Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) is an Indian private sector bank headquartered in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Established in 1916, the bank has historically focused on serving small and medium enterprises, agriculturists, and retail customers, and operates a branch network spread across India.
| Type | Private sector bank |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1916 |
| Founders | M. A. Venkatarama Chettiar and Athi Krishna Chettiar |
| Headquarters | Karur, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Industry | Banking, Financial services |
| Listings | BSE, NSE |
Karur Vysya Bank was founded in the town of Karur in present-day Tamil Nadu by two businessmen, M. A. Venkatarama Chettiar and Athi Krishna Chettiar. The bank was set up with the objective of supporting the trading and industrial community of the region, particularly the textile and handloom sector for which Karur is well known. Over the decades, KVB grew from a regional community bank into a scheduled commercial bank with a national presence.
The bank offers a range of products and services to retail, corporate, agricultural, and small and medium enterprise (SME) customers. These include savings and current accounts, fixed deposits, retail and corporate loans, trade finance, foreign exchange services, debit and credit cards, and digital banking through internet and mobile platforms. KVB also distributes third-party products such as mutual funds and insurance.
SME lending and lending to commercial enterprises in textile, engineering, and trading sectors have traditionally formed an important part of the bank's business. The bank is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and is classified as a scheduled commercial bank.
Karur Vysya Bank is among the older private sector banks in India, having been established before the country's independence. It is regarded as one of the prominent banks of Tamil Nadu origin, alongside other Karur and Kumbakonam region banks that emerged in the early twentieth century. The bank's long association with the textile town of Karur reflects the broader role played by community-led private banks in financing trade and industry in southern India.