CSB Bank
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Indian private sector bank founded in 1920, formerly known as Catholic Syrian Bank and publicly listed since 2019.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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Overview
CSB Bank, formerly Catholic Syrian Bank, is an Indian private sector bank headquartered in Thrissur, Kerala. Established on 26 November 1920, it began operations on 1 January 1921 and developed from a Kerala-rooted banking institution into a national banking business serving retail, commercial and selected niche customer segments. Its activities include deposit-taking, retail lending, corporate and commercial banking, agriculture and micro, small and medium-sized enterprise lending, housing finance, education loans, non-resident Indian services and other banking services. The institution was incorporated with an authorised capital of ₹5 lakhs and paid-up capital of ₹45,270. Its regulatory position strengthened over time: it entered the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act in 1969 and attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status by 1975. These developments marked its transition from a regional banking institution to a more formally recognised scheduled bank within India's regulated banking system. For much of its history, CSB Bank maintained a strong presence in southern India, particularly Kerala, while also expanding into markets such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. By March 2019, its credit portfolio was oriented toward agriculture, MSMEs, education and housing, and its customer base was reported at approximately 1.3 million. The bank's branch and ATM network subsequently gave it a presence across India; the cited reference describes more than 862 branches and 832 ATMs. A major ownership and strategic turning point came after the Reserve Bank of India approved Fairfax Financial Holdings' proposed investment in December 2016. In February 2018, Fairfax India, through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd, acquired a 51% stake for ₹1,180 crore. The investment was subject to a five-year lock-in and a longer schedule for reducing the stake in tranches in accordance with RBI requirements. The transaction brought a substantial new strategic investor while preserving CSB Bank's identity as an Indian private sector bank. The bank entered the public markets on 4 December 2019, when its shares began trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange under the ticker CSBBANK. Around this period, the institution also adopted the shorter CSB Bank identity, replacing the longer Catholic Syrian Bank name in its public-facing brand. The rebranding aligned the bank with a more contemporary, nationally oriented identity while retaining continuity with its century-long history. CSB Bank's customer proposition combines conventional banking products—such as savings accounts, current accounts, term deposits and loans—with business banking and non-resident services. Its historical regional roots remain important to its identity, but its operating model is national in scope. The bank has also supported community visibility through sports sponsorship, including sponsorship of Kerala-based I-League club Gokulam Kerala FC. Based on the supplied reference material, CSB Bank remains an active, listed Indian bank with a broad branch and ATM network. CSB Bank Limited, formerly known as Catholic Syrian Bank Limited, is an Indian private-sector bank headquartered in Thrissur, Kerala. Established in 1920 and beginning operations in January 1921, it is one of the older banking institutions associated with Kerala’s commercial and community banking history. The bank operates across India and provides services to retail customers, businesses, agricultural borrowers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other institutional or corporate clients. The bank’s business includes deposit accounts, payments and transaction services, personal banking, loans secured by property or other assets, agricultural finance, education finance, housing finance, and credit for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Its historic regional strength has included Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, although its branch and automated-teller network extends more broadly across the country. The bank has also developed digital banking and electronic service channels alongside its physical distribution network. CSB was founded on 26 November 1920 and opened for business on 1 January 1921. Its original authorized capital was reported as ₹5 lakh, while paid-up capital at commencement was ₹45,270. The institution was included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act in 1969, acquiring scheduled-bank status, and reached Scheduled Bank—A Class status by 1975. A major strategic turning point came when the Reserve Bank of India approved the proposed investment by Fairfax Financial Holdings in December 2016. In February 2018, Fairfax India, through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd, acquired a 51 percent interest for approximately ₹1,180 crore. The investment was subject to a five-year lock-in and a longer timetable for any reduction of the stake under applicable regulatory requirements. The transaction provided the bank with a new controlling investor and supported its transition into a more growth-oriented private-sector banking model. CSB Bank completed its initial public offering in 2019, with its shares beginning public trading on 4 December of that year on the BSE and NSE. Around the time of the offering, the bank reported a customer base of approximately 1.3 million and a credit portfolio with notable exposure to agriculture, MSMEs, education, and housing. The bank remains an India-focused financial institution rather than a global banking group. Its brand identity combines a long-established regional banking heritage with the broader private-sector banking framework created after the Fairfax investment and public listing. CSB also has a presence in sports sponsorship through its support of Kerala-based football club Gokulam Kerala FC. Its business includes deposit accounts, payments and transaction services, personal banking, loans secured by property or other assets, agricultural finance, education finance, housing finance, MSME credit, corporate and commercial banking, non-resident Indian services, and digital banking and electronic service channels alongside its physical branch and ATM network. Its historic regional strength has included Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, while its network extends more broadly across the country; the cited reference describes more than 862 branches and 832 ATMs. The institution was incorporated with an authorised capital of ₹5 lakhs and paid-up capital of ₹45,270. It entered the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act in 1969 and attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status by 1975. By March 2019, its credit portfolio was oriented toward agriculture, MSMEs, education and housing, and its customer base was reported at approximately 1.3 million. The bank subsequently adopted the shorter CSB Bank identity and entered the public markets on 4 December 2019, when its shares were listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange under the ticker CSBBANK. The listing established CSB Bank as a publicly traded Indian private sector bank while retaining its Catholic Syrian Bank heritage. The bank has also supported community visibility through sports sponsorship, including Kerala-based I-League club Gokulam Kerala FC. The available material does not identify specific current executives or detailed financial performance.
