Financial inclusion drive: SBI expands presence in Tamil Nadu; 14 new branches opened

State Bank of India (SBI) has bolstered its footprint in Tamil Nadu with the inauguration of 14 new branches, two Home Loan centres, two modern Rural Self Employment Training Institutes, and 110 Gram Panchayat camps, a press release said on Sunday.SBI Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty, during his visit to the bank’s local head office in Chennai, inaugurated the branches and training institutes, PTI reported. The Gram Panchayat camps were inaugurated virtually as part of the bank’s drive to deepen financial inclusion in rural areas.“SBI may already be India’s largest bank with over 22,980 branches, yet we see clear opportunities to deepen our presence where banking access is still limited,” Setty said.The new branches and initiatives aim to strengthen SBI’s physical connect while complementing it with outreach programmes to promote financial literacy and inclusion at the grassroots level. “Our focus is to keep expanding in ways that create both economic and social value for the communities we serve,” he added.Under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, SBI donated Rs 1.47 crore for the upgradation of 30 government primary schools across the state, reinforcing its commitment to educational infrastructure.During the visit, the Chairman also inaugurated a Special Currency Administration Branch (SCAB), underscoring SBI’s focus on extending its services and accessibility across Tamil Nadu.“These initiatives reaffirm the bank’s commitment to making banking more accessible and inclusive. By such undertakings, SBI is not just growing as a bank but also contributing to the holistic development of the communities it serves,” Setty said.