Aditya Birla Capital to open 1,000 gold loan branches in 3 years; AUM rises 28% in Q1FY27

Aditya Birla Capital has entered the gold loan business, with its NBFC arm planning to establish around 1,000 dedicated branches across India over the next three years as it looks to tap the growing demand for collateral-backed retail credit.

The Mumbai-based firm  will initially roll out 200-300 gold loan branches by March 2027 across high-potential markets. The offering will target customers in urban and semi-urban areas and will be delivered through a combination of dedicated branches and digital channels, the company said on Thursday.

Retail and SME lending drive growth

The entry into gold loans comes as Aditya Birla Capital’s NBFC business continues to expand its lending operations. Its assets under management (AUM) rose 27% year-on-year to ₹1,59,916 crore in FY26, while disbursements increased 25% to ₹84,204 crore.

Retail and SME loans accounted for around 68% of the NBFC’s AUM in FY26. Profit before tax rose 20% to ₹4,023 crore during the year.

The growth accelerated in the first quarter of FY27. AUM increased 28% year-on-year to ₹1,67,456 crore, while disbursements jumped 34% to ₹21,201 crore. Profit before tax grew 32% to ₹1,222 crore.

Gold loans to strengthen secured lending

The company said the new offering will provide customers with flexible, collateral-backed credit, with an emphasis on transparent pricing, secure handling of pledged gold and faster disbursals.

“Gold loans are witnessing strong structural growth in India, and our entry into this segment is a natural extension of our secured lending strategy. In a category where trust is paramount, customers seek transparency, secure handling of their gold, and the confidence that their valuable assets are in safe and trusted hands,” Rakesh Singh, Executive Director and CEO-NBFC, Aditya Birla Capital, said.

Singh said the business is being built with a focus on governance, risk management and operational execution, while leveraging the company’s existing distribution and digital capabilities.

Pan-India expansion planned

Aditya Birla Capital said the gold loan business will serve both existing customers within its ecosystem and new borrowers. The company currently has more than 1,759 branches and over 2 lakh agents and channel partners across its financial services businesses.

As of June 30, 2026, ABCL’s consolidated lending book had crossed ₹2.19 lakh crore, while assets under management across its businesses stood at about ₹7.53 lakh crore. The company said the phased expansion of gold loan branches will help build a pan-India franchise while complementing its existing retail and MSME lending businesses.