MUMBAI: The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) today reported a flat advance tax payout for the March quarter at 1,456 crore.

The lender, which controls nearly a fourth of the total banking assets, had paid 1,450 crore as advance tax for the March quarter last fiscal.

"State Bank of India has paid advance tax of 1,456 crore for the Q4 of the financial year 2013-14 (corresponding figure for the financial year 2012-13 was 1450 crore) in respect of domestic operations," it said in a statement.

Advance tax payouts is a system of staggered payments of income tax dues spread over four quarters. It is generally considered as a barometer of a company's performance during a period.

Expectations on the banking sector performance are muted because of the economic slowdown and the consequent impact on both the asset quality and credit growth.

The SBI scrip was trading up over 3 percent at 1,704.25 at the BSE at noon, with the 30-share benchmark up 0.69 percent.

Meanwhile, new-age private sector lender Yes Bank reported a 20 percent jump in its advance tax payout at 200 crore for the March quarter, as against 167 crore in the same period.