Page 11 - Banking Sector

2026 outlook for banking sector: NIMs stable, liquidity challenge looms

After margin pressure and muted credit in 2025, banks enter 2026 with hopes of credit revival, stable asset quality and more investments, though funding and deposits remain key risks

HDFC Bank's loan book grows 12% to ₹28.44 trn in Q3, CD ratio up at 98.5%

After several quarters, the bank reported loan growth higher than deposit growth. The bank mobilised ₹57,700 crore of deposits during the quarter while credit disbursed expanded by ₹75,300 crore

Gains from decontrol: Removing constraints offers substantial gains

While factories faced headwinds, Indian finance gained ground in the eyes of global strategic capital

Bandhan Bank loans grow 10% to ₹1.45 trn in Q3, deposits rise 11%

Private sector lender Bandhan Bank on Sunday reported a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in its loans and advances, totalling Rs 1,45,227 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025. The bank had reported loans and advances worth Rs 1,32,019 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. According to the provisional business update submitted to the stock exchanges, the bank's total deposits rose by 11.1 per cent to Rs 156,723 crore during the quarter under review, compared to Rs 141,002 crore as of December 31, 2024. On a sequential basis, however, total deposits saw a marginal decline of 0.9 per cent from Rs 1,58,075 crore in September 2025 quarter. The bank's retail franchise continued to show strength, with retail deposits (including CASA) increasing by 17.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,13,420 crore. Retail term deposits witnessed a sharp surge of 35.8 per cent, reaching Rs 70,690 crore as against Rs 52,063 crore in the year-ago period. Consequently, the shar

NIM stabilisation, asset quality, disciplined growth key for banks in 2026

After a year of margin pressure and muted growth, banks head into 2026 expecting NIM stabilisation, benign asset quality and a gradual revival in credit, aided by rate cuts and foreign inflows

Customer is the purpose

Banks exist to serve the customers, let us serve them well

2025: Year of big-bang reforms aimed at ease of doing business in finance

The Reserve Bank of India rolled out sweeping reforms in 2025 to lower compliance costs and improve ease of doing business, from LCR relief and project finance norms to digital lending rules

India's banks are healthier, but the next stress point is already visible

While banking is stable and resilient, it needs to evolve and adjust to the changing dynamics of the Indian financial system

BS Samriddhi: 'Uttar Pradesh has turned into a vibrant startup hub'

Indian Bank's Sudhir Kumar Gupta outlines how credit, fintech partnerships and startup funding can help Uttar Pradesh move towards a $1 trillion economy

Bank fraud amount rises 30% to ₹21,515 crore in April-September H1FY26

Banking system fraud amount rose to ₹21,515 crore in April-September FY26, up 30 per cent year-on-year, even as the number of cases fell sharply to 5,092

$6 bn-plus foreign inflows make 2025 a watershed year for India's pvt banks

Cleaner balance sheets, regulatory support and strong growth prospects helped Indian private banks attract over $6 billion in foreign capital, with more deals expected in 2026

Bandhan Bank sells over ₹6,800 crore stressed assets to ARCIL, Phoenix

Bandhan Bank said it has sold stressed loan portfolios worth over Rs 6,800 crore to ARCIL and Phoenix ARC to reduce NPAs and refocus on core lending

Number of UCBs declines to 1,457 in FY25 as RBI consolidation continues

India's urban co-operative banks fell to 1,457 at end-March 2025 from 1,926 in 2004, as RBI consolidation continued via mergers, closures and licence cancellations

FinMin asks banks, finance institutions to promptly report vigilance cases

The finance ministry has directed public sector banks and financial institutions, including insurance companies, to promptly report vigilance-related matters concerning whole-time directors (WTDs) of their respective companies. The directive from the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the ministry follows several instances where adverse information about board-level appointees was not promptly reported. In many cases, it said, such critical adverse inputs like private complaints, court observations, references or inputs from the CBI or other Law Enforcement Agencies are being reported only at the time when Vigilance Clearance is specifically sought from the Chief Vigilance Officers (CVO) of PSUs. Without citing any specific case, the advisory issued earlier this month, said, in certain cases even the crucial information relating to WTDs is omitted in the Vigilance Clearance formats on the ground that no specific column exists for such disclosure. Observing that omission o

India offers higher FDI, easier bank branch norms under New Zealand FTA

Under the India-New Zealand FTA's Financial Services Annex, India has offered higher FDI limits in banking and insurance and a simpler licensing regime for foreign bank branches

Credit card spending moderates to ₹1.89 trillion in November 2025

After crossing Rs 2 trillion in September and October, credit card spending eased to Rs 1.89 trillion in November 2025, with major issuers reporting month-on-month declines

Govt to use green-shoe option to divest 3% stake in Indian Overseas Bank

The government on Wednesday decided to exercise green shoe option to divest a higher 3 per cent stake in Indian Overseas Bank through offer-for-sale following overwhelming response from investors on the first day of subscription. The OFS of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) opened for subscription on Wednesday for non-retail investors at a floor price of Rs 34 per share. "Offer for Sale in Indian Overseas Bank received good response from non-retail investors today. "Against about 34.66 cr shares on offer, demand was received for more than 41 cr shares. Government has decided to exercise the green shoe option. Retail investors get to bid tomorrow 18th December 2025," Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Arunish Chawla said in a post on X. The government proposed to sell up to 38.51 crore (38,51,31,796) shares or 2 per cent base offer size with an option to additionally sell 19.25 crore (19,25,65,898) shares, representing 1 per cent of the total issued and

Govt extends tenure of SBI MD Ashwini Kumar Tewari for another 2 years

The government has extended the tenure of State Bank of India Managing Director Ashwini Kumar Tewari for another two years. The central government re-appoints Ashwini Kumar Tewari as Managing Director in State Bank of India (SBI) with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post, beyond his currently notified term, which is ending on January 27 2026, till the date of his superannuation that is December 31, 2027, the state-owned lender said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. This is the second time that Tewari got a two-year extension. The first time he got an extension was in 2024. He was appointed as MD of SBI in January 2021 for an initial three-year term. The SBI board is headed by the Chairman, assisted by four managing directors.

Global shadow banking assets cross $250 trn as watchdog warns on data

Within non banks, the fastest growth was in trust companies, hedge funds, money market funds and other investment funds, which all posted double digit rates of growth

Banks asked to offer basic services to customers at all branches

Lenders nudged to cut charges and maintain uniformity