Mumbai, Sept. 30 -- Bank credit growth accelerated sharply in August, with lending to businesses and services picking up pace alongside continued growth in retail loans, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday.

Non-food bank credit grew 18.8 per cent year-on-year as of August 31, 2026, compared with 10.2 per cent in the corresponding period last year, RBI data showed. Non-food credit broadly captures bank lending to businesses and households, excluding loans linked to food procurement.

The acceleration was broad-based, with lending to both industry and services growing significantly faster than a year earlier, indicating stronger credit demand across major parts of the economy.

Credit to industry grew...