4 FY25 PPT, management set a targeted cost-to-income range of 53.0%-56.0%, reiterated in the Q4 FY26 PPT. FY26 cost-to-income was 56.34%, slightly above the 56% ceiling.
- Cost of funds - 5.25%-5.5% target range (FY26 framework)
Partial - In the Q4 FY25 PPT, management set a targeted cost of funds range of 5.25%-5.5%, revised to 5.3%-5.6% in the Q4 FY26 PPT. FY26 cost of funds was 5.77%, above the revised range, though Q4 FY26 improved to 5.38%, within it.
- Slippage ratio - below 2% for FY26
Delivered - At the Q4 FY25 call, management guided FY26 slippage ratio target below 2%. FY26 slippage ratio was 1.50%, below the 2% target.
- NII - flat in FY26
Delivered - At the Q4 FY25 call, management guided NII to "more or less stabilize at the same level" in FY26, against FY25 NII of ₹3,310.38 crores. FY26 NII was approximately ₹3,118.73 crores from quarterly figures of ₹755.60, ₹728.12, ₹792.06 and ₹842.95 crores, a slight decline within the "more or less stabilize" expectation.
- NIM - 3.2%-3.4% for FY26
Missed - At the Q4 FY25 call, management guided NIM of 3.2%-3.4% for FY26. FY26 NIM was 2.88%, below the guided floor.
- ROE - 12%-14% for FY26
Missed - At the Q4 FY25 call, management reiterated ROE guidance of 12%-14% for FY26. FY26 ROE was 10.36%, below the guided floor.
- ROA - 1.1%-1.2% for FY26
Missed - At the Q4 FY25 call, management reiterated ROA guidance of 1.1%-1.2% for FY26, reiterated again at Q1 FY26 and Q2 FY26. FY26 ROA was 1.05%, below the guided floor.
- Employee expenses - stabilize at \~₹1,700 crores for FY26
Delivered - At the Q4 FY25 call, management guided FY26 employee/establishment cost at about ₹1,700 crores. FY26 staff cost was ₹1,298 crores, significantly below the guidance.
- Capital raise - no equity raise required in next 24 months (from Q4 FY24)
Delivered - At the Q4 FY24 call, management said no equity raise is required in the next 24 months unless capital adequacy is challenged. No equity raise occurred through Q1 FY27, with CRAR at 21.10% as of June 2026, well above regulatory requirements.
- Slippages - below 2% for FY25
Delivered - At the Q3 FY25 call, management guided FY25 slippages to remain well below the 2% mark. FY25 slippage ratio was 1.71%, below the target.
- ROA - 1.1%-1.2% for FY25
Missed - At the Q3 FY25 call, management expected ROA to close FY25 anywhere between 1.1% to 1.2%. FY25 ROA was 1.05%, below the guided floor.
- Loan yield improvement - 20-30 bps going forward (from Q3 FY25)
Missed - At the Q3 FY25 call, management guided an overall portfolio loan yield increase of at least 20 to 30 bps going forward. Yield on advances moved from 9.37% in Q3 FY25 to 9.43% in Q4 FY25, then 9.28% in Q1 FY26, 8.98% in Q2 FY26, 8.71% in Q3 FY26, 8.78% in Q4 FY26 and 8.68% in Q1 FY27 - a decline, not an increase.
- PCR improvement - 1% every quarter
Delivered - At the Q3 FY25 call, management committed to improving PCR by at least 1% every quarter, reiterated at Q4 FY25, Q3 FY26 and Q4 FY26. PCR excluding technical write-offs rose each quarter from 56.03% in December 2024 to 58.18% in March 2025, 59.18% in June 2025, 60.22% in September 2025, 61.23% in December 2025, 65.39% in March 2026 and 67.03% in June 2026, each improvement exceeding 1%.
- Standard restructured book - reduce to comfortable position by end of FY25
Delivered - At the Q1 FY25 call, management said the standard restructured book would come down from ₹1,160 crores to a "far more comfortable position" by end of FY25, clarifying it would not be completely eliminated. Standard restructured advances were ₹994.77 crores at March 2025, down from ₹1,160.94 crores in June 2024, and ₹806.44 crores by March 2026.
- Advances growth - 20%-21% for FY25
Missed - At the Q4 FY24 call, management targeted advances growth of 20% to 21% for FY25, expecting \~19% at Q1 FY25, then revised to 15%-18% at Q2 FY25, \~12% at Q3 FY25 and \~14% gross growth for FY26 at Q4 FY25. FY25 gross advances grew 6.8% YoY to ₹77,958.72 crores, well below even the revised 12% guidance.
- PCR excluding technical write-offs - 70% in 15-18 months
Missed - At the Q3 FY24 call, management targeted PCR excluding technical write-offs of 70% in due course, expected to take about 15 to 18 months from December 2023. PCR excluding technical write-offs was 58.18% at March 2025, 65.39% at March 2026 and 67.03% at June 2026, short of 70% within the window running to roughly March-June 2025.
- Gross advances - ₹72,000 crores by exit March 2024
Delivered - At the Q2 FY24 call, management guided gross advances to close at anywhere between ₹72,000 crores by exit March 2024. FY24 gross advances closed at ₹73,001.66 crores, exceeding the target.