History
CSB Bank traces its origins to the establishment of Catholic Syrian Bank on 26 November 1920. The institution opened for business on 1 January 1921 with an authorised capital of ₹5 lakhs and paid-up capital of ₹45,270. Its early development was rooted in Kerala, where it built a regional banking franchise and served individuals, businesses and communities through deposit and credit services. The bank's regulatory standing advanced during the post-independence development of India's banking system. In 1969, it was included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act and became a scheduled bank. By 1975, it had attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status. These classifications reflected its increasing institutional scale and formal role within India's regulated banking sector. Over subsequent decades, Catholic Syrian Bank expanded beyond its original regional base. Kerala remained a significant market, while the bank developed a presence in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and later across other parts of India. Its business covered retail banking, corporate and commercial banking, agriculture, MSME finance, education finance, housing and services for non-resident Indians. By March 2019, the bank reportedly served nearly 1.3 million customers, with its credit portfolio concentrated in agriculture, MSMEs, education and housing. A decisive change in ownership began in December 2016, when the Reserve Bank of India approved Fairfax Financial Holdings' proposed acquisition of a controlling interest. In February 2018, Fairfax India, acting through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd, acquired 51% of the bank for ₹1,180 crore. The arrangement included a mandatory five-year lock-in and a 15-year period for reducing the holding in multiple tranches under RBI rules. The investment provided a new strategic ownership structure at a time when the bank was seeking to strengthen and modernise its operations. The bank subsequently moved into the public markets. On 4 December 2019, its shares were listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange under the ticker CSBBANK. Around this transition, the bank adopted CSB Bank as its shorter public brand, while Catholic Syrian Bank remained important as its former corporate and historical name. The change helped present the institution as a contemporary national private sector bank without severing its connection to its long operating history. CSB Bank's current identity combines a century-old institutional heritage with a broad Indian banking footprint. The cited reference describes a network of more than 862 branches and 832 ATMs across India. Its customer offering includes deposits, retail loans, business and corporate banking, agriculture and MSME finance, housing and education loans, and NRI services. In addition to its banking activities, the brand has pursued local visibility through sponsorship, including support for Gokulam Kerala FC, a Kerala-based I-League football club. The available material does not identify specific current executives, detailed financial performance, or a definitive official website URL, so those fields are left unreported. CSB Bank traces its origins to the formation of Catholic Syrian Bank on 26 November 1920. The institution opened for business on 1 January 1921 in the princely-state and commercial environment of the former Kingdom of Cochin, in present-day Kerala. Its initial authorized capital was ₹5 lakh and its paid-up capital was ₹45,270. From its early years, the bank developed a regional identity and served depositors, traders, households, and businesses in Kerala and surrounding areas. The bank’s later development took place within India’s expanding regulated banking system. In 1969, it was included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act and became a scheduled bank. By 1975, it had attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status. These classifications reflected its progression from a regional institution into a more formally recognized participant in the Indian banking system. Over time, CSB broadened its geographic and commercial footprint. Its strongest presence remained associated with Kerala, while Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka also became important operating markets. By March 2019, the bank had built a customer base of nearly 1.3 million and maintained a credit portfolio with significant exposure to agriculture, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, education, and housing. Its operating model combined conventional branches with ATMs and, increasingly, electronic banking channels. Ownership and strategy changed substantially in the second half of the 2010s. In December 2016, the Reserve Bank of India permitted Fairfax Financial Holdings to acquire a controlling interest in the bank. The investment was completed in February 2018 when Fairfax India, through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd, acquired 51 percent of Catholic Syrian Bank for approximately ₹1,180 crore. The transaction was governed by a mandatory five-year lock-in and a longer period for reducing the investment in accordance with Reserve Bank of India requirements. Fairfax’s involvement gave the bank a new controlling shareholder and marked a