Calcutta, Jan. 7: Private lender Yes Bank is looking to raise around Rs 5,500 crore in infrastructure bonds and Basel-III compliant capital instruments.

'We are just about finalising the shareholder approval for launching infrastructure bonds and also hybrid capital under Basel III. We are targeting Rs 2,500-3,000 crore from hybrid capital and Rs 2,500 crore of infra bonds,' managing director and chief executive office Rana Kapoor said.

The infrastructure bonds would be issued in the next two-three months. The raising of funds to meet Basel III requirements will depend on interest rates and might take place in the first half of 2015-16.

The bank is also looking to enter the housing mortgage and credit card business in the next two years to strengthen its product offering to retail customers.

Kapoor said the bank expected improvement in infrastructure lending and was also focussing on offering more credit to agriculture and MSMEs.

In Bengal, the bank is expanding its network to improve its presence in high business areas. 'Yes Bank now has 15 branches in Bengal and we are going to have 50 branches by March 2016. We also have approximately 375-380 people and are looking to hire another 150-200,' Kapoor said.

'As a relatively young bank, we are investing and building our branch network and focusing on sunrise sectors such as agriculture and agri business,' he said

Yes Bank is working with the state tourism ministry as a strategic adviser to develop eco tourism in the Sunderbans and village tourism in Purulia.