Central Bank of India reported a 13.26% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 (Q1FY27), reaching ₹1,324 crore. The bank's total income rose 3.08% to ₹10,678 crore, driven by a 12.84% expansion in interest income to ₹9,691 crore.

The bank demonstrated robust balance sheet growth, with global advances expanding 28.58% to ₹3,54,348 crore and total deposits rising 11.68% to ₹4,78,972 crore. Despite the strong top-line performance, asset quality metrics showed mixed signals, with Gross NPA improving by 53 bps to 2.60%, while Net NPA remained stable at 0.49%.

Key Financial Metrics

The following table summarizes the key financial highlights for Q1FY27 compared to Q1FY26:

Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy

The bank continued its trajectory of asset quality improvement, with credit costs declining by 28 bps to 0.40%. The slippage ratio also improved significantly, dropping by 6 bps to 0.29% on a non-annualized basis. Capital buffers strengthened further, with the Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) reaching 18.28%, up from 17.66% in the previous year's quarter. The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio stood at 16.54%.

What the Numbers Show

A notable divergence exists between the rapid growth in advances and the stability in Net Interest Margin (NIM). While global advances surged 28.58%, the NIM contracted by 10 bps to 3.06% compared to 3.16% in Q1FY26. This compression occurred despite a reduction in the cost of deposits by 33 bps to 4.60%, suggesting that the yield on advances fell more sharply (down 69 bps to 7.89%) than the cost of funds could offset. Additionally, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) dropped significantly from an average of 235.08% in Q1FY26 to 156.49% in Q1FY27, indicating a deployment of excess liquidity into higher-yielding assets or investments.

Central Bank of India has confirmed that the proposed bank strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has been deferred. This development ensures uninterrupted banking services across all branches and offices in India, effective immediately.

The UFBU, comprising seven unions including AIBEA, AIBOC, BEFI, NCBE, AIBOA, INBEF, and INBOC, had planned a strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026, followed by a continuous strike starting October 26, 2026. The deferment follows discussions and an understanding reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the bank unions regarding key demands and issues.

Operational Status and Regulatory Compliance

The bank stated that all branches and offices are functioning as usual. Customers can expect normal service availability without disruption. This update was filed with the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited pursuant to Regulation 30 and 51 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Strike Details and Union Composition

The deferred action involved a coalition of major banking unions. The specific dates affected by the original notice were:

The resolution highlights the effectiveness of dialogue between the IBA and the unions in maintaining operational continuity within the public sector banking sector.