RBI's first monthly NBFC credit data
shows 14.2% growth in May 2026, led by retail lending
Non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), including
housing finance companies (HFCs), registered higher credit growth of 14.2 per
cent at Rs.58.6
lakh crore in May 2026, compared to 11.4 per cent a year ago, on the back of
robust growth in retail loans and agriculture and allied activities, per data
on sectoral deployment of credit by NBFCs released by the RBI for the first
time.
In the reporting month, NBFCs' credit growth,
however, is lower than scheduled commercial banks' (SCBs) non-food bank credit
growth. SCBs reported a credit growth of 17.4 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) as
on May 31, 2026, up from 8.8 per cent as on May 30, 2025.
Sectoral credit data of NBFCs are based on the
sample of (i) NBFCs in upper and middle layers and (ii) HFCs, accounting for
about 87 per cent of total credit. Retail loans remained the key growth driver,
expanding 19.5 per cent (y-o-y) to Rs.25.2
lakh crore in May 2026 over 14.9 per cent a year ago, according to the RBI
statement. Retail loans accounted for nearly 43 per cent of the sector's
overall loan book.
Within retail loan, housing loan, vehicle loan and
loans against gold jewellery displayed a robust growth in May 2026. Gold loans
were the standout performer in NBFC retail lending, surging nearly 70 per cent
y-o-y to Rs.3.3 lakh crore in May 2026, driven
by strong demand for secured borrowing amid elevated gold prices. Housing loans
increased 10.9 per cent to Rs.8.35 lakh crore
and consumer durable loans also grew sharply by 42 per cent to Rs.68,814
crore, reflecting healthy consumption demand, while vehicle loans rose 14.8 per
cent to Rs.6.18
lakh crore.
Credit growth in agriculture and allied activities
recorded a robust growth of 17.9 per cent (y-o-y) in May 2026 against 5.0 per
cent a year ago. Credit growth in services sector moderated to 16.7 per cent
(y-o-y) in May 2026 against 23.9 per cent a year ago. Among major contributors,
growth (y-o-y) in credit to commercial real estate marked buoyant expansion.
Credit to industry grew at a lower clip of 7.3 per
cent (y-o-y) in May 2026, compared to 10.0 per cent, in May 2025. The RBI said
moderation in growth in industry was primarily driven by subdued growth in
infrastructure, a major constituent of the segment.
www.thehindubusinessline.com,
dt. 08-07-2026