The proposed merger of SBI's five associate banks is expected to commence by September. The high-powered committee headed by SBI managing director S Vishwanathan would furnish its report by July-August, and the merger process could start by September, SBI chairman Pratip Choudhuri said.
The second round of Cobrapost sting operation evoked immediate responses across the spectrum. Rajiv Takru secretary at the Department of Financial Services asked all state owned banks and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India to initiate actions. Banks /institutions have started internal investigation.
Stating that banks' efforts are now towards recovering full amount of loans from Kingfisher and not reviving the airline, SBI today said it should be able to regain a good part of its Rs 1,700 crore dues.
The country's largest bank SBI has said it plans to hire 9,500 employees this fiscal and its main thrust will be on retail banking in the coming years.
The lenders to struggling Kingfisher Airlines are trying to help it and are open to extending further loans to the carrier, said the leader of a consortium of the airline's banks.