Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank cut Yes Bank stake; Sumitomo Mitsui buys shares worth ₹6,900 crore

Bandhan Bank and Federal Bank on Wednesday pared their stakes in Yes Bank Limited, selling a combined 32 crore shares to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for a total consideration of about ₹6,900 crore.

Bandhan Bank disclosed it sold 15.39 crore shares at ₹21.50 apiece, trimming its stake in Yes Bank from 0.70% to 0.21%. Federal Bank separately said it offloaded 16.62 crore shares, also at ₹21.50 per share, to SMBC under a previously signed agreement.

The deals are part of a broader arrangement announced in May 2025, when SMBC committed to deepen its exposure to the Indian banking sector through equity participation in Yes Bank. Both banks said the sales were completed after requisite regulatory approvals.

Yes Bank, once at the centre of a high-profile rescue by a State Bank of India

-led consortium in 2020, has been gradually stabilising its balance sheet. The exit of smaller shareholders like Bandhan Bank and Federal Bank underscores the ongoing reshuffle in the lender's ownership, with global strategic investors stepping in.

For SMBC, the transactions strengthen its foothold in India, one of the fastest-growing banking markets, amid rising foreign interest in domestic financial institutions.

Shares of Yes Bank have been trading close to the deal price in recent weeks, reflecting steady investor interest.