Bandhan Bank is an innovative Indian private bank that originated from a microfinance organization dedicated to financial inclusion and women empowerment. Founded in 2001 in Bagnan, a small village near Kolkata, the bank began as a non-profit entity focused on serving underbanked and underpenetrated markets. Key Milestones The bank’s transformative journey includes several significant achievements. In 2006, Bandhan acquired a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to scale up microfinance activities. By 2010, it had become the largest microfinance institution in India. A pivotal moment arrived on June 17, 2015, when it received a universal banking license from the Reserve Bank of India, becoming the first microfinance institution to transform into a universal bank. The bank officially launched its banking operations on August 23, 2015, with 501 branches and 50 ATMs