Time to push divestment of PSU banks: SBI report
‘As banks are in good condition, govt should take stance’
The government should go ahead with disinvestment of public sector banks (PSBs) as they are in good condition, SBI said in its research report on Monday.
The report also pitched for the consolidation of existing government-owned banks.
"As banks are in good condition, the government should take stance on disinvestment of PSBs," the report titled 'Prelude to Union Budget 2024-25' said.
With regard to the privatisation of IDBI Bank, it said the government and Life Insurance Corporation of India are selling an almost 61% stake in the lender. "They invited bids from buyers in October 2022. In January 2023, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) received several expressions of interest for the IDBI Bank stake on offer. We expect the government to clarify this in the
Budget," it said.
Presently, the government owns over 45% stake in IDBI Bank, and LIC has a 49.24% shareholding.
The report also recommended that the government should tweak the tax on deposit interest and make flat tax treatment across the maturity ladder in line with mutual fund and equity markets.
"Household net financial savings has declined to 5.3% of GDP in FY23 and is expected to be 5.4% in FY24. If we make deposit rate attractive in line with MFs, then this could push up household financial savings and CASA," it said.
As this amount will be in the hands of depositors, the report said, it could unleash additional spending and thereby, more GST revenue to the government. "Increase in bank deposits will bring not only stability in core deposit base and financial system but also financial stability in household savings," it said.
Deposits are taxed on an accrual basis and other asset classes only on redemption and there is also a need to remove this treatment, it added.