Major Indian Banks and Their Headquarters – GK for Competitive Exams (Updated 2025)
In competitive exams such as IBPS, SBI PO/Clerk, RBI Grade B, SSC, and UPSC, questions about Indian banks and their headquarters are common. Knowing this list is essential for both Banking Awareness and Static GK. In this updated 2025 guide, we have compiled major Indian banks, their headquarters, founding years, and key facts — based on official RBI and bank sources.
Why This Topic is Important for Exams
- Frequently asked in Banking Awareness sections.
- Helpful for Current Affairs + Static GK preparation.
- Aids in understanding India’s financial geography.
Major Indian Banks and Their Headquarters (Updated 2025)
| Bank Name | Headquarters | Founded | Key Fact |
| State Bank of India (SBI) | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1955 | Largest public sector bank in India. |
| Punjab National Bank (PNB) | New Delhi, Delhi | 1894 | Founded by Lala Lajpat Rai. |
| Bank of Baroda (BoB) | Vadodara, Gujarat | 1908 | 3rd largest public sector bank. |
| Canara Bank | Bengaluru, Karnataka | 1906 | Known for rural banking expansion. |
| Union Bank of India | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1919 | Merged with Andhra Bank & Corporation Bank in 2020. |
| Indian Bank | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 1907 | Merged with Allahabad Bank in 2020. |
| Bank of India (BOI) | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1906 | First bank to open a branch abroad (London, 1946). |
| Central Bank of India | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1911 | One of the oldest commercial banks in India. |
| UCO Bank | Kolkata, West Bengal | 1943 | Originally known as United Commercial Bank. |
| Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 1937 | Strong presence in foreign branches. |
| IDBI Bank | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1964 | Now a private sector bank but govt has stake. |
| HDFC Bank | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1994 | Largest private sector bank in India by market cap. |
| ICICI Bank | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1994 | Known for tech-driven banking. |
| Axis Bank | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 1993 | Formerly known as UTI Bank. |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 2003 | Acquired ING Vysya Bank in 2015. |
Memory Trick for Exams
“Some Public Banks Carry Unique Indian Banking Culture. “
- SBI – Mumbai
- PNB – New Delhi
- BoB – Vadodara
- Canara – Bengaluru
- Union – Mumbai
- Indian Bank – Chennai
- BOI – Mumbai
- Central Bank – Mumbai
Exam Tips
- Revise the list of Indian banks and their headquarters regularly, as these are frequently asked in both bank exams and government job tests.
- Focus on banks that were recently merged or privatized — these are exam hotspots.
- For SBI, remember its five associate banks merged in 2017.
Conclusion
Memorizing the Indian banks and their headquarters is a simple way to score quick marks in competitive exams. With this updated list, your revision becomes faster and more effective.