Canara Bank held its Q3FY26 earnings conference call on January 29, 2026, where management discussed the bank's robust financial performance and strategic initiatives. The call was led by MD & CEO Hardeep Singh Ahluwalia along with Executive Directors Bhavendra Kumar, S.K. Majumdar, and Sunil Kumar Chugh.

Key Financial Highlights

The bank delivered impressive results across multiple parameters during the quarter. Global business reached ₹27.10 lakh crores with a growth rate of 13.23% year-on-year, while net profit stood at ₹5,155 crores, representing a substantial 25.61% increase compared to the previous year.

Asset Quality and Capital Metrics

The bank demonstrated significant improvement in asset quality parameters. GNPA declined by 126 basis points year-on-year to 2.08%, while net NPA stood at 0.45%, declining by 44 basis points. The provision coverage ratio improved substantially by 293 basis points to 94.19%.

Retail and MSME Growth

The bank showcased strong momentum in the retail and MSME segments. RAM (Retail, Agriculture, MSME) credit reached ₹7.04 lakh crores with growth of 18.70%. Retail credit demonstrated exceptional performance with 31.37% growth to ₹2.73 lakh crores, while MSME grew by 13.74% to ₹1.60 lakh crores.

Management Outlook and Strategy

During the conference call, management expressed confidence in maintaining growth momentum while addressing margin pressures from recent repo rate cuts. The bank's NIM contracted by 2 basis points due to immediate repricing of repo-linked advances, which constitute 49% of the portfolio. Management expects NIM to stabilize in the range of 2.45% to 2.50% going forward.

The bank reported strong recovery performance with ₹2,051 crores recovered from written-off accounts during the quarter. Management indicated this recovery momentum would continue, supported by various resolution mechanisms including NCLT, DRT, and SARFAESI options.

Canara Bank has issued a formal notification to stock exchanges regarding a potential strike that could impact its operations on January 27, 2026. The bank communicated this development to both BSE and NSE as part of its disclosure obligations under SEBI regulations.

Strike Notice Details

The United Forum of Bank Unions (U.F.B.U.) has served notice of their intention to proceed with a strike on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The union action is being undertaken to address various issues and demands, though specific details of these concerns were not elaborated in the bank's communication.

Operational Preparedness

Canara Bank has indicated that it is taking all necessary steps to maintain smooth functioning of its branches and offices during the strike period. The bank's management is implementing contingency measures to minimize potential disruptions to customer services.

However, the bank has cautioned stakeholders that if the strike materializes as planned, there could be an impact on the normal functioning of branches and offices across its network.

Regulatory Compliance

The notification was issued in compliance with SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, which mandate listed companies to inform stock exchanges about material events that could affect their operations. The communication was signed by Santosh Kumar Barik, Company Secretary, and dated January 25, 2026.

This disclosure ensures that investors and market participants are adequately informed about potential operational challenges that may affect the bank's services during the strike period.