Banking and financial institutions
Banks and finance companies use GIFT IFSC to book foreign-currency lending, deposits, treasury and trade finance from India. IFSCA regulates them under the Banking Regulations, the Banking Handbook and the Finance Company Regulations.
Routes
- IFSC Banking Unit (IBU): a branch of an Indian or foreign bank.
- IFSC Banking Company (IBC): a subsidiary bank incorporated in the IFSC.
- Global Administrative Office: a bank's administrative office.
- Finance company or finance unit: non-bank lending and financing.
- Global or regional corporate treasury centre: treasury for a corporate group.
- Leasing and trade finance platforms.
Guides in this section
IFSC Banking Units and IFSC Banking Companies
Banks can operate in GIFT IFSC either as an IFSC Banking Unit (a branch) or as an IFSC Banking Company (a subsidiary). Both are regulated by IFSCA under the IFSCA (Banking) Regulations and the Banking Handbook.
Read the guide →IBU branch or IFSC Banking Company
The choice between a branch (IBU) and a subsidiary (IBC) is a choice about capital, governance and ring-fencing.
Read the guide →The IFSCA Banking Handbook
IFSCA's Banking Handbook sets detailed rules for banks in the IFSC in modules: general (GEN), conduct of business (COB) and prudential (PRU).
Read the guide →Global Administrative Office
A Global Administrative Office allows a bank to run group administrative functions from GIFT IFSC.
Read the guide →Finance companies and finance units
Finance companies and finance units carry on non-bank financial business in GIFT IFSC: lending, factoring, leasing, treasury and related activity, under the IFSCA (Finance Company) Regulations.
Read the guide →Global and regional corporate treasury centres
A Global or Regional Corporate Treasury Centre (GRCTC) lets a corporate group run its treasury from GIFT IFSC: pooling, intra-group lending, hedging and liquidity management, under IFSCA's GRCTC framework of 4 April 2025.
Read the guide →Trade finance: ITFS platforms and factoring
Trade finance in GIFT IFSC runs through International Trade Financing Services (ITFS) platforms and factoring and forfaiting businesses.
Read the guide →Aircraft leasing and financing
Aircraft lessors and financiers operate from GIFT IFSC under IFSCA's aircraft operating lease framework (updated 15 November 2023, revised in 2025). IFSCA reports 454 aircraft and ship assets leased as on June 2026.
Read the guide →Ship leasing and financing
Ship lessors and financiers use GIFT IFSC under IFSCA's ship leasing framework (updated 23 June 2023).
Read the guide →Foreign-currency accounts for residents through IBUs
Resident Indians can hold foreign-currency accounts with IFSC Banking Units, within the Liberalised Remittance Scheme and RBI's directions.
Read the guide →Authorities and further reading
The official instruments and pages this guide relies on. Check the current version on the issuer's site before acting.
- IFSCA Banking pageIFSCA
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