Karnataka Bank , a prominent player in India's banking sector, has announced a significant change in its top leadership. The bank's Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Raghavendra S Bhat as the new Managing Director & CEO, effective November 16, 2025. This appointment, which follows approval from the Reserve Bank of India, marks a new chapter in the bank's leadership.

Key Details of the Appointment

Career Highlights and Experience

Mr. Bhat brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in the banking industry for many years. His appointment brings extensive banking expertise across various critical areas:

• Human Resources
• IT & Digital Banking
• Treasury & Forex Operations
• Rural Economy

Areas of Expertise

Mr. Bhat's extensive experience spans several critical areas of banking and finance, positioning him well to lead Karnataka Bank's strategic direction:

• Banking operations
• Human Resources
• IT & Digital Banking
• Treasury & Forex Operations
• Rural Economy

Regulatory Compliance and Approval

The appointment adheres to regulatory requirements:

• Received approval from the Reserve Bank of India
• Complies with relevant regulatory standards

This strategic appointment comes at a crucial time for Karnataka Bank. With Mr. Bhat's extensive experience and deep understanding of banking operations, stakeholders will be keenly watching how his leadership shapes the bank's future strategies and performance in the dynamic banking landscape.

Karnataka Bank , a prominent player in the Indian banking sector, has released its financial results for the second quarter, revealing a quarter-on-quarter increase in net profit despite a marginal decline in topline performance.

Financial Performance Overview

The bank reported a net profit of Rs 319.12 crore for Q2, up 9.1% from Rs 292.40 crore in the previous quarter. For the half-year ended September, net profit stood at Rs 611.52 crore, compared to Rs 736.40 crore in the same period last year. The bank's Net Interest Income for the quarter was Rs 728.12 crore.

Improved Asset Quality

Karnataka Bank showed improvement in its asset quality:

• Gross Non-Performing Asset (NPA) ratio decreased to 3.33% from 3.46% in the previous quarter
• Net NPA ratio fell to 1.35% from 1.44% in the previous quarter

These improvements in asset quality suggest that the bank has been effective in managing its loan portfolio and reducing the proportion of non-performing assets.

Key Financial Metrics

All financial figures in Rs crore

Other Key Indicators

• Credit-Deposit ratio: 71.63%
• Capital Adequacy Ratio: Improved to 20.84% from 20.46% in the previous quarter

Management Commentary

Managing Director & CEO Raghavendra S. Bhat noted that while the bank witnessed a marginal quarterly decline in topline performance, it achieved improvement in asset quality. He emphasized the bank's continued focus on RAM (Retail, Agriculture, and MSME) segments and strengthening low-cost deposits.

Conclusion

While Karnataka Bank has faced a marginal decline in its topline performance in Q2, the improvement in asset quality and the quarter-on-quarter increase in net profit are positive indicators. The bank's focus on strengthening its core segments and improving its deposit mix suggests a strategic approach to sustainable growth. Investors and stakeholders will likely be watching closely to see how these trends develop in the coming quarters and whether the bank can leverage its improved asset quality to drive future growth.