SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Bank has continued to deliver strong asset quality and performance, outperforming both industry and system averages, yet its market valuation remains lower than peers, Managing Director Amitava Chatterjee told the media today.
Responding to concerns about credit risk linked to Jammu & Kashmir’s geography and concentration, Chatterjee said the perception is largely misplaced. “Despite last year’s April 22 events and subsequent floods, our gross NPAs have declined from 4 per cent to around 3 per cent in the previous quarter, and we expect them to drop further below 3 per cent,” he stated.
Highlighting the resilience and repayment discipline of local borrowers, the MD cited the bank’s Kisan Credit Card (KCC) portfolio. “During my recent branch visits, only two KCC accounts were non-performing, one due to a borrower’s demise. This makes J&K Bank’s KCC portfolio the lowest-stressed segment nationwide,” he said.
Chatterjee stressed that developments in the region are often wrongly equated with financial risk, whereas the bank’s performance demonstrates strong underlying fundamentals. “The people here are financially disciplined, and our lending portfolio reflects that,” he added, pointing to an untapped potential for investors who recognise the stability.
