Bandhan Bank to take total number of branches to 978 before end of 2018

Bandhan Bank would add another 40 branches by December 31, taking the total number to 978, the Kolkata-based lender's founder and CEO C S Ghosh said on Wednesday. 

Ghosh said five new branches would be opened on Wednesday. The total number of ATMs would be 476, he said. The Reserve Bank of India had earlier imposed restrictions on Bandhan Bank's branch expansion, after it failed to pare promoters' stake to 40 per cent from close to 82 per cent, within the stipulated three-year time frame. 

The lender commenced operations on August 23, 2015. "The bank had received prior approval from the RBI for opening the new branches," Ghosh told PTI. "We are working on the process of stake dilution of the promoting company in the bank," he added.

(With inputs from agencies.)