India's ICICI Bank reported better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Saturday, helped by robust loan growth, although its net interest margin (NIM) shrank for the fourth straight quarter.
The country's second-biggest private bank reported a record high standalone net profit of 102.72 billion rupees ($1.24 billion) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared to analysts' expectation of 100.25 billion rupees as per LSEG data.
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ICICI's NIM - the difference between interest obtained on loans and paid on deposits expressed as percentage - came in at 4.43%, compared to 4.65% last year and 4.53% last quarter.
Indian lenders have been reporting double-digit loan growth consistently over the past few months owing to higher demand, but rising deposit costs have squeezed their margins.
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Earlier this week, HDFC Bank, India's biggest private lender, reported weak margins for a second consecutive quarter.
ICICI Bank's total loans grew by 18.8% on-year, largely led by retail loans, while deposits grew 18.7%.
{{/usCountry}}ICICI Bank's total loans grew by 18.8% on-year, largely led by retail loans, while deposits grew 18.7%.
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Its net interest income - the difference between interest earned and paid - rose 13.4% to 186.78 billion rupees.
Asset quality improved, with gross non-performing assets ratio at 2.30% as of end-December versus 2.48% at the end of September.
Shares of ICICI Bank closed 1% higher ahead of the results.