IndusInd Bank, which is among India's top private sector lenders, has confirmed a huge negative blow to its books after completing an external agency's examination of its derivative portfolio. The update, dated April 15, 2025, also placed a numeric value on the adverse effect as ₹19.79 billion up to June 30, 2024. The bank would capture this effect in its FY 2024-25 balance sheets, another landmark in its pursuit to combat governance and risk management issues.
Key Points
A report from an external agency, dated April 15, 2025, found discrepancies in IndusInd Bank's derivative portfolio, putting the negative impact at ₹19.79 billion as of June 30, 2024.
The problem is the result of years of loose controls and deviation from recommended derivative accounting practices that kept the losses under wraps until recent policy shifts and sudden rupee weakness laid bare the deficit.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had earlier instructed banks to increase controls and revamp accounting methods for derivatives, which led IndusInd Bank to carry out internal and external audits.
The negative effect is pegged at around 2.35% of the bank's net worth as of December 2024, with the management of the bank assuring that its profitability and capital adequacy are robust enough to bear this one-time loss.
The differences were largely due to off-balance sheet derivative transactions that were not marked-to-market, leading to secret losses that emerged only after regulatory pressure and currency fluctuations.
The share price of the bank took a steep fall, with a 27% plunge erasing more than ₹18,000 crore in market capitalization, indicating rattled investor confidence and governance concerns.
Leadership uncertainty has added to the crisis, with RBI giving a one-year extension only to CEO Sumant Kathpalia and the latest CFO resignation.
Promoters and management of IndusInd Bank have assured transparency, claiming that the problem was detected internally and the bank is financially strong, with fall-back arrangements for capital injection if the need arises.
The ultimate effect will be reflected in the FY 2024-25 accounts, and the bank is likely to provide additional disclosures as it takes remedial steps.
Conclusion:
The external agency's verification of a ₹19.79 billion loss in IndusInd Bank's derivative portfolio is a turning point for the lender, reflecting the dangers of complicated financial instruments and the need for strong internal controls. Although the bank's capital situation is said to be sufficient enough to withstand the shock, the incident has created significant questions regarding risk management, transparency, and governance within India's banking industry. Regulators and investors will have a keen interest in IndusInd Bank's response as it aims to repair trust and fortify controls.
Relevant Sources: Reuters, Indian Express, Moneycontrol, CNBC-TV18, Economic Times, Business Standard, Financial Express
