Bandhan Bank is an innovative Indian private bank that originated from a microfinance organization dedicated to financial inclusion and women empowerment. Founded in 2001 in Bagnan, a small village near Kolkata, the bank began as a non-profit entity focused on serving underbanked and underpenetrated markets. Key Milestones The bank’s transformative journey includes several significant achievements. In 2006, Bandhan acquired a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to scale up microfinance activities. By 2010, it had become the largest microfinance institution in India. A pivotal moment arrived on June 17, 2015, when it received a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India, becoming the first microfinance institution to transform into a universal bank. The bank officially launched its banking operations on August 23, 2015, with 501 branches and 50 ATMs
Latest News on Bandhan Bank
Financial strain and deteriorating loan portfolios threaten the stability of small microfinance institutions
India’s microfinance sector is facing a severe crisis, with at least half a dozen companies defaulting on bank loans due to asset quality stress and funding crunch. These companies, including VFS Capital, Navachetana Microfin Services, and Arth Finance, are struggling to survive due to a liquidity crunch and difficulties in operating without institutional funding support. The sector’s stress began building in April last year, after a brief revival from the pandemic, and has resulted in a significant increase in late-stage portfolios at risk, with a surge to 15.32% at the end of the September quarter.
The micro-loan market has contracted to ₹3.46 lakh crore, registering a 17% year-on-year drop, with a near 20% fall in the number of active loans to 132 million. Listed microfinance firms, such as Fusion Finance and Spandana Sphoorty Financial, have suffered net losses in the second quarter, extending the run of negative earnings they reported over the past several quarters. Mainstream lenders, including Bandhan Bank, IndusInd Bank, IDFC First Bank, and RBL Bank, have also encountered profitability hits due to the stress in their microfinance portfolios.
VFS Capital, which has a cumulative exposure of ₹143 crore toward five lenders, failed to meet its repayment commitments, with a total overdue amount of ₹82 crore. The company had applied for a small finance bank licence from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in January but withdrew it last month after its financial condition worsened. Other affected lenders, including Bank of Maharashtra and IDBI Bank, have told VFS to submit financial statements and a certified book debt statement for the quarters ended June and September.
The situation is similar for Navachetana Microfin Services, which has delayed debt servicing since April and submitted a debt restructuring plan to lenders with the proposal to repay the dues in the next seven years. Some of the company’s loans from banks have already turned into non-performing assets (NPAs) by legal definition. Lenders to these entities have suggested forensic audits to determine the cause of the default and to consider restructuring of bank accounts.
Sectoral leaders are calling for financial institutions to become more lenient while lending to smaller microfinance entities and are expecting the government to consider a proposal to provide a guarantee fund for the microfinance sector. Without institutional funding, several other small lenders are likely to be on the brink of default very soon. The government guarantee programme can facilitate lending to these entities and help them overcome the current liquidity crisis.
Bandhan Bank, Equitas SFB, AU SFB, and Axis are expected to experience a decline in net interest margin, while RBL Bank is likely to defy this trend, according to a Q2 preview.
The second quarter (Q2) preview for several Indian banks suggests that Net Interest Margin (NIM) may decline for most of them, with RBL Bank being an exception.
Bandhan Bank’s NIM is expected to fall due to a rise in cost of funds and a marginal increase in yields on advances. The bank’s focus on granular deposits and its efforts to diversify its loan book may not be enough to offset the decline in NIM.
Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) is also likely to see a decline in NIM due to an increase in the cost of funds and a higher proportion of low-yielding assets. The bank’s strategy to expand its reach and improve operational efficiency may take some time to yield results.
AU Small Finance Bank (SFB) may experience a decline in NIM due to a rise in funding costs and a moderate increase in yields on assets. The bank’s efforts to improve its asset quality and reduce its cost-to-income ratio may not be sufficient to offset the decline in NIM.
Axis Bank’s NIM is expected to fall due to a rise in the cost of funds and a moderate increase in yields on advances. The bank’s focus on improving its asset quality and expanding its reach may not be enough to offset the decline in NIM.
On the other hand, RBL Bank is expected to be an outlier, with a potential increase in NIM due to a decline in the cost of funds and a rise in yields on advances. The bank’s efforts to improve its asset quality and expand its reach may yield positive results.
Overall, the Q2 preview suggests that most of these banks may face a decline in NIM due to various factors, including a rise in funding costs and a moderate increase in yields on assets. However, RBL Bank’s ability to manage its costs and improve its asset quality may help it stand out from its peers.
It’s worth noting that these predictions are based on current trends and may be subject to change based on various factors, including changes in the economic environment and the banks’ individual strategies. The actual performance of these banks may differ from the predicted outcomes.
The Q2 results will provide more clarity on the performance of these banks and the trends that may shape their future growth. Investors and analysts will be closely watching the results to gauge the impact of the current economic environment on the banking sector.
