Private Sector Banks in India - A SWOT Analysis Prof. CHOWDARI PRASAD Dr. K.S.SRINIVASA RAO Associate Professor (Finance Area) Associate Professor (QM Area) Official e-mail:
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[email protected] [email protected] T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) MANIPAL – 576 104 Udupi District, Karnataka, India. Tel. (Office): 0820 – 257 1358 / 257 3162 Topic Area: Banking Introduction: Private Sector Banks existed for over a century in India. Formation of State Bank Group in 1955 / 1957 and two nationalizations in 1969 and 1980 lead to dominant Public Sector Banks. Economic reforms in 1991 and Banking Sector Reforms again in 1997-98 have changed the banking scene totally. People generally rely on nationalized banks backed by Government. Change in mindset of the customers forced RBI to allow new private banks a decade back. World Trade Organisation (WTO) and globalization initiated more foreign banks to add competition and a proper level playing field. It is pertinent and appropriate to mention that Imperial Bank of India was also a large private sector bank but handling all the commercial banking business as well as treasury related work of Government until Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was formed in the year 1934, once again as a private bank! It was in the post independent era in the year 1948 that RBI itself was converted into a fully state-owned bank followed by formation of State Bank of India in 1955. The debate about whether RBI is fully autonomous is inconclusive even today as it operates as the country’s central bank and also advises the Government on monetary and fiscal matters but implements the 1 welfare oriented policies as far as regulating the commercial banks are concerned, irrespective whether these banks are in public, private, cooperative or foreign sector.