AU Small Finance Bank Q2 profit jumps 53% to Rs 858 crore

Kolkata-based AU Small Finance Bank witnessed a significant 53% increase in its second quarter net profit, reaching Rs 858 crore. This impressive growth can be attributed to the bank's expansion efforts and improved asset quality. The bank's net interest margin, a crucial profit indicator, increased to 5.8% for the quarter, up from 5.5% in the previous year's corresponding period.

Additionally, the bank's gross non-performing assets ratio decreased by 42 basis points to 1.99% at the end of September, contributing to a 25% lower provision of Rs 359 crore compared to Rs 481 crore. The net NPAs ratio improved by 7 basis points to 0.81%. The bank's annualized credit cost improved by 45 basis points to 0.8% from 1.2%.

AU Small Finance Bank, which is transitioning towards becoming a universal lender, reported a 28% year-on-year growth in pre-provision operating profit at Rs 1514 crore, compared to Rs 1210 crore a year ago. Net interest income rose by 32% to Rs 2,820 crore, while its gross loan portfolio expanded by 25% to Rs 1.54 lakh crore, and total deposits grew by 29% to Rs 1.71 lakh crore.

Established in 1996 as a vehicle financier, AU Small Finance Bank is now India's largest small finance bank.