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Corporate

IDFC First Bank reports record profit in first quarter

IDFC First Bank began FY27 on a strong note, reporting its highest-ever quarterly profit as improving asset quality, robust retail lending and lower credit costs helped drive earnings. The private sector lender crossed the ₹1,000-crore quarterly profit milestone for the first time on a standalone basis, reflecting the success of its long-term strategy of building a retail-focused banking franchise while maintaining disciplined risk management.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the bank reported a standalone net profit of ₹1,074.96 crore, a sharp 132.4% increase from ₹462.59 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. On a consolidated basis, net profit rose 153.1% year-on-year to ₹1,147.82 crore, making it one of the strongest quarterly performances in the bank’s history.

The growth in earnings was supported by healthy expansion in the bank’s core lending business. Standalone net interest income (NII), which measures the difference between interest earned on loans and interest paid on deposits, rose 21% year-on-year to ₹4,788 crore. On a consolidated basis, NII increased 21.1% to ₹5,974.12 crore, highlighting the bank’s ability to generate higher income despite a competitive interest-rate environment.

The bank also reported consolidated total income of ₹13,360.69 crore, while pre-provision operating profit (PPOP) stood at ₹2,625.71 crore during the quarter. Its net interest margin (NIM) remained healthy at 5.96%, indicating that the lender continues to earn strong returns from its lending portfolio.

A major contributor to the record profit was the sharp reduction in credit costs. Lower provisions for bad loans, along with better recoveries, significantly improved the bank’s bottom line. During the earnings call, the management said that while recoveries under government-backed credit guarantee schemes supported earnings, the bank also created additional contingency provisions to strengthen its balance sheet against any future economic or geopolitical uncertainties.

The management stressed that maintaining a conservative approach to risk remains a key priority even as business growth accelerates. According to the leadership team, building a resilient balance sheet is essential for sustaining profitability over the long term.

Loan growth remained healthy across the bank’s retail-focused portfolio. Loans and advances increased 21% year-on-year to ₹2,97,834 crore, while total funded assets, including credit substitutes, reached ₹3,05,370 crore. The bank continued to witness healthy demand across retail products, including home loans, personal loans, MSME financing and business banking.

Over the past few years, IDFC First Bank has steadily shifted its business model from wholesale and infrastructure lending towards retail banking. Management believes this strategy has created a more diversified and stable loan portfolio while improving the overall quality of assets. The latest quarterly performance suggests that this transformation is beginning to deliver consistent financial results.

On the liabilities side, the bank continued to strengthen its deposit franchise. Total deposits stood at ₹3,11,891 crore, including customer deposits of ₹2,99,405 crore and certificates of deposit worth ₹12,486 crore. A strong deposit base helps reduce the bank’s dependence on wholesale funding and supports stable long-term growth.

Asset quality showed further improvement during the June quarter. Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) declined to 1.51%, while Net NPA improved to 0.44%. The lower levels of stressed assets reflect disciplined underwriting, stronger collections and improved recoveries across the loan book. Better asset quality also translated into lower provisioning requirements, allowing the bank to retain a larger share of its operating profits.

During the earnings call, the management expressed confidence that the retail banking franchise has now reached sufficient scale to deliver sustainable growth. The leadership highlighted continued investments in digital banking, technology platforms and customer experience as key priorities for the coming quarters. It also reiterated that the bank remains focused on profitable growth rather than aggressive expansion.

Executives noted that demand for retail credit remains healthy despite global uncertainties. They expect segments such as home loans, consumer finance, MSME lending and business banking to continue driving growth, supported by India’s resilient domestic economy and rising financial inclusion.

Investors responded positively to the quarterly performance. Shares of IDFC First Bank gained after the results were announced, as the market welcomed the record profit, improving operating metrics and continued progress in strengthening the balance sheet. Analysts observed that lower credit costs and stable margins indicate that the bank’s transformation strategy is yielding tangible results.

Brokerages also highlighted the consistent improvement in profitability over recent quarters. They believe the bank is now entering a phase where operating leverage, expanding retail business and controlled asset quality could support sustained earnings growth.

Looking ahead, the management remains optimistic about maintaining the current growth momentum while preserving strong risk controls. The bank plans to continue investing in technology, expanding its customer base and improving operational efficiency to strengthen its competitive position in India’s banking sector.

The IDFC First Bank Q1 FY27 results mark an important milestone in the lender’s growth journey. Record profitability, strong net interest income, healthy loan growth, improving asset quality and prudent provisioning demonstrate that the bank is building a more resilient and profitable franchise. As credit demand continues to rise across India, IDFC First Bank appears well positioned to deliver sustainable growth while creating long-term value for customers, shareholders and investors.

