This article analyzes the financial performance of public sector, private sector and foreign banks in India, considering a selective set of parameters.

The genesis of banking in India goes back to 1786, when the General Bank of India was established. The first fully-owned Indian bank was the Allahabad Bank, which was set up in 1865. This was followed by the Bank of Hindustan, established in 1870.

During 1868, foreign banks like the HSBC and Credit Lyonnais started their operations in Calcutta. By 1900s, many private sector banks started to emerge. Notable among them were the Punjab National Bank in Lahore, in 1895 and the Bank of India, at Mumbai in 1906.

Banking in India on modern lines started with the establishment of three presidency banks under the Presidency Bank's Act, 1876. They were The Bank of Calcutta, Bank of Bombay and The Bank of Madras. In 1921, all presidency banks were amalgamated to form the Imperial Bank of India. State Bank of India, the biggest commercial bank in India, was formed in 1955 by enacting the State Bank of India Act, 1955, through which the entire assets and liabilities of the Imperial Bank of India were taken over.

Portfolio Organizer Magazine, Indian Banking Industry, Foreign Banks, Presidency Banks Act, Indian Banking Sector, Banking Regulation Act, Indian Banking Systems, Reserve Bank of India, RBI, Public Sector Banks, PSBs, Non-Performing Assets, NPAs, Banking Industry.