Bandhan Bank is a private sector bank. It is not a government bank. The Government of India holds no ownership stake in Bandhan Bank. The bank is owned by Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited and institutional investors — making it a fully private, independently managed commercial bank regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
Bandhan Bank — Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Bank Name | Bandhan Bank |
| Banking License | 23 August 2015 |
| Origin | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Founded By | Chandra Shekhar Ghosh |
| Type | Private Sector Bank |
| Headquarters | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Promoter | Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited |
| Listed On | BSE and NSE |
| Regulator | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Tagline | Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai |
The Origin Story
Bandhan Bank’s story is one of the most inspiring in Indian banking history. It began not as a bank but as a microfinance institution (MFI) — founded in 2001 in Kolkata by Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, a social entrepreneur committed to providing financial services to India’s poorest and most marginalised communities — particularly rural women in West Bengal and northeastern India.
Bandhan Financial Services grew into one of India’s largest microfinance institutions — serving millions of low-income borrowers who had no access to formal banking. Its success at financial inclusion caught the attention of the Reserve Bank of India — which in 2015 granted Bandhan Financial Services a universal banking licence, making it one of only two new universal bank licences issued by RBI in over a decade.
Bandhan Bank was officially launched on 23 August 2015 — India’s Independence Day — a fitting date for a bank born from the mission of economic liberation for India’s poor. Despite its transformation into a full universal bank, Bandhan has retained its core focus on microfinance and financial inclusion — particularly serving rural and semi-urban customers in Eastern India.
Current Shareholding Pattern
| Shareholder Category | Approximate Stake |
| Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited | 40-43% |
| Foreign Institutional Investors | 25-28% |
| Domestic Institutional Investors | 15-17% |
| Public and Retail Investors | 15-17% |
No government entity holds a stake in Bandhan Bank — confirming its status as a fully private institution.
Key Facts and Services
Bandhan Bank operates over 6,200 banking outlets — including branches, banking units, and door-step service centres — primarily across Eastern and Northeastern India, serving both urban and deeply rural customers. It employs over 65,000 people and has a customer base exceeding 30 million — predominantly comprising microfinance and rural banking customers.
Alongside its core microfinance operations, Bandhan Bank offers savings accounts, fixed deposits, home loans, personal loans, MSME loans, and digital banking services through the Bandhan Bank mobile app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Bandhan Bank private or government?
A: Bandhan Bank is a private sector bank. The Government of India holds no ownership stake.
Q: When did Bandhan Bank receive its banking licence?
A: On 23 August 2015 — one of only two new universal banking licences issued by RBI in over a decade.
Q: Who founded Bandhan Bank?
A: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh — a social entrepreneur who started as a microfinance institution in 2001 before receiving a banking licence.
Q: Where is Bandhan Bank headquartered?
A: Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Q: Is Bandhan Bank safe for deposits?
A: Yes — RBI-regulated private bank with DICGC insurance up to ₹5 lakh per depositor.
Q: What is Bandhan Bank’s tagline?
A: “Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai.”
