Bandhan to go for listing after three years of banking

RBI has given us 18 months to start banking operations, says Chairman and MD

Bandhan MFI, which got a banking license from the RBI in April, plans to list on the stock exchanges after three years of operation as a banking entity, Chairman and Managing Director Chandra Shekhar Ghosh said.

"As per RBI norms, Bandhan Bank will get listed after three years of operation as a banking entity," Ghosh said.

"The RBI has given us 18 months to start banking operations. We hope to start banking activity from early next financial year," Ghosh said at an interaction programme organised by the MCCI here today.

Initially, he said, 600 branches would be opened to serve its existing customer base.

Bandhan recently appointed consultancy firm Deloitte to advice it on converting from a micro-finance institution to a bank.

With an employee strength of about 12,900, Bandhan has a customer base of 55 lakh with 2,016 branches, mostly in the rural and semi-urban areas.

Now serving the bottom of the pyramid, Ghosh said Bandhan has plans to tap the rich as well.