Bank of Maharashtra

About Bank

Maharashtra has a long history of commercial activity since ages because of its strategic location in Indian sub continent and its large natural resources.

Maharashtra has been a progressive region and the Banking activity was also started in this region quite early. Historically speaking, the Bank of Bombay established in 1840 was the first Commercial Bank in Maharashtra. However, the first commercial bank set up in Maharashtra outside Mumbai was The Poona Bank established in 1889 at Pune followed by The Deccan Bank in 1890 and the Bombay Banking Company in 1898.

The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce (MCC) was established in Poona in 1934 and its Founder Secretary Shri A.R.Bhat was a great visionary.

Shri Bhat initiated for a comprehensive review of banking services available in the region through the special issue of Kesari news paper released in memory of Lokmanya Tilak within a few months of establishment of MCC. He ensured that his friend, Shri V. P.Varde, considered as a doyen of co-operative movement, wrote an article on the necessity of a separate bank for Maharashtra, thus launching a public discussion on the subject. While there was no noticeable response to the article of Shri Varde, Shri A R Bhat kept on discussing the subject with leaders in Trade and Industry.

Shri Bhat ensured that Mahratta Chamber and its Directors took up the issue and held a Conference on Business and Industry in Poona on behalf of the MCC in February1935.