The Central Bank of India, under managing director and CEO Kalyan Kumar, is preparing for the Reserve Bank of India's new expected credit loss (ECL) framework, which shifts from an overdue ageing-based system to a more proactive risk-based model. The bank has already allocated ₹1,525 crore for provisions related to credit risks, with a total loan book of ₹3.23 trillion. As of the end of FY26, the bank's assets are classified into three stages based on credit risk, with significant provisions for Stage 3 assets. Analysts caution that while the transition to the ECL framework may enhance risk management, it could also increase provisioning requirements, potentially affecting profitability, especially for public-sector banks. In Q4 FY26, the bank reported a 30% decline in net profit to ₹730 crore, primarily due to a deferred tax adjustment related to a shift to a lower tax regime. Despite this, the bank anticipates growth in FY27, targeting 10-12% growth in deposits and 14-16% in advances, while maintaining a strong capital adequacy ratio of 17.91%. Kumar emphasized the importance of digital transformation and customer-centric services as key growth drivers.