Moody’s places IndusInd Bank on ratings watch for downgrade amid derivatives accounting issues

Moody’s has placed IndusInd Bank’s baseline credit assessment under review for downgrade due to concerns over internal control discrepancies in derivative accounts and ongoing retail loan stress. The bank discovered a $175 million accounting discrepancy related to currency derivatives. Shares have dropped 28% since the central bank’s decision on CEO Sumant Kathpalia’s term extension.

What’s behind the fiasco at IndusInd Bank?

The dent in its books was caused by a September 2023 RBI communique spelling out how banks should value derivatives. It said all derivatives must be marked to market (MTM), which requires valuing assets and liabilities according to prevailing market price.