Indian Bank is an Indian state-owned financial services company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the public sector banks owned by the Government of India through the Ministry of Finance, and offers a range of retail, corporate, agricultural, and international banking services through a nationwide branch network.
| Type | Public sector undertaking |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, financial services |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Listings | BSE, NSE |
Indian Bank was established in 1907 in Madras (present-day Chennai) during the Swadeshi movement, when Indian-owned banking institutions were being founded as alternatives to the predominantly British-controlled banks of the period. It grew from a regional institution in southern India into one of the country's significant nationalised banks, with a particularly strong presence in Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
The bank was founded in 1907 in Madras and was associated with the Swadeshi-era effort to promote indigenous enterprise. Over the following decades it expanded across southern India and developed an overseas presence in parts of South and Southeast Asia.
Indian Bank was among the major commercial banks nationalised by the Government of India in 1969, when fourteen private banks were brought under state ownership to align banking activity with national development priorities, including priority-sector lending and rural credit.
As part of the consolidation of public sector banks announced by the Government of India, Allahabad Bank was amalgamated into Indian Bank with effect from 1 April 2020. The merger expanded Indian Bank's geographical footprint, adding a substantial network in northern and eastern India to its traditionally strong southern base, and significantly increased its branch count, customer base, and balance sheet size.
Indian Bank operates through a nationwide network of branches and ATMs and provides services in segments such as retail banking, corporate banking, agricultural finance, MSME lending, treasury operations, and international banking. It also offers digital banking channels including internet banking and mobile banking applications, and provides foreign exchange and trade finance services through designated branches.
The Government of India is the majority shareholder of Indian Bank. Its equity shares are listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India, with the remaining shareholding held by institutional and retail investors.
As one of the older Indian-founded banks and a Swadeshi-era institution, Indian Bank holds a notable place in the history of Indian commercial banking. Its role in priority-sector and agricultural lending, particularly in southern India, and its post-2020 expanded national footprint make it one of the larger public sector banks in the country.