Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd

Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited (ESFBL) was originally incorporated as V.A.P. Finance Private Limited' on June 21, 1993 at Madras, Tamil Nadu, as a Private Limited Company by the RoC. Bank became a deemed public limited company on March 5, 1994 and the name of our Bank was changed to V.A.P. Finance Limited and the Certificate of Incorporation was endorsed by the RoC to that effect. Bank thereafter became a Private Limited Company dated March 30, 2011 upon change of name from V.A.P. Finance Limited to V.A.P. Finance Private Limited due to conversion of the Bank from a Public Limited Company to a Private Limited Company. A fresh Certificate of Incorporation dated August 12, 2011 was granted by the RoC upon change of name from V.A.P. Finance Private Limited to Equitas Finance Private Limited. A fresh Certificate of Incorporation was issued by the RoC on September 29, 2015 upon change of name from Equitas Finance Private Limited to Equitas Finance Limited. Promoter, EHL was granted the RBI In-Principle Approval and RBI Final Approval on October 7, 2015 and June 30, 2016, respectively, to establish an SFB. Subsequently, Bank was converted in to an SFB and Iit commenced operations on September 5, 2016 as an SFB. A fresh Certificate of Incorporation dated September 2, 2016 was granted by the RoC upon change of name of the Bank to Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited. In 2007, Equitas started as an NBFC MFI. Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited is one of the largest small finance banks in India. The Bank is engaged in retail banking business with focus on microfinance, commercial vehicle finance, home finance, loan against-property, corporate finance, and providing financing solutions for individuals and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are underserved by formal financing channels while providing a comprehensive banking and digital platform for all. The Bank's asset products are suited to a range of customers with varying profiles, which include provision of Small Business Loans (SBLs) comprising loan against property, housing loans, and agriculture loans to micro entrepreneurs, microfinance to joint liability groups predominantly comprising women, used and new commercial vehicle loans to drivers and micro entrepreneurs, MSE loans to proprietorship, and loans to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). On the liability side, the Bank's target customers comprise mass and mass-affluent individuals to whom it offers current accounts, salary accounts, savings accounts, and a variety of deposit accounts. In addition, the Bank provides noncredit offerings comprising ATM-cum-debit cards, third party insurance, mutual fund products, and issuance of FASTag. Pursuant to a Scheme of Amalgamation approved by the Hon'ble High Court of Judicature at Madras, and upon fulfillment of all conditions specified under the said Scheme, Equitas Micro Finance Limited and Equitas Housing Finance Limited amalgamated with the Company, and the Company was renamed Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited (ESFBL). Consequent to the above amalgamation the microfinance and housing finance businesses of the erstwhile EMFL and EHFL were transferred to the Company effective September 2, 2016. ESFBL commenced its banking operations after the receipt of final banking license from the Reserve Bank of India on September 5, 2016. The Bank is engaged in retail banking business with focus on micro-finance, commercial vehicle finance, home finance, loan against-property finance,corporate finance, and providing financing solutions for individuals and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are underserved by formal financing channels while providing a comprehensive banking and digital platform for all. Banking Outlet comprises branches primarily focusing on garnering and servicing depositors and outlets that conducts lending operations for underbanked and unbanked. The Bank deployed 322 ATMs and cash recyclers at their banking outlets to save valuable time making the same as a pleasant experience. At present, the Bank operates from more than 853 locations across 15 States/Union Territories (including National Capital Territory) of the country. The Board of Directors of ESFBL and EHL in their respective Meetings held on January 31, 2019 and February 1, 2019 approved a Scheme of Arrangement between EHL, ESFBL and the respective shareholders contemplating issue and allotment by ESFBL of 89,20,62,982 fully paid-up equity shares for no cash consideration to the shareholders of EHL as of the Record Date set out in the Scheme and consequent reduction by ESFBL of Securities Premium Account, the revenue and other reserves and the surplus in Profit and Loss Account by an amount equal to the face value of the shares of ESFBL issued under the Scheme. The Bank in its Meeting held on December 6, 2019 approved issue of 4,74,58,239 Equity Shares of Rs 10 each at a price of Rs 52.68 per equity share (including a premium of Rs 42.68 per equity share) aggregating to Rs 250 crores, by private placement to IIFL AIF through its various funds for a stake of 4.51% in post-issue paid-up share capital of Bank. In the Board Meeting of the Bank held on 23 March 2020, following approvals were accorded, to make loans upto Rs 18000 Crore in ordinary course of business for Financial Year 2020-21; that subject to approval of shareholders, to borrow money upto an aggregate sum of Rs 27000 crore outstanding at any point of time and issue Certificate of Deposits (CoDs) in more than one tranches upto an amount not exceeding Rs 3,000 Crore. During the second half of 2020, the Bank raised Rs. 28,000 lakh through an Initial Public Offer (IPO) and got the equity shares listed on the BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited effective on November 2, 2020. In 2022-23, the Board of Directors of the Company and Equitas Holdings Limited (EHL) at their respective Meetings held on July 26, 2022 approved a Scheme of Amalgamation between EHL, Company and their respective shareholders, contemplating amalgamation of EHL with the Company, which was designed to achieve the RBI licensing requirement of dilution of Promoter Shareholding in the Bank and Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) requirements prescribed by SEBI Regulations. Subsequently, ESFBL achieved the MPS through a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) of its shares, in February 2022, after obtaining the necessary approvals which comprised issue of 10,26,31,087 equity shares of Rs. 10/ each at premium of Rs. 43.59 per share, aggregating to a fund raise of Rs. 550 crore utilised 100% for augmenting Tier 1 capital of the Bank during the year. As a result of this QIP, the Public Shareholding in the Bank increased from 18.70% to 25.37%, thereby complying with Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) requirements prescribed by the SEBI Regulations. As a result, the Scheme was made effective from February 02, 2023. Pursuant to the effect of the scheme, 78,95,35,166 fully paid equity shares of Rs 10/- each were allotted to the eligible Equity shareholders of EHL on February 03,2023 as per the share exchange ratio envisaged in the approved scheme i.e.,231 equity shares of Rs 10 each of the Company in respect of every 100 equity shares of Rs 10 each fully paid up held by them in EHL as consideration for transfer and vesting of undertaking of EHL in the Company in terms of the Scheme. In 2023-24, the Company opened 33 new branches to increase reach and accessibility, driving growth in the small business loans segment. It opened new branches in Bengaluru and Delhi. The Bank established Pan India Operations through 964 Banking Outlets and 365 ATMs In 18 States And Union Territories. The Bank introduced a new car loan. Total mutual fund AUM surpassed Rs 500 Crores, marking a strong 32% year-on-year growth in FY25. Company added 20 new branches improving customer access. Credit card & personal loans launched in FY 2025. It scaled up key secured lending products such as Small Business Loans, Vehicle Finance, and Housing Loans. The Bank launched FCNR Deposits and Inward Remittances in 2026. Between March 2019 and March 2025, the Bank branch network more than doubled to approx. 7641 branches. Advances stood at Rs 18559 crore. Used commercial vehicles advances grew by 25% to Rs 5,899 crore in 2026.