Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across the northeastern states have recorded their lowest Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio in the last ten years, bringing it down to 4.9 per cent while registering a provisional combined net profit of Rs 560 crore during the 2025-26 financial year, officials said on Tuesday.
According to officials, the seven RRBs operating in the Northeast posted a 34 per cent rise in consolidated net profit compared to the previous financial year, indicating significant improvement in both financial performance and asset quality.
The developments were reviewed during a regional meeting of North-East RRBs held in Agartala under the chairmanship of Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M Nagaraju.
Officials said the seven banks collectively manage over 887 branches spread across 105 districts in the northeastern region, with more than 92 per cent of the branches functioning in rural and semi-urban areas.
The meeting was attended by chairpersons of the RRBs, senior executives of public sector banks and officials of NABARD, where discussions focused on business growth and implementation of central and state-sponsored schemes.
Addressing the gathering, Nagaraju underlined the important role played by RRBs in strengthening the rural economy of the Northeast. He praised the banks for improving profitability, reducing NPAs and expanding their loan portfolios during FY 2025-26.
He also emphasized the need to strengthen digital banking infrastructure across the region and urged sponsor banks to provide greater technological and IT support to RRBs.
The DFS Secretary further stressed the importance of deepening financial inclusion in remote and underserved areas through expansion of business correspondent networks and opening more branches in accessible locations.
Meanwhile, banks operating in Tripura sanctioned loans worth Rs 419.11 crore to more than 10,000 beneficiaries during a mega credit outreach programme organized by the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC).
The event, hosted at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan by Punjab National Bank (PNB), was attended by Nagaraju and senior banking officials.
Officials stated that loan sanction letters worth Rs 419.11 crore were distributed among 10,162 beneficiaries under various schemes, including retail loans, Mudra Yojana, PM SVANidhi, PMEGP, PM Vishwakarma, MSME schemes, Kisan Credit Card loans, self-help groups and joint liability groups.
Tripura Chief Secretary J K Sinha, PNB Executive Director M Paramasivam, along with senior officials from NABARD, SBI, UCO Bank and other financial institutions, were also present.
As part of CSR activities, PNB and Union Bank of India each handed over an ambulance to the Chief Medical Officer of West Tripura district.
Officials further said SBI contributed Rs 36.28 lakh from its CSR fund for upgrading and installing life-support systems in 20 ambulances, while UCO Bank sanctioned Rs 24.56 lakh for another ambulance for district health authorities.
NABARD also approved a grant of Rs 15.06 lakh to the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET) for skill development training of rural youths in plastic technology.
During the programme, dignitaries virtually inaugurated a new PNB ATM at Pecharthal in Unakoti district, a new Union Bank branch at Shantirbazar and additional SBI customer service points.
Officials added that another credit outreach programme was conducted earlier in the day at Rajarshi Hall in Udaipur, where loans worth Rs 105.40 crore were sanctioned to 4,577 beneficiaries.