Summary of earnings call for IDFC First Bank Ltd published on 31 Jul, 2025
IDFC FIRST Bank Limited
Q1 FY26
Call date · July 26, 2025
1 · Management Commentary
Key Positives
- Balance sheet grew 18% YoY to INR3.6 lakh crores; customer deposits up 26% YoY to INR2.57 lakh crores.
- CASA ratio improved to 48% (CASA deposits up 30% YoY); retail deposits crossed INR2 lakh crores.
- Retail + CASA deposits now 85% of customer deposits; branch count increased to 1,016.
- Cost of funds declined to 6.42%; cost of deposits at 6.37%.
- Funded assets up 21% YoY to INR2.53 lakh crores; wholesale book grew 39% YoY.
- Credit card spends up 35% YoY; 3.8 million credit cards issued.
- Provision coverage ratio (PCR) improved to 72.3% (+296 bps YoY).
- Operating profit (incl. trading gains) up 19% YoY; core operating profit up 7.8% QoQ.
Key Negatives
- Gross NPA increased to 1.97% (from 1.87% in March); Net NPA to 0.55% (from 0.53%).
- Microfinance (MFI) book declined 37% YoY; now 3.3% of funded assets.
- Gross slippages up 14% QoQ to INR2,486 crores (includes INR108 crores from one ATM service provider).
- Net interest margin (NIM) moderated by 24 bps QoQ to 5.71%.
- Profit after tax at INR463 crores, down 32% YoY (though up 52% QoQ).
- Cost-to-income ratio remains elevated at 73.8% (though improved sequentially).
Forward Guidance
- Capital raise of INR7,500 crores expected to conclude in Q2; post-raise CRAR to be 17.6%, Tier 1 at 15.38%.
- MFI book expected to bottom out at ~INR7,500 crores; growth to resume in line with industry post-stabilization.
- Credit cost guidance maintained at 2.0–2.05% for FY26; no material asset quality shocks expected.
- Margins (NIM) expected to recover to ~5.8% by Q4 FY26, aided by sharp FD rate cuts and deposit repricing.
- Cost-to-income ratio targeted at 65% by FY27; opex growth to be contained at 11–12% in near/medium term.
- Focus on growing CA balances, improving tech stack, and further retailization of liabilities.
- No material concerns flagged on asset quality outside of MFI; expect improvement in Q3/Q4 as funding cost benefits accrue.
2 · Q&A Highlights
Q 1 (Asset Quality & Slippages): Several analysts asked about the rise in NPAs/slippages across segments, especially MSME, MFI, and credit cards, and whether any specific stress is emerging.
A (Management):
• General increase seen, but no specific segment singled out; some stress in rural (notably Karnataka), but collection efficiency improving.
• Credit card NPA at 1.76% (marginal increase, but range-bound); unsecured MSME credit cost in line with overall guidance (~2%).
• No material asset quality deterioration expected; credit cost guidance of 2–2.05% for FY26 reiterated.
Q 2 (Margins & Funding Costs): Analysts queried about NIM trajectory given MFI shrinkage, repo rate transmission, and deposit repricing.
A (Management):
• NIM to see further pressure in Q2 due to lagged repo transmission, but sharp FD rate cuts (from 7.9% to 6.75%) will benefit from Q3/Q4.
• Expect NIM to recover to ~5.8% by Q4 FY26, barring further repo cuts.
Q 3 (Capital Raise): Questions on status and risks to the INR7,500 crore capital raise.
A (Management):
• No risks or delays anticipated; all requisite approvals expected in Q2.
Q 4 (Cost-to-Income & Opex): Analysts sought guidance on cost-to-income ratio and opex growth.
A (Management):
• Opex growth to be contained at 11–12% in near/medium term; cost-to-income ratio targeted at 65% by FY27.
• Current elevated ratio due to income compression (MFI shrinkage, repo pass-through); expect improvement as margins recover.
Q 5 (MFI Business Outlook): Clarification on future of MFI business and margin impact.
A (Management):
• MFI book expected to bottom at ~INR7,500 crores; will resume growth in line with industry post-stabilization.
