Bank merger

Kerala, January 9: The merger of Times Bank Ltd with HDFC BANK will be completed by March end, according to HDFC Bank vice-president B Chandramouli. Systems integration following the amalgamation of the two private sector banks would be completed by March 31, Chandramouli told a press meet here.

In the first half of the current financial year, HDFC Bank registered a 26 per cent rise in profit to Rs 53.32 crore with a 56 per cent rise in its total income which touched Rs 309.30 crore. The deposit base of the bank recorded a 75 per cent rise and had touched Rs 3,947 crore, Chandramouli said. Meanwhile, HDFC Bank8217;s fourth branch in Kerala was inaugurated here this morning by RBI regional director M Jesudasan.