Should You Open An Account in IDFC Bank? The Bank Is About to Shut Down Or Record More Growth?

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the second quarter (Q2) financial results of IDFC FIRST Bank for the period ended 30 September 2025 (FY26). We explore key performance metrics, business drivers, and strategic implications for the bank’s operations and future trajectory.

Strong turnaround: Profit, business growth and margins

In Q2 FY26, IDFC FIRST Bank delivered a profit after tax (PAT) of ₹352 crore, marking a sharp year-on-year increase of approximately 75-76% (from around ₹201 crore in Q2 FY25).

This rebound reflects the confluence of three factors: moderation in provisioning, robust business growth, and improved operating leverage in key segments. Lending rose significantly, customer business expanded, and funding costs continued to ease.

On the margin front, while the net interest margin (NIM) dipped to approximately 5.59% in Q2 FY26 from 6.18% in Q2 FY25 (a drop of 59 basis points).

This decline underscores that the bank is contending with competitive pressures on yields and a reducing cost of funds curve, which could require sustained execution to restore margins.

Key financials at a glance

Below is a summary table of the bank’s major metrics, setting the stage for deeper commentary.
 

These numbers demonstrate that the bank not only grew its business strongly but did so while maintaining asset quality and improving its low-cost deposit base (CASA). The rising CASA ratio is especially significant because it supports margin stability as cost of funds drops.

Asset quality, provisioning and microfinance focus

A further breakdown reveals that the bank’s asset quality remains largely stable, with a Gross NPA of 1.86% and Net NPA of 0.52% as of 30 September 2025.

Importantly, the bank has taken decisive steps to shrink its micro-finance (MFI) portfolio: it has reduced the MFI book by 41.6% year-on-year, bringing it to 2.7% of funded assets, down from 5.6% a year ago.

Slippages in the MFI segment were halved from ₹514 crore in Q1 FY26 to ₹249 crore in Q2 FY26.

This signals that legacy MFI stress, a known drag in previous quarters—is now largely behind the bank, enabling clearer focus on growth in retail, vehicle, mortgages, MSME and wholesale.

Provisions for the quarter fell by about 12.5% quarter-on-quarter (from ₹1,659 crore to ₹1,452 crore) indicating improved credit cost control.

Taken together, the stable asset quality plus falling provisioning bolster the bank’s ability to convert business growth into higher profitability.

Strategic implications and outlook

With a strengthened balance sheet, rising low-cost deposit base and managed risk with MFI exposures scaled down, IDFC FIRST Bank is poised to drive earnings growth. The focus on mortgage, consumer, vehicle, business banking and MSME is paying off: 94% of the loan growth year-on-year comes from these segments.

The challenge remains restoring NIMs. The bank expects further downward movement in cost of funds which should improve margins over time. The rising CASA ratio above 50% helps in that direction. Additionally, operating leverage is improving: business growth is outpacing cost increase, which helps core profitability.

Given these dynamics, the bank appears to be at an inflection point—moving from managing legacy stress towards a growth & profitability phase. Sustaining this will require careful yield management, disciplined credit underwriting, and continued improvement in deposit cost structure.

Conclusion

The Q2 FY26 results of IDFC FIRST Bank reflect a robust turnaround: a strong increase in profit, healthy business growth, a leaner risk profile, and improved funding mix. The key strategic highlight is the bank’s shift away from legacy micro-finance stress towards core retail, vehicle, MSME and wholesale lending, underpinned by a growing CASA base. 

While margin pressures remain a consideration given moderating NIMs, the trajectory is positive, improved leverage, falling provisioning and structural enhancements point to an enhanced earnings runway. The coming quarters will test whether the bank can sustain margin improvement and maintain credit discipline while scaling up its business.
 

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