significant step in its effort to modernize and expand as a private-sector bank. The institution subsequently adopted the CSB Bank brand. It entered the public markets on 4 December 2019, when its shares were listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. The public listing represented another important transition: the bank moved from a closely held regional institution toward a publicly accountable banking company with access to capital-market visibility. In its current form, CSB Bank remains focused on the Indian market. Its services span retail deposits and payments, personal lending, housing and education finance, agricultural credit, MSME lending, and corporate or commercial banking. The bank continues to operate a substantial national network of branches and ATMs. Its public-facing activities have also included sports sponsorship, notably support for Kerala-based football club Gokulam Kerala FC. The bank’s overall history therefore combines early twentieth-century Kerala roots, gradual integration into India’s scheduled-banking framework, a Fairfax-led ownership transition, and public-market expansion. The bank's regulatory standing advanced during the post-independence development of India's banking system. In 1969, it was included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act and became a scheduled bank. By 1975, it had attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status. These classifications reflected its progression from a regional institution into a more formally recognised participant in India's regulated banking sector.
- 2019
Public listing and brand transition
[1]The shares began trading on the BSE and NSE on 4 December 2019 under CSBBANK, as the bank operated under the shorter CSB Bank identity.
- 2018
Fairfax India takes controlling stake
[1]Fairfax India acquired 51% of the bank through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd for ₹1,180 crore, subject to a five-year lock-in and a longer regulatory timetable for reducing the stake.
- 2016
RBI approves Fairfax investment
[1]In December 2016 the Reserve Bank of India approved Fairfax Financial Holdings' proposed acquisition of a controlling stake.
- 1975
Achieves Scheduled Bank—A Class status
[1]CSB attained Scheduled Bank—A Class status within India's banking system.
- 1969
Becomes a scheduled bank
[1]The bank was included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act.
- 1921
Banking operations begin
[1]The bank opened for business on 1 January 1921 with reported authorised capital of ₹5 lakh and paid-up capital of ₹45,270.
- 1920
Catholic Syrian Bank is founded
[1]Catholic Syrian Bank was founded on 26 November 1920 in India.
Products and positioning
An India-focused private-sector bank combining a long Kerala banking heritage with retail, agricultural, MSME, and corporate banking capabilities.
Consumer banking
Retail banking
CSB Bank's retail banking business serves individuals and households through deposit accounts, transaction services, payment facilities, debit cards, personal loans, housing finance, education loans, and related branch and digital channels. The available reference identifies savings accounts, term deposits and housing loans among the bank's consumer-facing offerings, complemented by education finance and other lending services, although the supplied sources do not provide a complete current product catalogue.
Business banking
Corporate and commercial banking
The bank provides corporate and commercial banking for business and institutional customers, including deposit, lending, payment and account services. Its reported credit focus has included MSMEs, agriculture, education and housing. The available material does not specify individual current products, pricing or eligibility terms. CSB Bank serves business and institutional customers through corporate and commercial banking relationships, including deposit, lending, payment, and account services.
International and diaspora banking
NRI banking services
Non-resident Indian services form part of CSB Bank's banking scope. These services are intended for Indian customers living or working outside India, although the supplied references do not detail the specific account types, remittance products or investment services offered.
Lending
Agriculture and MSME lending
Agriculture and MSME finance have been important areas of the bank's credit portfolio, supporting customers and businesses connected with farming, rural economic activity and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. This positioning reflects CSB Bank's historical role in serving regional businesses and productive sectors. The source material does not provide a detailed breakdown of loan schemes or outstanding balances.
Retail lending
Housing and education loans
Housing and education finance are identified among CSB Bank's lending activities. These products extend the bank's retail proposition beyond deposits and everyday accounts, but the available sources do not specify current product names, rates or launch dates.
Agricultural finance
Agricultural banking
Agricultural finance is one of the bank's identified lending areas. The offering supports customers and businesses connected with farming and related rural economic activity through credit products delivered within the Indian banking system.
