Punjab & Sind Bank plans to raise Rs 3,000 crore through infrastructure bonds

Public Sector Lender, Punjab & Sind Bank is planning to raise Rs 3,000 crore through 10-year infrastructure bonds, according to multiple sources aware of the development. The bonds, rated ‘AA’ by domestic rating agencies CRISIL and IndiaRatings, have a base size of Rs 500 crore and a green-shoe option of Rs 2,500 crore.

It is expected that commercial banks’ infrastructure bond issuances in FY25 are projected to exceed Rs 1 trillion, almost double the amount raised in FY24.

So far, the bank has raised around Rs 80,000 crore via such bonds in this financial year, compared to Rs 51,081 crore in FY24. In FY25, the State Bank of India (SBI) raised Rs 30,000 crore through 15-year infrastructure bonds.

Join PSU Connect on WhatsApp now for quick updates! Click here

Read Also : Alok Kumar Sharma assumes charge as ED (NR-1), PowerGrid

Infrastructure bonds are advantageous for banks as they are exempt from regulatory reserve requirements such as the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) and cash reserve ratio (CRR). Unlike funds raised through deposits—where banks must maintain 4.5 percent of the amount as CRR with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and invest approximately 18 percent in securities to meet SLR obligations—infrastructure bond proceeds can be fully deployed for lending activities.

Banks have been preferring infrastructure bonds over AT-1 and Tier-2 bonds, as they are better priced than the latter. AT-1 bonds are perpetual, high-risk instruments classified as Tier-1 capital, featuring discretionary coupon payments and loss absorption mechanisms such as write-downs or equity conversion during financial distress.

Read Also : NABARD Relocates Andhra Pradesh Regional Office to Vijayawada: A New Chapter in Rural Development

On the other hand, Tier-2 bonds have fixed maturities, mandatory coupon payments, and no explicit loss absorption triggers, making them relatively less risky. Additionally, AT-1 bonds rank lower than Tier-2 bonds in the liquidation hierarchy.

Read Also : MGL join hands with Nawgati to drive CNG adoption among fleet operators