- Capital raise - ₹1,500 crores completed before March 2024
Delivered - At the Q2 FY24 call, management committed to completing the follow-up capital raise of ₹700 crores, the balance of the Board-approved ₹1,500 crores, before March 2024, planning the remaining ₹700 crores at Q3 FY24; the Board had proposed a QIP in the Q1 FY22 PPT. The full ₹1,500 crores was completed in a record 6 months before March 31, 2024 - ₹900 crores preferential allotment and ₹600 crores QIP.
- Gross NPA - closer to 3%
Delivered - At the Q3 FY24 call, management targeted gross NPA of 3% in about 6 months, reiterated at Q2 FY25 as "closer to 3%" and at Q3 FY25 as closer to 3% by end of FY25. FY24 GNPA was 3.53%, FY25 GNPA was 3.08% meeting the commitment, and it improved further to 2.78% in FY26 and 2.58% in Q1 FY27.
- Net NPA - 1.2% by end of FY24, toward 1% or lower
Partial - At the Q1 FY24 call, management aspired to bring net NPA from \~1.43% down to about 1.20% by end of FY24 and further toward 1% or lower, later refined to "closer to the 1% range" at Q2 FY25 and closer to 1% by end of FY25 at Q3 FY25. FY24 NNPA was 1.58%, missing the 1.2% target; FY25 NNPA was 1.31%, FY26 NNPA was 0.98% achieving the broader aspiration, and Q1 FY27 NNPA was 0.87%.
- CD ratio - closer to 80s over three-and-a-half years
On track - At the Q1 FY24 call, management aimed to bring the CD ratio closer to the 80s from around 70 over the next three-and-a-half years, saying 80% "is not a stretch at all" at Q4 FY24, with later refinements to 80%-85% at Q3 FY25, minimum 80% by March 2026 at Q2 FY26, 76%-80% at Q3 FY26 and 79%-80% at Q1 FY27. CD ratio was 74.45% in FY24, 74.38% in FY25, 76.61% in FY26 and 78.45% in Q1 FY27, with the window from June 2023 running to roughly December 2026.
- Cost of funds - maintain within 4.7%-5.5% range
Partial - At the Q1 FY24 call, management aimed to maintain cost of funds within the historical 4.7%-5.5% range. Cost of funds was 5.40% in FY24, within range, then 5.67% in FY25 and 5.77% in FY26, above the ceiling, before improving to 5.16% in Q1 FY27.
- Advances book - ₹100,000 crores by March 2026
Missed - At the Q2 FY24 call, management aimed to surpass ₹100,000 crores in total asset book within 3 to 3.5 years, committing at Q3 FY24 to gross advances crossing ₹100,000 crores by 2026 and reiterating ₹100,000 crores by exit March 2026 at Q4 FY24; the target was then revised down repeatedly - ₹1 lakh crore by June 2026 at Q3 FY25, "closer to ₹90,000 crores" at Q4 FY25, ₹89,000 crores AOP at Q1 FY26 and ₹85,000 crores at Q3 FY26. FY26 gross advances closed at ₹83,339.92 crores, below even the reduced ₹85,000 crores target, with Q1 FY27 gross advances at ₹86,610 crores.
- Advances growth - beat industry growth rate in FY24
Delivered - At the Q4 FY23 call, management stated "we would beat the industry growth rate this year" for credit growth. FY24 gross advances grew nearly 20% to ₹73,001.66 crores, outpacing market growth of \~15-16%.
- Branch expansion - \~50 new branches in FY24
Partial - At the Q4 FY23 call, management planned to open around 50 new branches in FY24. Branch count went from over 900 to 925 by Q4 FY24, an increase of approximately 25 branches, reaching 940 by Q1 FY25.
- Technical write-off recoveries - ₹250-275 cr for FY24
Delivered - At the Q4 FY23 call, management anticipated technical write-off recoveries at "an estimate between INR 250 to 275 cr" for FY24. FY24 recoveries from the technical write-off book were approximately ₹280 crores, within and slightly above the guided range.
- Provision coverage ratio - 81%-85% as the year progresses
Missed - At the Q4 FY23 call, management expected PCR to be "somewhere between 81% and 85% as the year progresses". PCR including technical write-offs was 79.22% at March 2024, below the guided floor, with PCR excluding technical write-offs at \~56%.
- KBL VIKAAS 2.0 / KBL NxT - digital transformation
Delivered - In the Q1 FY22 PPT, under KBL VIKAAS 2.0 / KBL NxT, the Bank planned digital customer onboarding, end-to-end customer self-journey, end-to-end journeys for all loan products, an Analytical Center of Excellence, predictive banking, digital marketing and Omni-Channel experience. Digital loan underwriting was launched for most retail loan products with over 80% of eligible Home, Car and MSME loans sanctioned digitally, the ACoE was established, and Omni Channel (KBL ONE) was implemented phase-wise.
- Business growth target - 12% for FY2021-22
Missed - In the announcement dated 11th May 2021, the Bank set a moderate business growth target of 12% for FY2021-22. FY22 business turnover was ₹1,37,170 crores, up 7.86% YoY, below the 12% target.