In conclusion, the Q2 preview for these Indian banks suggests a decline in NIM for most of them, with RBL Bank being an exception. The actual performance of these banks will depend on various factors, including their ability to manage costs, improve asset quality, and expand their reach.
Bandhan Bank, Equitas SFB, AU SFB, and Axis are expected to experience a decline in Net Interest Margin (NIM), while RBL Bank is likely to be an exception: Q2 preview
Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) forecasts that the September quarter (Q2FY26) will mark the bottom for the banking sector’s net interest margins (NIMs), with profitability expected to recover gradually in the second half of the year. This recovery will be driven by deposit repricing and the phased Cut in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). According to MOFSL, credit growth remains modest, with system-wide credit growth standing at 10.3% year-on-year as of September 5, 2025. The brokerage expects systemic loan growth to sustain at 11% in FY26E and improve to 12.5% in FY27E, aided by a pickup in consumption from GST rate cuts, income tax relief, and lower borrowing costs.
MOFSL notes that system deposit growth held steady at 9.8% year-on-year in September, despite rate cuts. However, banks continue to face challenges in mobilizing low-cost Current Account and Savings Account (CASA) deposits. The moderation in policy rates has led to reductions in both savings and term deposit rates, which should lower the cost of funds in the second half and aid NIM recovery.
The brokerage expects sharper NIM declines for certain banks, including Bandhan Bank, Equitas SFB, AU SFB, and Axis Bank, while RBL Bank could see a slight improvement. Stress remains in unsecured retail segments, such as microfinance and credit cards, though collection efficiencies are improving. Select segments, including micro-LAP, CV loans, and affordable housing, are also showing signs of stress, with additional risks from recent floods in northern and eastern states.
For Q2FY26, MOFSL estimates a decline in Net Interest Income (NII) for its coverage universe, with a 0.9% year-on-year decline and a 1.8% quarter-on-quarter decline. Pre-Provision Operating Profit (PPoP) is projected to fall 5.5% year-on-year and 14% quarter-on-quarter, while Profit After Tax (PAT) is expected to decline 7.2% year-on-year and 4.5% quarter-on-quarter. However, the brokerage sees earnings traction building from the second half of FY26, leading to a 17.7% PAT Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over FY26-28E.
In terms of specific bank performance, MOFSL forecasts that private banks’ PAT will fall 7.3% year-on-year in Q2, with NII growth muted at 0.6% year-on-year. Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banks’ PAT is projected to fall 7.1% year-on-year, driven by NIM compression and lower treasury gains. Small Finance Banks are expected to face persistent NIM pressure in Q2, while fintechs and payments companies, such as SBI Cards and Paytm, are expected to report strong growth. Overall, MOFSL expects the banking sector to recover gradually in the second half of the year, driven by deposit repricing and the phased CRR cut.
Bandhan Bank Grapples with Contrasting Indicators as Financial Struggles Coexist with Stakeholder Optimism
Bandhan Bank, a private sector bank, has undergone a recent evaluation adjustment due to mixed technical indicators and financial challenges. The bank’s technical indicators are inconsistent, with the MACD showing bearish signals on a weekly basis and bullish signals on a monthly basis. The Bollinger Bands indicate a bearish trend in the short term, while the daily moving averages suggest a mildly bullish stance.
In terms of financial performance, Bandhan Bank has reported negative results for the last three consecutive quarters, with a significant decline in profit before tax and profit after tax. The bank’s gross non-performing assets have also reached a notable high, indicating potential challenges in asset quality. This decline in profitability and increase in non-performing assets suggests that the bank is facing financial challenges.
However, despite these challenges, Bandhan Bank maintains a strong capital adequacy ratio and a favorable net interest margin, indicating a solid foundation. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio is a measure of its ability to absorb losses, and its net interest margin is a measure of its profitability. Additionally, there has been a rise in promoter confidence, with stakeholders increasing their holdings in the company. This increased confidence suggests that the bank’s promoters believe in its long-term potential.
The combination of mixed technical indicators, financial challenges, and strong capital adequacy ratio has led to a revision in Bandhan Bank’s score. The score revision reflects the complexities of the bank’s current financial landscape. To get a better understanding of the bank’s financial trend performance, one can sign up for premium access to discover the latest mojo score. The premium access provides detailed information about the bank’s financial performance and helps investors make informed decisions.
Overall, Bandhan Bank’s recent evaluation adjustment reflects the challenges it is facing, as well as its strengths. The bank’s ability to maintain a strong capital adequacy ratio and favorable net interest margin, despite declining profitability and rising non-performing assets, suggests that it has a solid foundation. However, the bank needs to address its financial challenges to improve its overall performance and increase investor confidence.
Stock Market Updates for Bandhan Bank
Recent Updates of Bandhan Bank
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