How important is the banking sector for a country? Undoubtedly, it is the backbone of an economy, as it aids in the economy’s growth, trade, and investments, ensures financial access for all, and provides loans to individuals and businesses. With a tech-savvy population and a booming economy, India’s banking sector has significantly evolved over the past decade. In 2025, the top banks in India, in terms of market capitalization, are also among the top in the same terms globally. For example, HDFC Bank is among the top 15 banks in the world in 2025 by market cap.
In this article, we will delve into the top 10 banks of India, comprehensively analysing their operations, financial performance, and overall impact.
Top Indian banks in 2025 based on market cap
Here’s a table showcasing the top 10 banks in India, ranked by their market caps (as of March 26, 2025).
Rank & Bank |
Type | Market Cap (Rs Lakh Crore) |
---|---|---|
#1 HDFC Bank | Private | 13.81 |
#2 ICICI Bank | Private | 9.43 |
#3 SBI | Public | 6.81 |
#4 Kotak Mahindra Bank | Private | 4.26 |
#5 Axis Bank | Private | 3.39 |
#6 Bank of Baroda | Public | 1.13 |
#7 Punjab National Bank | Public | 1.06 |
#8 Union Bank of India | Public | 0.91 |
#9 Indian Overseas Bank | Public | 0.80 |
#10 Canara Bank | Public | 0.79 |
Here’s a deep dive into the top banks in India, examining their foundation:
HDFC Bank
- Founded on: August 30, 1994
- MD & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan
HDFC Bank is the largest bank in India in terms of market cap and the thirteenth-largest bank in the world on the same terms. As one of the leading private banks in India, it holds a prominent position in the financial industry. Renowned for its robust performance and innovative solutions, HDFC Bank is a key player in retail, corporate, and institutional banking.
On July 1, 2023, HDFC Bank merged with HDFC Ltd., its sister housing finance company. The merger took place to provide better and more comprehensive financial services to the users.
Sashidhar Jagdishan, the managing director and chief executive at HDFC Bank, has recently been named the highest-paid bank CEO in India.
Also Read: Top 10 FMCG companies in India by market cap
ICICI Bank
- Founded on: January 5, 1994
- MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi
ICICI Bank offers a wide range of financial services. It serves millions of customers in India and abroad, known for its customer-friendly approach, competitive rates, and advanced technology.
In its recent ESG Report, ICICI Bank has notably declared its green financing portfolio constituted 21.4 percent of the total amount they lent out in 2023, amounting to about $119 billion.
Also Read: Commercial banks in India: Types and functions
State Bank of India (SBI)
- Founded on: July 1, 1955
- Chairman: Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
With its headquarters in Mumbai, SBI is India’s largest public sector bank. It has 22,405 branches in India, holds a 23 percent market share, and has a strong presence abroad, with more than 233 foreign branches in 36 countries.
In the April-June quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24, SBI overtook Reliance Industries as India’s most profitable company.
Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Founded on: November 21, 1985
- MD & CEO: Ashok Vaswani
Kotak Mahindra Bank provides a variety of services to various customers, including corporates, retailers, and SMEs.
Uday Kotak, who had been the MD and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. for 21 years, has stepped down. His successor is yet to be determined, and the RBI has reportedly rallied for an outsider to succeed him.
Axis Bank
- Founded on: December 3, 1993
- MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
Axis Bank is among India’s largest private-sector banks. It specialises in financial services for large and mid-sized corporates, SMEs, and retail businesses. Axis Bank prioritises digital banking, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience and caters to diverse retail, corporate, and institutional needs.
Amitabh Chaudhry, the CEO of Axis Bank, is the second highest-paid Indian bank CEO. The bank partnered with the digital banking enterprise OPEN this year to bring about a native digital current account journey for its user base.
Bank of Baroda (BoB)
- Founded on: July 20, 1908
- MD & CEO: Debadatta Chand
Headquartered in Vadodara, Gujarat, Bank of Baroda witnessed the first-ever three-way merger with Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank. As a nationalised bank, Bank of Baroda is renowned for its extensive branch network and diverse banking services, covering retail and corporate banking and treasury operations.
According to recent filings, the Bank of Baroda recorded a net profit of ₹4,070.1 crore for the April to June quarter in FY 2023-24, 88.7 percent higher than its performance in the same quarter in the last FY.
Punjab National Bank of India (PNB)
- Founded on: May 19, 1893
- CEO: Atul Kumar Goel
Punjab National Bank provides a wide range of banking services, such as retail, corporate, and international banking. The bank’s commitment to financial inclusion is evident through its strong presence in rural and semi-urban areas. It has a vast customer base exceeding 180 million.
Freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the founding members of the bank and was closely associated with the management of the bank in its early years.
Union Bank of India (UBI)
- Founded on: November 11, 1919
- CEO: A. Manimekhalai
Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the Union Bank of India’s office when it was established in 1919. The bank was nationalised in 1969 with 14 other banks to utilise their funds and resources for the development of the country. UBI had four branches when India became independent. Today, it has a network of more than 8700 branches across India, thanks to the merger with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank in April 2020.
Indian Overseas Bank
- Founded on: 10 February 1937,
- MD & CEO: Ajay Kumar Srivastava
Started in 1937, the Indian Overseas Bank was initially focused on foreign exchange business. Today, it offers financial services such as deposit accounts, loans, and investments. Apart from its significant presence in the countries, Indian Overseas Bank has branches in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
Canara Bank
- Founded on: 1 July 1906
- MD & CEO: K. Satyanarayana Raju
Canara Bank’s origin dates back to 1906. Philanthropist Ammembal Subba Rao Pai established the Canara Hindu Permanent Fund in Mangalore, which later became Canara Bank. It was nationalised with 13 other banks on July 19, 1969. It is also the first Indian bank to receive ISO certification for Total Branch Banking. As of June 2024, Canara Bank services over 11.42 crore customers through a network of 9,627 branches and 12,256 ATMs/Recycler spread across all Indian states and Union Territories. CEO and MD K Satyanarayana Raju recently announced that the bank is in the process of opening another 250 branches in FY25.
FAQs
1. Which bank has the highest market cap in the world?
US’s JP Morgan Chase has the highest market cap (as of January 2025) among all banks in the world at $684.91 billion.
2. Which is India’s first private bank?
IndusInd Bank, established in April 1994 in Mumbai, holds the title of India’s first private bank.
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