Loan growth at State Bank of India,the country's largest lender,could reach 18 per cent in the current financial year to end-March,its chairman said on Friday. "We will definitely cross 16 per cent as per our estimate. It is also possible to touch 18 per cent," O.P. Bhatt said at a news conference ahead of a banking conclave organised by the bank from Monday. State Bank,which along with its associates controls almost a quarter of Indian bank loans and deposits,expects to maintain interest margins in the December quarter,Bhatt said. He added that treasury gains are wearing off.
