Government Selling Up to 8% Stake in Central Bank of India via OFS: Floor Price Rs 31, Non-Retail Bidding Opens Today

Updated: 22 May 2026 • 11:15 am

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Government Selling Up to 8% Stake in Central Bank of India via OFS: Floor Price Rs 31, Non-Retail Bidding Opens Today

Government OFS in Central Bank of India: floor price Rs 31, base offer 4% with 4% oversubscription option. Non-retail bidding today 22 May, retail investors on 25 May.

The Government of India has announced an Offer for Sale (OFS) of its equity shares in Central Bank of India. The sale covers a base offer of 4 percent of the bank’s total equity (36,20,56,051 shares), with an identical oversubscription option of 4 percent, allowing the government to divest up to 8 percent of the total equity in a single OFS if demand is strong. The floor price has been set at Rs 31 per share. Non-retail investor bidding opens today (22 May 2026), with retail investor participation following on 25 May 2026.

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Central Bank of India OFS: All Key Details

OFS Type: Offer for Sale by the Government of India (President of India through Ministry of Finance)
Base Offer: 4% of paid-up equity = 36,20,56,051 shares
Oversubscription Option: Additional 4% = 36,20,56,051 shares (same number as base offer)
Total Maximum Divestment: Up to 8% of total equity = 72,41,12,102 shares
Floor Price: Rs 31 per share
Non-Retail Bidding (T-Day): 22 May 2026 (TODAY)
Retail Investor Bidding (T+1 Day): 25 May 2026, retail investors and eligible employees also bid; non-retail investors can carry forward unallotted bids
Employee Reservation: 75,00,000 shares reserved for eligible employees (maximum Rs 5 lakh per employee)
Government Stake Pre-OFS: 89.27% of Central Bank of India

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Why the Government Is Selling This Stake

The Central Bank of India OFS is part of the government’s broader strategy to meet minimum public shareholding (MPS) requirements for state-owned banks. SEBI requires listed companies to maintain at least 25 percent public float. With the government currently holding 89.27 percent, the public float is approximately 10.73 percent, below the 25 percent target. By selling up to 8 percent through this OFS, the government reduces its stake to approximately 81.27 percent and increases public float to approximately 18.73 percent, closer to the 25 percent requirement, though additional OFS rounds will be needed.

The floor price of Rs 31 per share represents the minimum price at which investors can bid. The actual allotment price will be determined by the market-clearing price above the floor. Given that Central Bank of India’s share price was around Rs 35 to Rs 37 in April 2026, the Rs 31 floor price is set at a discount to the recent market price, as is standard for government OFS transactions, which typically offer a modest discount to attract institutional participation.

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Who Can Apply and How

Non-retail investors (today, 22 May): Mutual funds, insurance companies, FPIs, banks, NBFCs and other institutional investors. Minimum bid: above Rs 2 lakh.
Retail investors (25 May): Individual investors bidding up to Rs 2 lakh. Retail investors receive a 5 percent discount on the OFS allotment price.
Eligible employees (25 May): Central Bank of India employees can bid for shares worth up to Rs 5 lakh at the employee-specific allotment price.
How to apply: Place bids through your broker’s OFS window at or above the floor price of Rs 31 per share. For retail investors, the 25 May window is open from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.

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FAQs on Central Bank of India OFS

What is the floor price for Central Bank of India OFS?

Ans. The floor price for the Central Bank of India OFS is Rs 31 per share. This is the minimum price at which investors can place bids. Retail investors receive a 5 percent discount on the final allotment price. Non-retail bidding is on 22 May 2026 and retail bidding is on 25 May 2026.

How much stake is the government selling in Central Bank of India?

Ans. The government is selling a base offer of 4 percent (36.20 crore shares) with an oversubscription option of another 4 percent, allowing total divestment of up to 8 percent. The government currently holds 89.27 percent of Central Bank of India. Post-OFS, the government stake could reduce to approximately 81.27 percent.

Can retail investors apply for the Central Bank of India OFS?

Ans. Yes. Retail investors can apply on 25 May 2026 (T+1 Day) through their broker’s OFS window at or above the floor price of Rs 31 per share. Retail investors receive a 5 percent discount on the final allotment price. Maximum investment per retail investor is Rs 2 lakh.

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Disclaimer: Investment in the share market is subject to risk. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Verify all numbers before investing. Consult a SEBI-registered advisor before making investment decisions.