Dhanlaxmi Bank enters centenary year after historic profit, eyes ₹40,000 crore business

Dhanlaxmi Bank will launch its year-long centenary celebrations on November 14, with Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurating the event in Thrissur, marking 100 years of the bank’s operations.

The event is expected to bring together dignitaries, representatives from the industrial and social sectors, customers, serving employees and former employees. As part of the celebrations, the bank will announce a scholarship scheme for financially underprivileged students who demonstrate academic excellence.

Bank marks centenary with strong business and profit growth

Ajith Kumar K.K., Managing Director and CEO, and P. Suryaraj, Executive Director of the bank, told reporters that Dhanlaxmi Bank enters its centenary year on the back of record growth in business volume and profitability.

After a brief period of losses, the bank has staged a turnaround, recording nine consecutive quarters of net profit. Despite posting a loss of around ₹8 crore in the first quarter of FY25, it returned to profitability and maintained the momentum thereafter.

In FY26, the bank recorded a net profit of ₹102.75 crore, crossing the ₹100-crore mark for the first time in its history. The growth momentum has continued in the current financial year, with net profit for the first half touching ₹73.46 crore, more than double the ₹35.38 crore reported in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Total business expected to cross ₹40,000 crore

As of September 30, the bank’s total business stood at ₹36,499 crore, comprising deposits of ₹20,551 crore and gross advances of ₹15,948 crore. The management expects total business to cross ₹40,000 crore by the end of the current financial year and ₹50,000 crore in the next fiscal.

Sustaining annual growth of over 20% would help the bank achieve its long-term target of ₹1 lakh crore in total business within five years, they said.

Bank plans to raise SME lending share to 30%

Gold loans currently account for 40% of the bank’s advances, followed by corporate loans at 20%, SME loans at 16%, and retail and agricultural lending at 24%. The bank plans to increase the share of SME lending to 30% as part of its portfolio diversification strategy.

Branch network expansion planned in three States

Dhanlaxmi Bank currently operates 271 branches and plans to open 25 new branches this year, primarily in Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Its branch network is expected to reach 290 by the end of the current financial year and exceed 300 in the next fiscal.