For the past three decades India's banking system has several outstanding achievements to its credit. The most striking is its extensive reach. It is no longer confined to only metropolitans or cosmopolitans in India. In fact, Indian banking system has reached even to the remote corners of the country. This is one of the main reason of India's growth process.

The government's regular policy for Indian bank since 1969 has paid rich dividends with the nationalisation of 14 major private banks of India.

The first bank in India, though conservative, was established in 1786. From 1786 till today, the journey of Indian Banking System can be segregated into three distinct phases. They are as mentioned below:

• Early phase from 1786 to 1969 of Indian Banks
• Nationalisation of Indian Banks and up to 1991 prior to Indian banking sector Reforms.
• New phase of Indian Banking System with the advent of Indian Financial & Banking Sector Reforms after 1991.
  
  Phase I
  
  Phase II
  
  Phase III