Unofficial Historical Archive
India's women-focused public-sector bank - established 2013, merged into State Bank of India in 2017.
A short-lived but significant institution in Indian banking.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the bank on 19 November 2013, on the 96th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. India became the third country, after Pakistan and Tanzania, to establish a bank exclusively for women.
The bank was wholly owned by the Government of India, run by women and lending exclusively to women while accepting deposits from everyone. It grew to 103 branches with a business of about Rs. 1,600 crores by the time of its merger.
As part of the Modi government's banking reforms, the bank merged with State Bank of India on 1 April 2017 to ensure greater banking outreach to women.
Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) was India's first public-sector bank dedicated to women. While managed by women and lending exclusively to women, it accepted deposits from all customers, with a mission to promote women's economic empowerment and asset ownership.
The bank aimed to promote economic empowerment through women's growth and development, with an emphasis on funding for skills development to support economic activity.
This is an unofficial, independent archive. It is not affiliated with the Government of India, State Bank of India, or any financial institution. Content is drawn from public sources for historical reference.