ICICI Bank Q3 Preview: Steady Growth, Margins to Improve Amidst Loan Slippages

• ICICI Bank to report Q3FY26 earnings on January 17, with stable performance expected.
• Loan growth projected at 11% YoY, deposit growth at 8.5% YoY; potential for positive surprise in sequential loan growth.
• Net Interest Income (NII) seen rising 8.4% YoY, but profit growth muted at 5% due to higher agricultural loan slippages.
• Net Interest Margins (NIMs) expected to expand by 3-4 basis points, supported by CRR rate cuts and deposit repricing.
• Management commentary from CEO Sandeep Bakshi on growth momentum and margin sustainability will be closely watched.

Why It Matters: ICICI Bank anticipates stable Q3 results with improved margins, despite expected higher agricultural loan slippages.