Utkarsh Small Finance Bank has sold ₹1,491 crore of Non-Performing Assets to Asset Reconstruction Companies for ₹195 crore, recovering 13% of the original loan value. The transaction follows RBI-permitted practice for banks to offload bad debt without breaching regulatory norms.
The 87% haircut reflects the deep stress embedded in these assets. By moving them off the books, Utkarsh reduces its NPA ratio and clears balance sheet drag—a critical metric for lender creditworthiness and reserve adequacy.
This move is not isolated. Multiple Small Finance Banks and microfinance lenders have undertaken similar cleanup operations in recent quarters, signalling a broader sector reckoning with rising delinquencies. The RBI and industry bodies have flagged sustained stress across the microfinance lending space.
Utkarsh converted from a microfinance institution to a Small Finance Bank in 2017 following RBI licensing. The lender is listed on both BSE and NSE, making its asset quality metrics directly material to shareholder returns and regulatory standing.
