This publication on ‘Branch Banking Statistics’, 4th in the series, presents detailed information on 82,485 branches/offices of 171 commercial banks (CBs) in India as on March 31, 2009.

The detailed information on bank branches/offices is regularly collected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from the banks in Proformae I and II for allotting uniform code numbers to them. Details of new branches/offices opened in banked/unbanked centres such as date of opening of branch/office, name and address of branch/ office, other locational details, population of centre, nature of business activities pursued and also some auxiliary information covering AD category, currency chest details, status of computerisation, etc., are also reported through Proforma-I. The information of relocation/closure/merger/conversion of a bank branch/change of branch name/AD category/change of any auxiliary information is collected through Proforma-II.These data on branches/offices alongwith Part-I and Part-II of Uniform Code Number of 7 digits each, are updated in the computerised system and maintained in the form of ‘Master Office File’ (MOF) for CBs in the Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM) of the RBI. As the opening of new bank branches,closure/relocation, etc., of existing branches, formation/reorganisation of new/existing districts, etc., is ongoing process, updation in MOF is carried out accordingly. MOF updation also takes into account decennial population census and gazette notification on merger / reorganisation of centres, districts, etc.

Comprehensive and updated list of branches of banks available from the MOF constitutes the frame of various Basic Statistical Return (BSR) surveys, other bank related surveys and various foreign exchange related returns received in DSIM. MOF based data are regularly published in Statistical Tables Relating to Banks in India, Report on Currency and Finance, Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India, etc. Besides, data from MOF are also supplied to other users from time to time. MOF forms official source of bank branch details in India. The 25th table of the publication provides information about the country-wise number of branches of Indian banks at overseas centres. A list of tables based on MOF on commercial banks available in various publications of the Bank and elsewhere is given in Annex at the end of the publication.

To facilitate comprehension of data, explanatory notes on tables presented in this volume are given separately.Presumably, the volume will be of immense use for all concerned in the areas of banking, management,economics and statistics.

The publication is also available in CD-ROM and through RBI website.

Reserve Bank of India
Department of Statistics and Information Management
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Post Box No. 8128
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Mumbai 400 051.