Dun & Bradstreet India is pleased to release the fifth edition of its banking publication ‘India’s Top Banks 2011’. The Indian banking system which has developed and evolved steadily over a period of time is now globally accepted for its robustness. While the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) continue to dominate Indian banking by accounting for more than three-fourth of the total business, the Private Banks operating in India, are also making significant inroads by cornering market share. At the same time, foreign banks have also been increasing their presence in the personal and corporate banking segment.

The Indian banking industry has shown strong performance in the last five years - between FY05 and FY10. Since FY05, total business of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) has registered a CAGR of 22.5%; while the asset base has expanded by 20.7% on a CAGR basis. The total deposits of SCBs as a percentage of GDP stood at an enhanced ratio of 73% in FY10 as against 57.2% in FY05. A steadily growing balance sheet, healthy credit expansion, rising profitability and productivity and focus on financial inclusion have contributed towards making Indian banking vibrant and robust.

The Indian banking system will undergo a transition in the coming years, as the RBI takes steps towards further liberalisation of the financial services sector by granting licenses to credible private players and NBFCs. At the same time, initiatives encouraging amalgamation of banks making way for emergence of a stronger and stable banking system is also being taken. As per RBI, the total number of SCBs stood at 163 in FY10 compared to 284 in FY05, depicting heightened consolidation in the sector. Financial inclusion has also been accorded priority by the regulators, hereby enhancing penetration of banking services to the unbanked. In short, the government, regulators and banks are working together to build a robust framework for better financial stability.

‘India’s Top Banks 2011’ attempts to collate important aspects of the Indian banking industry, while profiling its leading players. We are confident that this publication will serve as an authoritative and useful ready reference tool for business leaders globally. ‘India’s Top Banks 2011’ will be a valuable publication for understanding the Indian banking sector, as also providing pertinent information on the leading institutions. I hope you enjoy reading this edition and look forward to receiving your suggestions.

Kaushal Sampat
President & CEO - India
Dun & Bradstreet