Aditya Birla Capital is set to enter India’s gold loan market, with its non-banking financial business planning to establish about 1,000 dedicated branches over the next three years, according to Reuters.

The company plans to open 200–300 gold loan branches by March 2027, focusing initially on high-potential markets. The business will cater to urban and semi-urban customers through a combination of physical branches and digital platforms.

The expansion comes as elevated gold prices increase the value of jewellery pledged as collateral. Reuters reported that safe-haven demand linked to the Iran war has contributed to higher gold prices, improving growth prospects for the country’s gold loan segment.

Aditya Birla Capital currently provides secured and unsecured lending to retail, small-business and corporate customers. Its gold loan business will also target existing customers of the wider Aditya Birla Capital group.

The entry places the company in competition with established gold loan providers, including Manappuram Finance and Muthoot Finance.

For the jewellery sector, the expansion adds another organised financial-services player to a lending segment that uses gold jewellery as collateral. The planned branch network will give Aditya Birla Capital a physical presence across urban and semi-urban markets as it builds its gold-backed lending business.