Archive · 5 Nov 2025
Piramal Finance Expands into Gold Loans, Deepens Retail Focus
Imagine Piramal Finance is like a shop that used to mainly sell big items to businesses.
Now, they are changing to sell more smaller things to regular people all over India, especially in places that don't have many shops.
They are becoming super smart with computers and technology, like using 'Artificial Intelligence' or AI, to help decide quickly who can borrow money and to make things cheaper for customers.
They are also adding new things to sell, like loans using gold as a security, which is like a special safety deposit.
Their goal is to help lots more people get the money they need for homes, businesses, or just everyday life.
They are growing very fast and want to become one of the biggest shops for regular people in India, reaching many towns and cities.
Piramal Finance is shifting from a wholesale-focused NBFC to a retail-focused one, with retail assets growing from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 90,000 crore in four years.
The company plans to launch gold loans by March 2026 as part of its strategy to deepen financial inclusion in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Piramal Finance is leveraging AI extensively across its operations to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and expand credit access for underserved populations.
The total balance sheet stands at approximately Rs 95,000 crore, with ambitious AUM targets of Rs 1 lakh crore by FY26 and Rs 1.5 lakh crore by FY28.
The NBFC maintains a strong capital and liquidity position and is actively seeking inorganic growth opportunities in segments like microfinance and gold lending.
- Who
- Piramal Finance, an NBFC led by MD & CEO Jairam Sridharan.
- What
- Expanding its retail-focused operations by entering the gold loan segment, deepening financial inclusion in underserved regions through a tech-led strategy, and diversifying its product offerings.
- When
- The gold loan segment is planned for launch by March 2026. The company has seen significant transformation over the past four years and aims for AUM of Rs 1 lakh crore by FY26.
- Where
- Focusing on tier-2 and tier-3 cities across India, referred to as 'Bharat'.
- Why
- To transform into a tech-led, retail-focused NBFC, deepen financial inclusion, leverage AI for wider and more affordable lending, and achieve substantial growth by diversifying products and expanding reach.
Expansion & Diversification
Risk Management & Core Focus
Strategic Growth Areas
Expansion & Diversification
Piramal Finance is actively pursuing inorganic growth by scouting for NBFC-like businesses in microfinance, gold lending, affordable housing, and MSME credit to align with strategic priorities and deepen financial inclusion.
Risk Management & Core Focus
While open to inorganic growth, acquisitions must align with cultural ethos and fair valuation. The core focus remains on lending, with plans to divest from investments like stakes in Shriram Group's insurance arms and Pramerica Life to allocate more capital to the core business.
Wholesale vs. Retail Balance
Expansion & Diversification
The company aims to maintain an 80:20 retail-to-wholesale mix, with the wholesale book expanding rapidly to Rs 15,000 crore, focusing on low-risk, non-structured transactions in real estate and corporate lending.
Risk Management & Core Focus
The primary strategic shift is the transformation from a 90% wholesale NBFC to an 83% retail NBFC, with significant growth in the retail-led book and a goal to become a tech-led, retail-focused entity serving underserved regions.
- Retail Book Growth
- Grown 4 times in four years, from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 90,000 crore.
- Geographic Focus
- 70% of customers from tier-2 and tier-3 cities; operates in 428 cities with 517 branches.
- AI Integration
- Over 45 AI models used to unlock credit access, reducing operating cost-to-AUM from 6.5% to 3.9%.
- Total Balance Sheet
- Approximately Rs 95,000 crore.
- New Product Launch
- Gold loans planned for launch by March 2026.
- AUM Target
- Expected to cross Rs 1 lakh crore by FY26 and Rs 1.5 lakh crore by FY28.
- Capital Adequacy
- Capital liquidity at 20.5% (regulatory requirement 15%); LCR above 250% (mandate 100%).