Indian Banking System

Indian Banking System

Indian Banks are classified into commercial banks and Co-operative banks. Commercial banks comprise: (1) Schedule Commercial Banks (SCBs) and non-scheduled commercial banks. SCBs are further classified into private, public, foreign banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs); and (2) Co-operative banks which include urban and rural Co-operative banks.

The Indian banking industry has its foundations in the 18th century, and has had a varied evolutionary experience since then. The initial banks in India were primarily traders’ banks engaged only in financing activities. Banking industry in the pre-independence era developed with the Presidency Banks, which were transformed into the Imperial Bank of India and subsequently into the State Bank of India. The initial days of the industry saw a majority private ownership and a highly volatile work environment. Major strides towards public ownership and accountability were made with Nationalisation in 1969 and 1980 which transformed the face of banking in India. The industry in recent times has recognised the importance of private and foreign players in a competitive scenario and has moved towards greater liberalisation.

The organised banking system in India can be classified as given below:

1. Reserve Bank of India:

Reserve Bank of India is the Central Bank of our country. It was established on 1st April 1935 accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. It holds the apex position in the banking structure. RBI performs various developmental and promotional functions. It has given wide powers to supervise and control the banking structure. It occupies the pivotal position in the monetary and banking structure of the country. In many countries central bank is known by different names. For example, Federal Reserve Bank of U.S.A, Bank of England in U.K. and Reserve Bank of India in India. Central bank is known as a banker’s bank. They have the authority to formulate and implement monetary and credit policies. It is owned by the government of a country and has the monopoly power of issuing notes.

2. Commercial Banks:  

Commercial bank is an institution that accepts deposit, makes business loans and offer related services to various like accepting deposits and lending loans and advances to general customers and business man.These institutions run to make profit. They cater to the financial requirements of industries and various sectors like agriculture, rural development, etc. it is a profit making institution owned by government or private of both. Commercial bank includes public sector, private sector, foreign banks and regional rural banks.

3. Public Sector Banks:

Currently there are 21 Nationalised banks in India. The public sector accounts for 75 percent of total banking business in India and State Bank of India is the largest commercial bank in terms of volume of all commercial banks.Now from April 1, 2017 all the 5 associate banks of SBI and Bhartiya Mahila Bank are merged with State Bank of India. After this merger now SBI is counted among the top 50 largest banks of the world.

Nationalised Banks in India are
1. Allahabad Bank
2. Andhra Bank
3. Bank of India
4. Bank of Baroda
5. Bank of Maharashtra
6. Canara Bank
7. Central Bank of India
8. Corporation Bank
9. Dena Bank
10. Indian Bank
11. Indian Overseas Bank
12. IDBI Bank
13. Oriental Bank of Commerce
14. Punjab & Sindh Bank
15. Punjab National Bank
16. State Bank of India
17. Syndicate Bank
18. UCO Bank
19. Union Bank of India
20. United Bank of India
21. Vijaya Bank

4. Private Sector Banks:

The private-sector banks in India represent part of the Indian banking sector that is made up of both private and public sector banks. The "private-sector banks" are banks where greater parts of stake or equity are held by the private shareholders and not by government.

5. Foreign Banks:

A foreign bank with the obligation of following the regulations of both its home and its host countries. Loan limits for these banks are based on the capital of the parent bank, thus allowing foreign banks to provide more loans than other subsidiary banks. Foreign banks are those banks, which have their head offices abroad. CITI bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered etc. are the examples of foreign bank in India. Currently India has 36 foreign banks.

6. Regional Rural Bank (RRB):

The government of India set up Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on October 2, 1975. The banks provide credit to the weaker sections of the rural areas, particularly the small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, and small entrepreneurs. There are 82 RRBs in the country. NABARD holds the apex position in the agricultural and rural development.

7. Co-operative Bank:

Co-operative bank was set up by passing a co-operative act in 1904. They are organised and managed on the principal of co-operation and mutual help. The main objective of co-operative bank is to provide rural credit.The cooperative banks in India play an important role even today in rural co-operative financing. The enactment of Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904, however, gave the real impetus to the movement. The Cooperative Credit Societies Act, 1904 was amended in 1912, with a view to broad basing it to enable organisation of non-credit societies.

8. Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Banks:

The scheduled banks are those which are enshrined in the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934. These banks have a paid-up capital and reserves of an aggregate value of not less than Rs. 5 lakhs, they have to satisfy the RBI that their affairs are carried out in the interest of their depositors. All commercial banks (Indian and foreign), regional rural banks, and state cooperative banks are scheduled banks. Non- scheduled banks are those which are not included in the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934. At present these are only three such banks in the country.