"PSU banks are sole lenders to capital intensive firms," says Chairperson of State Bank of India, Arundhati Bhattacharya. SBI is the largest bank in India (by average market share) but also has a huge share of Non-Performing Assets owing to bad loans. Commenting on bad loans Mrs Bhattacharya said that every business is risky especially one with high value since markets are very fluid. When questioned about all the bad loans to Vijay Mallya who owes various banks close to Rs. 9000 crores, Mrs Bhattacharya said that the recovery of his assets by SBI have been mired in red tape. She says Mr Mallya's businesses looked promising hence the bank took the risk of lending him money. Her message to the Reserve Bank of India is to promulgate a policy that implements ease of exit from any agreement. She tells the Central Bureau of Investigation to not treat lending organisations as adversaries and finally her advice to Vijay Mallya is that he treat banks like his family physician and come clean with all that is ailing his business so that an amicable solution can be worked on.
