The South Indian Bank submitted its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for the financial year 2025-26 on July 27, 2026, revealing robust operational growth and expanded financial inclusion metrics. As of March 31, 2026, the bank’s total business stood at ₹2.23 lakh crore, marking a 14.6% increase from the previous fiscal year. This growth was accompanied by an expansion in its customer base, which rose from 8.0 million in March 2025 to 8.3 million in March 2026, driven by aggressive acquisition strategies across retail and corporate segments.

The filing, made pursuant to Regulation 34(2)(f) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, and SEBI Master Circular HO/49/14/14(7)2025-CFD-POD2/I/3762/2026 dated January 30, 2026, forms part of the bank’s annual report. Jimmy Mathew, Company Secretary, signed the submission, which is also hosted on the bank’s investor relations website. The report outlines the bank’s adherence to National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC), covering nine principles ranging from ethical governance to environmental protection.

Operational and Digital Highlights

The bank emphasized its strategic pivot toward digital banking, reporting that more than 98% of transactions were conducted through digital channels during FY26. This shift supports operational efficiency and reduces paper consumption. The bank operates a network of 948 branches, three satellite branches, two ultra-small branches, 19 regional offices, and one service branch nationwide, along with a representative office in Dubai.

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives

Under Principle 6, the bank detailed its environmental management practices, including the installation of solar power systems across six locations with a total capacity of 385kW. A new 75 KLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) was commissioned at the SIB Tower in Kakkanad, Ernakulam. The bank also implemented energy efficiency measures such as maintaining air conditioner temperatures at 24°C and procuring 5-star rated inverter ACs. Green financing remains a key focus, with the Green Deposit Scheme mobilizing ₹97.66 crore during the year. Of this amount, ₹156.28 crore (including ₹58.62 crore carried forward) was allocated to eligible green projects.

Social Impact and Governance

The bank reported that women constituted 46.28% of its total workforce, comprising 9,147 employees. More than 98% of employees were covered under training programs related to skill upgradation, health and safety, and compliance. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives reached more than 32 lakh beneficiaries, with over 71% belonging to marginalized and underserved communities. The bank’s CSR spending focused on healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability.

Governance structures were reinforced through an Executive Level Committee overseeing ESG implementation, chaired by the Chief Operating Officer. The Board’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, led by Non-Executive Non-Independent Director Benny P Thomas, oversees ESG reporting. Independent assessment of policies was conducted by CARE Analytics and Advisory Private Limited.

What the Numbers Show

The correlation between the 14.6% growth in total business and the >98% digital transaction share indicates a successful scaling of low-cost distribution channels. This operational efficiency likely contributed to the ability to expand the customer base by 300,000 users within a single year without proportional increases in physical infrastructure costs. Furthermore, the allocation of ₹156.28 crore to green projects against ₹97.66 crore mobilized suggests the bank is leveraging prior-year deposits to meet current sustainability targets, demonstrating active portfolio management toward environmental goals.

South Indian Bank has announced that its 98th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be convened on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. (IST) via Video Conferencing (VC) / Other Audio Visual Means (OAVM), in compliance with the Companies Act, 2013, applicable MCA circulars, and SEBI regulations. The registered office of the Bank at Thrissur, Kerala shall be deemed to be the venue for the AGM. The advertisement intimating the AGM was published in the Financial Express (All India edition) and Malayala Manorama (Thrissur edition) on July 27, 2026.

AGM Key Details

The following table summarises the key details of the 98th Annual General Meeting:

Dividend Recommendation

The Board of Directors has recommended a dividend of 45% i.e. ₹0.45 per equity share of face value of ₹1 each per share for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, against a dividend of 40% i.e. ₹0.40 per equity share paid during the previous financial year — a payout 12.50% higher than the previous year. This recommendation is subject to the approval of shareholders at the AGM. Once approved, the dividend will be paid on or before Friday, September 18, 2026 through various electronic transfer modes. Shareholders holding shares in demat form are requested to update their bank account details with their Depository Participants, while those holding shares in physical form may update the same with the Bank or its RTA, M/s. MUFG Intime India Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore.

