The Royal Bank of Scotland has become a corporate bank in India and will be focusing on investment banking and lending only to Indian companies that it can service using its global network. The total assets of the bank in India have shrunk to Rs 20,366 crore in 2013-14 from Rs 26,360 crore in 2012-13. In 2013, it had closed down 21 of its 31 branches in the country and sold its loan exposure to individuals and SMEs to RBL Bank. The bank’s net profit from Indian operations has increased 52. 36% to Rs 355 crore in 2013-14 from Rs 233 crore a year earlier, driven by a 20% increase in other income which includes fees and commissions from its corporate and investment banking.Confirming the new move, Brijesh Mehra, the new head of the bank in India, said the bank will not do retail assets in India, as the focus is now only on wholesale banking which includes lending to large companies, investment banking, risk management and trading.
