HDFC Bank first-ever 1:1 bonus issue: Bank announces Rs 5 special dividend; here’s what it means for investors

HDFC Bank on Saturday declared its first-ever bonus issue, approving a 1:1 allotment ratio under which shareholders will receive one fully paid-up equity share of face value Rs 1 for every one equity share held. This marks a historic first for India’s largest private sector lender since its inception.The bank’s board has fixed Wednesday, August 27, 2025, as the record date to determine shareholders eligible for the bonus equity shares, according to an ET report.In addition to the bonus issue, the board also approved a special interim dividend of Rs 5 per share — representing a 500% payout on the face value of Re 1 — for the financial year 2025–26. The record date to determine eligibility for this special dividend is Friday, July 25, 2025. The dividend will be paid to eligible shareholders on Monday, August 11, 2025.The announcements were made alongside HDFC Bank’s Q1FY26 results, where the lender reported a 12% year-on-year rise in standalone net profit at Rs 18,155 crore, compared to Rs 16,175 crore in the year-ago period.Total interest income for the quarter increased 6% year-on-year to Rs 77,470 crore from Rs 73,033 crore. Net interest income (NII) stood at Rs 31,440 crore, up 5.4% over Rs 29,840 crore in Q1FY25.The bank’s core net interest margin (NIM) was 3.35% on total assets, slightly lower than 3.46% in the previous quarter ended March 31, 2025, reflecting the slower pace of deposit repricing relative to asset yields.Operating expenses for the quarter rose to Rs 17,430 crore from Rs 16,620 crore a year earlier. The cost-to-income ratio, excluding transaction gains, stood at 39.6% during the period.