E-Voting Schedule

The Bank is providing electronic voting facility through the NSDL e-voting platform. The remote e-voting period commences on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM (IST) and ends on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM (IST). The e-voting module will be disabled after 5:00 PM on August 19, 2026. Shareholders eligible to vote are those whose names appear in the Register of Members or Register of Beneficial Owners as on the Cut-off Date of Thursday, August 13, 2026. Shareholders present at the AGM through VC/OAVM who have not cast their vote through remote e-voting shall be eligible to vote through the e-voting system during the meeting.

Special Business at the AGM

The 98th AGM will transact several items of special business in addition to ordinary business. Key resolutions include:

The proposed auditor remuneration of ₹2,60,00,000 per annum represents an increase of approximately 15% compared to the remuneration of ₹2,26,00,000 paid during FY 2025-26. Sri. Mahesh Muralidhar Pai, aged 50 years, is an accomplished banker with close to three decades of experience across governance, strategy, treasury, foreign exchange, retail, agriculture and MSME credit, and is serving as Chief General Manager at Canara Bank. The RBI has conveyed its approval for his appointment vide letter dated July 07, 2026. The term of the outgoing MD & CEO, Sri. P R Seshadri (DIN: 07820690), expires on September 30, 2026.

FY 2025-26 Financial Performance

South Indian Bank delivered record financial performance in FY 2025-26. The following table highlights key financial metrics:

Gross advances crossed the ₹1 lakh crore milestone for the first time in the Bank's history. Total business expanded to ₹2,23,620.37 crore. Net worth increased by ₹1,357.48 crore from ₹9,646.15 crore to ₹11,003.63 crore. The Bank's network spans 948 branches across 26 states and 4 union territories, with more than 98% of customer transactions conducted through digital channels.

Tax on Dividend

In accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2025, as amended by and read with the provisions of the Finance Act, 2026, dividend declared and paid by the Bank is taxable in the hands of the shareholders. The Bank will accordingly be required to deduct tax at source (TDS) from dividend paid to shareholders at applicable rates. For resident shareholders, TDS will be applicable at 10% on the dividend amount; in case a valid and operative PAN is not provided, TDS will be applicable at 20%. No tax shall be deducted if the total dividend payable to a resident individual shareholder does not exceed ₹10,000 per year, or if the shareholder has provided a duly filled and signed Form 121. Detailed information is attached as Annexure-B to the notice of the 98th Annual General Meeting.

Shareholder Participation and Access

Shareholders will have the opportunity to attend the AGM through electronic mode only. The VC/OAVM facility will be made available for 1,000 members on a first come first served basis, excluding large shareholders, promoters, institutional investors, directors, key managerial personnel and auditors. Shareholders holding shares in dematerialized mode who have not registered their email addresses and mobile numbers are requested to register the same with their Depository Participants. Electronic copies of the AGM Notice and Annual Report for FY 2025-26 will be sent to all shareholders whose email addresses are registered with the Bank or Depository Participant(s). The Bank will not be sending physical copies of the AGM Notice and Annual Report to shareholders unless specifically requested.

The notice of the 98th AGM and Annual Report for FY 2025-26 are available on the Bank's website at https://www.southindianbank.bank.in under the 'Investor Desk' section, and can also be accessed at https://www.southindianbank.bank.in/investors-desk/annual-reports/annual-report-for-the-fy-2025-26 , on the websites of BSE Limited at https://www.bseindia.com , the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. at https://www.nseindia.com , and on NSDL's website at www.evoting.nsdl.com .

Source: https://lodr-files.dhan.co/lodr-inputs/Company/INE683A01023/0f770cde-ca3a-4372-ba38-d8979636fedf.pdf