Small Finance Banks reported a sharp 76.2% year-on-year decline in net profit to ₹309 crore in Q1 FY26, down from ₹1,300 crore in the same period last year. The sector-wide slump reflects mounting pressures from credit cost spikes, particularly in microfinance and small-ticket loan portfolios where defaults are climbing.
Higher provisioning requirements drove much of the earnings loss. Equitas SFB alone posted a ₹224 crore net loss driven by microfinance portfolio provisioning, signaling acute stress in unsecured lending segments. Net interest income growth also slowed, compressing margins even as asset quality concerns mounted.
Gross non-performing assets surged across the sector. Suryoday SFB's GNPA climbed to 8.46% with net NPA at 5.64%, mirroring broader deterioration. Jana SFB's profit fell 40.3% YoY to ₹102 crore, while ESAF SFB added deposits but faced mounting asset quality headwinds.
In response, many SFBs have begun shifting loan portfolios toward secured products—gold loans and mortgages—to reduce risk and stabilize returns. This rebalancing reflects a tactical retreat from high-risk unsecured microfinance, where recovery cycles have lengthened and default rates have spiked.
The banking sector remains reliant on SFBs for financial inclusion in underserved markets. But without stabilized credit metrics and stronger portfolio diversification, the sector faces sustained pressure on profitability and capital adequacy in coming quarters.
