Emirates NBD Acquires 60 Percent Stake in RBL Bank

The UAE-based lender Emirates NBD has acquired a 60 percent stake in RBL Bank through a $2.75 billion capital infusion via a preferential issue. This investment designates RBL Bank as a subsidiary of a foreign bank and has increased its capital adequacy ratio to 33.3 percent. RBL Bank is utilizing the fresh capital to repay high-cost wholesale borrowings and deposits to improve its net interest margins.

For the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, RBL Bank reported growth in consolidated net profit, though sources differ on the exact figure, citing either a 9.3 percent increase to ₹234 crore or a 27 percent increase to ₹254 crore. The bank has already raised approximately $150 million through Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits, targeting non-resident Indian pools in West Asia under a Reserve Bank of India scheme.

Management intends to leverage the international network of Emirates NBD to expand trade finance and structured financial products. While RBL Bank's board is seeking approval to increase borrowing limits to ₹40,000 crore and authorize up to ₹10,000 crore in debt security fundraising, leadership noted transitional stress within the bank's credit card portfolio.