Business banking
MSME banking
The bank provides credit and banking services to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. MSME lending formed a notable part of the bank's credit orientation around its 2019 public-market transition.
Marketing campaigns
- Gokulam Kerala FC sponsorship
Kerala · India
CSB Bank sponsored Gokulam Kerala FC, a Kerala-based club competing in the I-League. The partnership connected the bank with a prominent regional sports organisation, linking its regional heritage with local sports visibility and supporting local brand awareness.
Brand decisions
2019
Public listing and shorter CSB Bank identityStrategyBackground
After the change in controlling ownership, the bank moved to the public markets and presented itself under a shorter brand name.
Action taken
The bank listed its shares on the BSE and NSE on 4 December 2019 under CSBBANK and operated under the CSB Bank name.
Aftermath
The listing established CSB Bank as a publicly traded Indian private sector bank while retaining its Catholic Syrian Bank heritage.
2019
Complete initial public offering and listingOtherBackground
After the Fairfax-led ownership transition, the bank moved toward public-market participation.
Action taken
CSB Bank went public and its shares were listed on the BSE and NSE on 4 December 2019.
Aftermath
The listing gave the bank a public-market profile and made its shares available to investors on India's two principal stock exchanges.
2018
Fairfax India acquires 51% of CSBM&ABackground
Following regulatory approval, Fairfax India implemented the proposed investment through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd.
Action taken
Fairfax India acquired a 51% stake for ₹1,180 crore. The terms included a five-year mandatory lock-in and a 15-year period for reducing the holding in tranches under RBI rules.
Aftermath
Fairfax India became the bank's controlling investor and CSB continued toward a public-market listing.
Acquisition consideration. ₹1,180 crore (February 2018)
2018
Complete Fairfax India stake acquisitionM&ABackground
Following regulatory approval, Fairfax India pursued a controlling investment in the bank.
Action taken
FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd acquired 51 percent of the bank for approximately ₹1,180 crore, subject to a five-year lock-in and a longer regulatory timetable for reducing the stake.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the bank's controlling ownership and supported its transition toward a broader private-sector banking strategy.
Acquisition consideration. Approximately ₹1,180 crore (February 2018)
2016
Approval of Fairfax controlling investmentM&ABackground
CSB Bank pursued a major ownership change requiring regulatory approval from the Reserve Bank of India. Catholic Syrian Bank required regulatory approval for Fairfax Financial Holdings to acquire a controlling interest in the bank.
Action taken
The RBI allowed Fairfax Financial Holdings to acquire a 51% interest in the bank. The Reserve Bank of India approved the proposed investment in December 2016.
Aftermath
The approval led to Fairfax India's acquisition of the controlling stake in 2018 and introduced a new strategic ownership structure. The approval enabled the subsequent acquisition of a 51 percent stake by Fairfax India through FIH Mauritius Investments Ltd.
Recent events
Reported
CSB Bank appoints Sudhin Choksey as additional independent director[3]
CSB Bank appointed Sudhin Choksey as an additional independent director, effective March 30, 2021, for a tenure through January 30, 2024.
Reported
CSB Bank and IIFL Finance partner on gold loans[4]
CSB Bank entered into a partnership with IIFL Finance for sourcing and managing retail gold loan assets, with IIFL acting as the bank's Business Correspondent.
Reported
CSB Bank appoints Sharmila Abhay Karve as independent director[5]
CSB Bank's board appointed Sharmila Abhay Karve as an additional independent director for a three-year tenure, effective July 20, 2020.
Reported
CSB Bank appoints B.K. Divakara interim CFO[6]
CSB Bank announced that its board appointed B.K. Divakara as interim CFO, effective February 5, 2020, replacing V. Maheswari.
Reported
CSB Bank announces IPO[7]
CSB Bank announced a Rs 410-crore initial public offering and set an offer price band of Rs 193–195; the offer was expected to hit the market between November 22 and 26.
Sources8 sources
- 1CSB Banken.wikipedia.org
- 2CSB Bank official websitecsb.co.in
- 3CSB Bank任命Sudhin Choksey为额外独立董事equitybulls.com
- 4CSB Bank 与 IIFL Finance 合作开展黄金贷款业务equitybulls.com
- 5CSB银行任命Sharmila Abhay Karve为独立董事equitybulls.com
- 6CSB Bank任命B.K. Divakara为临时首席财务官business-standard.com
- 7CSB Bank宣布首次公开募股business-standard.com
- 8CSB Bank board appoints interim CFOequitybulls.com
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