London Stock Exchange ETF segment · UCITS ETF
Invest in BNKS ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy iShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF (BNKS) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
BNKS at a glance
- Price
- $7.95-$0.02 (0.19%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.35%
- Day range
- $7.95 – $8.03
- Assets
- $1.0B
- Domicile
- Ireland
- Holdings
- 38
- Launched
- 2018
- Dividends
- —
- 1 month
- -7.20%
- 6 months
- +9.85%
- YTD
- +3.29%
- 1 year
- +11.86%
- 5 years
- +25.90%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1CITIGROUP7.1%
- 2JPMORGAN CHASE & CO7.1%
- 3US BANCORP7.0%
- 4WELLS FARGO6.7%
- 5BANK OF AMERICA6.6%
- 6FIFTH THIRD BANCORP4.1%
- 7TRUIST FINANCIAL4.0%
- 8CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC4.0%
- 9M&T BANK3.9%
- 10PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP3.9%
BNKS holds 38 securities in total. These 10 are 54.4% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Countries
- United States99.9%
- Ireland0.1%
- United Kingdom0.0%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| BNKTAMSiShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF | 0.35% | 10.1M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in BNKS from India
Step 1
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Step 2
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Step 3
Search BNKS and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, BNKS, on the London Stock Exchange ETF segment, and place your order.
Why invest in BNKS from India
What BNKS holds
This fund aims to mirror the financial performance of a benchmark index, which is specifically comprised of companies operating within the American banking industry.
Outside US estate tax
BNKS is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
Hold a dollar asset
BNKS is priced in US dollars, so a weaker rupee adds to what it's worth in rupees. The rupee depreciated over 85% against the dollar between 2010 and 2025.
Paasa handles the paperwork
Investing abroad brings paperwork with it: remittance filings, capital gains reporting, foreign asset disclosure. Paasa prepares all of it for you. Your India-ready tax reports arrive at year end, ready to file.
Why BNKS' UCITS structure matters for Indian investors
BNKS is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
Capital gains are taxed in India the same way as on a US-listed ETF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy BNKS from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy iShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF (BNKS) through Paasa. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange ETF segment and trades in US dollars. Your money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and the units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers.
What does BNKS invest in?
iShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF holds 38 securities. Its largest holdings are CITIGROUP (7.1%), JPMORGAN CHASE & CO (7.1%) and US BANCORP (7.0%). The fund is domiciled in Ireland.
What is the expense ratio of BNKS?
iShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF has an expense ratio of 0.35% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $1.0B.
Is BNKS a UCITS ETF, and why does that matter for Indian investors?
Yes. iShares S&P U.S. Banks UCITS ETF is a UCITS fund domiciled in Ireland. Because it is domiciled outside the US, it is not a US-situs asset, so US estate tax does not apply to it. On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell BNKS?
In India, gains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation, and gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate. Both are worked out in rupees at the USD/INR rate on the day you bought and the day you sold, so the currency move is part of the gain. Paasa's capital-gains statement gives you the figures for your return.