HDFC Bank is on the look out for acquisitions, but "is not in active negotiations with any bank at present," Aditya Puri, the managing director of the bank, said on Thursday.
Puri was here to launch the bank's first co-branded credit card with eSeva, the Andhra Pradesh government's e-governance initiative for offering computerised integrated citizen services to the common man.
The card has exclusive features to pay utility bills of various government departments through eSeva centres, in addition to regular features of HDFC Bank credit card.
Responding to a question at a media conference on whether HDFC Bank is looking for acquisitions, Puri replied, "Hypothetically, yes. But, the kind of bank we are looking for acquisition is not ready for sale. And those banks which are up for sale are not interesting us."
On the possibility of merging HDFC and HDFC Bank, Puri said it does not make financial and economic sense at this point of time.
"There is no point in merging unless regulations pertaining to SLR and CLR change or economics change. We are not contemplating any merger at this point of time," Puri added.
The HDFC Bank's managing director said that the bank was negotiating with some oil companies for launch of co-branded credit cards.
On the co-branded credit card launched with eSeva, he said it was an unique initiative which provides the customers an opportunity to transact with government departments, especially payment of utility bills, in a far more convenient way.
'This kind of arrangement with regard to government transactions is not available in most parts of the world," Puri said, adding that the bank is not currently looking at other state governments for this kind of arrangement since it requires a minimum level of technology savvy.
© 2026