SBI chairman pitches for stimulus, says credit demand remains subdued

Kolkata, Aug. 18 (PTI): State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumar on Sunday said credit demand remains subdued and there is a need for stimulus in the economy. Though lack of credit demand exists in the economy, there is no supply-side constraint as the public sector banks are more or less well-capitalised, he said. “Demand for credit in the economy is subdued. There is a need for stimulus in the economy”, Kumar told reporters here. He was in Kolkata to attend the multi-level consultation programme with the branch managers of SBI in the region. “There is no supply-side constraint. More or less, the public sector banks are well-capitalised and bank rates also moderated,” he said. Kumar hoped that monsoon will have a positive impact. Increased spending by the government and the upcoming festival season would boost demand, Kumar added.