Total Bank Deposits Cross ₹23 Lakh Crore
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its fortnightly Scheduled Banks’ Statement of Position as on May 2, 2025, offering valuable insights into the health and operations of India’s banking sector. The report includes comprehensive data on liabilities, assets, deposits, borrowings, investments, and credit flow across Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), including Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Small Finance Banks (SFBs), and Payments Banks (PBs).
This article breaks down the major highlights and key takeaways from the RBI’s data to help you understand the latest trends in Indian banking.
1. Growth in Bank Deposits
Bank deposits, a key indicator of financial stability and liquidity, have shown a steady increase over the fortnight.
| Item | April 18, 2025 (₹ Cr) | May 2, 2025 (₹ Cr) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Deposits (excl. banks) | 22,86,0864.86 | 23,03,3418.26 | +₹17,553.40 Cr |
| – Demand Deposits | 26,38,562.44 | 29,18,195.75 | ↑ 10.6% |
| – Time Deposits | 2,02,22,302.42 | 2,01,15,222.52 | ↓ slightly |
Insight: While time deposits dipped slightly, demand deposits surged, reflecting stronger short-term liquidity preferences and possibly increased payment activity post financial year-end.
2. Rise in Bank Credit
Bank credit, a driver of economic activity, witnessed modest growth, indicating continued lending momentum across sectors.
| Category | April 18, 2025 (₹ Cr) | May 2, 2025 (₹ Cr) | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Bank Credit (excl. interbank) | 18,18,7867.93 | 18,28,6312.85 | +₹98,444.92 Cr |
| – Loans, Cash Credit, OD | 17,84,6425.70 | 17,94,5698.30 | ↑ 0.55% |
| – Inland Bills Purchased | 79,292.81 | 80,615.14 | ↑ 1.7% |
| – Foreign Bills Discounted | 22,652.97 | 22,137.66 | ↓ 2.3% |
Insight: While overall lending remains healthy, the decline in foreign bill discounting may point to reduced export/import trade credit demand.
Investments and Liquidity
Scheduled banks’ investments, largely in government securities, remained stable, reflecting continued appetite for low-risk assets amid changing rate expectations.
| Item | April 18, 2025 (₹ Cr) | May 2, 2025 (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Investments | 66,93,442.78 | 67,13,520.88 |
| – Govt. Securities | 66,92,826.97 | 67,12,907.18 |
Insight: Banks continue to prefer government securities, indicating risk aversion or statutory liquidity requirement (SLR) management.
Borrowings and RBI Liquidity Support
| Source | April 18, 2025 (₹ Cr) | May 2, 2025 (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowings from RBI | 24,763.00 | 23,458.00 |
| Borrowings from Other Banks | 1,05,133.47 | 1,10,267.74 |
Insight: A decline in RBI borrowings may indicate improved liquidity in the banking system or lesser reliance on the RBI’s repo/MSF window.
Food Credit Soars
A striking observation is the sharp jump in food credit by Scheduled Commercial Banks.
| Date | Food Credit (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|
| April 18, 2025 | 32,125.64 |
| May 2, 2025 | 62,446.15 |
Insight: A near 95% increase in food credit could be attributed to seasonal procurement by government agencies (e.g., FCI) and may impact fiscal and food subsidy estimates.
Conclusion
The Scheduled Banks’ position as on May 2, 2025, paints a picture of a resilient and expanding banking system:
- Steady deposit growth, especially in demand deposits.
- Consistent credit flow, indicating economic momentum.
- High investments in safe government securities.
- Strong food credit demand, possibly indicating procurement activity.
As India navigates the evolving macroeconomic landscape, these trends from the RBI data offer useful signals for analysts, investors, and policy-watchers.
Source
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – Press Release No. 2025-2026/350
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