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Corporate

Bank of Baroda posts 72% profit decline in Q1

State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) reported a sharp 72% year-on-year decline in standalone net profit for the first quarter of FY27, as a one-time legal settlement linked to the NMC Health case significantly impacted its earnings. Despite the steep drop in profit, the bank delivered a healthy operational performance, with steady growth in net interest income (NII), loans and deposits, highlighting the strength of its core banking business.

The public sector lender posted a standalone net profit of ₹1,278 crore for the April-June quarter, compared with ₹4,541 crore in the corresponding period last year. On a sequential basis as well, profit declined sharply from the March quarter. However, the fall was not due to weakness in lending or business operations but was largely driven by an exceptional one-time expense.

The biggest factor behind the earnings decline was a ₹5,680 crore exceptional charge that the bank recognised during the quarter after reaching a settlement in the long-running NMC Health litigation. Earlier this month, Bank of Baroda agreed to pay $600 million under an out-of-court settlement to resolve claims related to the collapse of UAE-based healthcare company NMC Health.

The bank clarified that entering into the settlement does not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing. Instead, it said the agreement was aimed at bringing closure to a legacy legal issue that had remained unresolved for several years. The settlement removes a major overhang that had created uncertainty for investors and allows the bank to move forward without prolonged legal proceedings.

Although the exceptional charge weighed heavily on profitability, the bank’s underlying business continued to perform well. Net Interest Income (NII), which measures the difference between interest earned on loans and interest paid on deposits, increased by around 10% year-on-year. The growth reflected healthy credit demand and the bank’s ability to expand its interest-earning assets despite a competitive banking environment.

Bank of Baroda also recorded strong business growth during the quarter. Gross advances rose 17.4% year-on-year, supported by healthy demand across retail, corporate, agriculture and overseas loan segments. The retail portfolio continued to remain a key growth driver, while corporate lending also showed resilience amid improving economic activity.

Deposits also maintained a healthy trajectory, increasing 13.8% year-on-year. The steady rise in deposits indicates continued customer confidence and provides the bank with a strong and stable funding base to support future lending growth. Strong deposit mobilisation remains a key focus area for banks as competition for low-cost deposits continues across the sector.

The bank reported total income of ₹36,681 crore during the quarter, registering modest growth over the previous year. Higher interest income contributed to the increase, although operating profit came under pressure because of the exceptional settlement cost and higher operating expenses.

Another encouraging aspect of the quarterly performance was the bank’s asset quality, which remained stable. Gross and net non-performing asset (NPA) ratios continued to stay under control, reflecting prudent lending practices and effective credit monitoring. Stable asset quality is particularly significant at a time when banks are balancing strong credit growth with cautious risk management.

In another important development, the bank’s board approved an increase in the borrowing limit for its overseas operations. The ceiling for raising funds through international borrowings has been doubled from $5 billion to $10 billion. The enhanced limit is expected to provide greater flexibility in accessing global funding markets and supporting the bank’s expanding international business.

Market analysts said the June-quarter results should be viewed in the context of the one-time settlement rather than as a reflection of the bank’s operational performance. Excluding the exceptional charge, the lender’s core fundamentals remain healthy, supported by steady loan growth, improving business volumes and stable asset quality.

Investors are now expected to closely monitor key financial indicators such as net interest margin (NIM), credit growth, deposit mobilisation, operating profitability and asset quality in the coming quarters. These metrics will provide a clearer picture of the bank’s earnings trajectory after the impact of the settlement fades.

The resolution of the NMC Health litigation is also being viewed positively by several market observers. With the legal uncertainty behind it, Bank of Baroda can now focus more aggressively on business expansion, digital banking initiatives, customer acquisition and improving shareholder returns. The removal of this legacy issue is expected to strengthen investor confidence over the medium term.

Industry experts believe the exceptional charge is unlikely to have a lasting impact on the bank’s long-term growth story. India’s banking sector continues to benefit from healthy credit demand, improving economic activity and rising consumption, creating favourable conditions for lenders with strong balance sheets and diversified loan portfolios.

While the June-quarter profit numbers may appear weak at first glance, the broader picture remains far more encouraging. Bank of Baroda’s strong loan growth, healthy net interest income, stable asset quality and expanding deposit base demonstrate that its core banking franchise remains resilient. With the NMC settlement now behind it and a major legal uncertainty resolved, the public sector lender is expected to focus on strengthening profitability, expanding its lending business and delivering sustainable growth in the quarters ahead.

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