The Indian government is planning a major overhaul of the country’s banking system by merging smaller public sector banks with larger ones. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the need for a world-class banking system, with the goal of expanding Indian banks to become among the top global banks. The proposed mega-merger plan aims to create larger, more reliable public sector banks. Except for the State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda, all other banks in the country could be merged.
Sitharaman stated that discussions have begun with banks to determine how they wish to proceed with the merger. The Reserve Bank of India is also being consulted to gather their views on creating larger banks. According to media reports, the second phase of the merger plan may involve merging Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of India, and Bank of Maharashtra with larger banks like Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, and State Bank of India.
This is not the first time the government has undertaken bank mergers. In 2017, five associate banks of SBI and Bharatiya Mahila Bank were merged with the State Bank of India. In 2019, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank were merged with Bank of Baroda, and in 2020, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India were merged with Punjab National Bank.
The merger is expected to have significant implications for both employees and account holders. While banking deposits, fixed deposits, interest rates, loans, and other services will remain unaffected, account holders may need to obtain new passbooks, chequebooks, and account numbers. Additionally, branch names and addresses may change, requiring customers to visit their bank branches to update their records. Overall, the government’s goal is to create a more robust and efficient banking system that can compete with global banks.