• MFI impact on NIM to reduce as book stabilizes; no intent to exit the segment.
Q 6 (Deposit Mix & CASA/CA Growth): Questions on CA/SA growth, impact of rate cuts, and plans to improve CA ratio.
A (Management):
• CA as % of CASA at ~15%, but only ~7.5–8% of total deposits; focus on improving CA share to industry levels.
• SA growth strong; FD rate cuts to structurally benefit funding cost in coming years.
Q 7 (Growth Drivers & Competition): Analysts asked about credit growth drivers and competitive intensity, especially in unsecured segments.
A (Management):
• Growth led by wholesale, vehicle, and mortgage segments; no material slowdown or stress seen in MSME/LAP.
• Confident in asset quality; not seeing the stress some peers have flagged.
Q 8 (Repo Rate Transmission): Clarification on timing and impact of repo rate cuts on loan book yields.
A (Management):
• Repo transmission occurs with a lag (reset every 3 months per customer); Q2 to see full impact of June cut.
3 · Other Key Numbers
- Balance sheet size: INR3.6 lakh crores (June 30, 2025)
- Customer deposits: INR2.57 lakh crores (up 26% YoY)
- Retail deposits: >INR2 lakh crores
- CASA ratio: 48% (CASA deposits up 30% YoY)
- Retail + CASA deposits: 85% of customer deposits
- Branch count: 1,016
- High-cost legacy borrowings repaid: INR2,600 crores in Q1; residual INR2,200 crores
- Credit-to-deposit ratio: 93.4% (down from 98.1% YoY)
- Cost of funds: 6.42% (down 9 bps QoQ)
- Cost of deposits: 6.37% (down 1 bp QoQ)
- Funded assets: INR2.53 lakh crores (up 21% YoY)
- Wholesale book growth: 39% YoY
- Non-fund book growth: 25% YoY
- Corporate book rating: 77% A & above, 19% BBB
- Credit cards issued: 3.8 million; spends up 35% YoY
- MFI book: INR8,354 crores (3.3% of funded assets); down 37% YoY
- MFI SMA pool: INR315 crores (down 59% from Dec peak)
- MFI collection efficiency: 99.0% (vs 98.1% previous quarter)
- Gross NPA: 1.97% (March: 1.87%)
- Net NPA: 0.55% (March: 0.53%)
- PCR: 72.3% (up 296 bps YoY)
- Retail/rural/MSME GNPA: 1.82% (March: 1.70%)
- Standard restructured book: 0.17% of funded assets
- SMA 1 & 2 pool (retail/rural/MSME): 1.01% (March: 1.07%)
- Gross slippages: INR2,486 crores (Q4: INR2,175 crores)
- Gross slippage ratio (ex-MFI): 3.54% (vs 3.35% avg. last 4 quarters)
- NII: INR4,933 crores (up 5.1% YoY; ex-MFI up 11.8% YoY)
- NIM (AUM): 5.71% (down 24 bps QoQ)
- Fee & other income: INR1,735 crores (up 8.5% YoY)
- Retail fee: 91% of total fees
- Operating expenses growth: 11% YoY; down 1.4% QoQ
- Trading gains: INR495 crores
- Operating profit (incl. trading gains): INR2,239 crores (up 19% YoY)
- Core operating profit (ex-trading): INR1,744 crores (up 7.8% QoQ; down 6.2% YoY)
- Provisions: INR1,659 crores (Q4: INR1,450 crores)
- Credit cost (ex-MFI): ~2% (up 20 bps YoY)
- PAT: INR463 crores (up 52% QoQ; down 32% YoY)
- Capital adequacy (Q1 incl. profits): 15.01%; CET1: 12.80%
- Post-raise CRAR/Tier 1 (pro forma): 17.6%/15.38%
- LCR: 118%
- Cost-to-income ratio: 73.8% (Q4: 75.5%)
- Opex growth guidance: 11–12% (FY26–28)
- Cost-to-income target: 65% by FY27
Any numbers not disclosed in the call are omitted as per instructions.
Note: This is an AI generated summary of the earnings call. There may be inaccuracies in the summary. Please refer to the original transcript before making investment decisions.