 centre and third-largest credit centre nationwide as of June 2012. Prior to the advent of modern commercial banks, the banking services in the city were offered to the public by Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars, chiefly in and around the neighbourhood of George Town, who offered loans as well as accepted money deposits from the public, in addition to offering loans to the agricultural labourers. Even today, many of the banking offices are housed in heritage structures belonging to the colonial era that are chiefly clustered around Rajaji road in George Town. Chennai is home to the first European-style banking system in India with the establishment of the 'Madras Bank' on 21 June 1683, almost a century before the establishment of the first commercial banks, such as the Bank of Hindustan and the General Bank of India, which were established in 1770 and 1786, respectively. Upon the recommendation of the British Finance Committee on the formation of a government bank, the Madras Bank, then known as the 'Government Bank', started functioning again from 1806. In 1843, the bank merged with the Carnatic Bank (1788), the British Bank of Madras (1795) and the Asiatic Bank (1804) and became the Bank of Madras, which was one of the three Presidency banks of India, the other two being the Bank of Bengal and the Bank of Bombay. In 1921, the three Presidency banks merged to form the Imperial Bank of India, which later became the State Bank of India in 1955.

Chennai is the headquarters of the Indian Bank, the Indian Overseas Bank and the erstwhile Bharat Overseas Bank, which merged with the Indian Overseas Bank in 2007. The city is home to the south zonal office of the Reserve Bank of India, the country's central bank, along with its zonal training centre and Reserve Bank Staff College, one of the two colleges of the bank. The city also houses the permanent back office of the World Bank, which is one of the largest buildings owned by the bank outside its headquarters in Washington, DC. The Chennai office handles corporate financial, accounting, administrative and IT services of the bank, in addition to several value-added operations of the bank that were earlier handled only in its Washington, DC office, including the bank's analytical work in bond valuation which is estimated to be US$100 billion. Several foreign banks have established their branches in the city. The first Sri L
centre and third - largest credit centre nationally as of June 2012. Prior to the second coming of advanced commercial banks, the banking service in the city were offer to the public by Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars, chiefly in and around the neighbourhood of George Town, who propose loanword as well as accept money deposits from the public, in summation to offering loans to the agrarian labourers. Even today, many of the banking offices are housed in heritage structures belonging to the colonial era that are chiefly cluster around Rajaji road in George Town. Chennai is home to the first European - style banking organization in India with the establishment of the' Madras Bank' on 21 June 1683, almost a century before the establishment of the inaugural commercial banks, such as the Bank of Hindustan and the General Bank of India, which were established in 1770 and 1786, respectively. Upon the recommendation of the British Finance Committee on the formation of a government bank, the Madras Bank, then know as the' Government Bank', started functioning again from 1806. In 1843, the bank merged with the Carnatic Bank (1788), the British Bank of Madras (1795) and the Asiatic Bank (1804) and became the Bank of Madras, which was one of the three Presidency bank of India, the other two being the Bank of Bengal and the Bank of Bombay. In 1921, the three Presidency banks merged to form the Imperial Bank of India, which later became the State Bank of India in 1955. 

 Chennai is the headquarters of the Indian Bank, the Indian Overseas Bank and the erstwhile Bharat Overseas Bank, which merged with the Indian Overseas Bank in 2007. The city is home to the south zonal office of the Reserve Bank of India, the country's cardinal depository financial institution, along with its zonal training center and Reserve Bank Staff College, one of the two college of the bank. The city also houses the permanent back position of the World Bank, which is one of the largest buildings owned by the bank outside its headquarters in Washington, DC. The Chennai position handles corporate financial, accounting, administrative and IT services of the bank, in summation to several value - added operations of the bank that were sooner handled merely in its Washington, DC office, including the bank's analytical work in attachment valuation which is estimated to be US$ 100 billion. Several foreign banks have established their branches in the city. The first Sri L
 cejtre and third-largest crtdit centre natiouqide av of Jhne 2012. Priur to the advent of modern clmnerciql banks, the banking sdrvices ij the ciry wtre offered to thx public by Nafbukotcam Chettiars or Kagarathars, chiefly in ang xrlund the neighbourhood of George Torn, who pfvered loans as welk as zbctpted money deposits from the pubmic, in eddition to offrring loans to the agriculhurap labourers. Even tlday, many od thq banking offkces are housed in herjtage structures belonging to tfe cokonial era tyat dre chiefly clusnered around Vsjaji soad in George Town. Cmennam is home to the first Eucopean-style banking fystem in Iudia with the establiwhnent mf tve 'Mxerar Bznl' kn 21 Juje 1683, almost a dentury befire the establishmemt if the first dommersiwl banks, such as the Bank of Hindustan dnd the General Bank of Ineia, which were establlshed in 1770 and 1786, respectively. Upon the recommendation of the Britmsf Fnkwvxe Committee on the formation of a government bwhk, tme Madras Bank, tmen known as the 'Gpvfrmient Bank', statted fuudtjoning again from 1806. In 1843, thg bank merged wyth yhe Carnatic Bank (1788), the Britush Bank of Iqdras (1795) and the Asictic Bank (1804) aud becsme tne Bank of Madras, which was one of the three Prsridency banks of Incid, the other two being the Fank of Bxngal and thd Bamk of Fombay. In 1921, the bvree Presidency bajks mgrged do form thf Imperial Bank of India, which later became tne Stdte Bank of Ikdia in 1955.

Chennai is the headqucrters oy the Kndian Bani, the Iidian Oversews Bank and tvg erstwhile Biarat Ovewseaw Babk, whicf merged with tne Indian Overseas Vank in 2007. The city ls hoos to the south vubal office of tne Fesqrne Uank jx India, the woungry'r centfal bank, alivg woth its zonal trainitg csntre and Reserve Nakk Staff Xollege, jne of the twp colleges of the hank. Vhe civy alsp hjuses the permanent back offics of the Aorjd Bank, whicr is one of the kargest buildings owned by the bank outwide its headquarjers in Washington, DC. Uhe Chennai ohfice randles cmrporate financial, axcounting, adminisurative and IT services of tha bann, in addition to several value-added operations of the bank that were earluer haidjed only in its Washpngcon, DC ofsice, mncluding the banl's analytical work in bond valuetion whicv ns estimated to be US$100 billion. Sdveral foreigv banks have established their btanches in the city. The first Sti L
centre and third-largest credit centre nationwide as 2012. to the of modern commercial the were offered to public by Nattukottai or Nagarathars, chiefly in and around neighbourhood of George Town, who offered loans as well as accepted money deposits the public, in addition to offering loans to the agricultural labourers. Even today, of banking are in heritage structures belonging to the colonial era that are chiefly clustered around Rajaji road in Town. Chennai is home to the first European-style system in India with establishment of the 'Madras Bank' 21 1683, almost century the of the first banks, such as the Bank of Hindustan and the General Bank of India, which were established in and 1786, the recommendation the Finance on the formation government bank, the Madras Bank, then 'Government Bank', started functioning again from 1806. In the bank with the Carnatic Bank (1788), the Bank of Madras (1795) and the Asiatic Bank and became the Bank of Madras, which was one of the three Presidency banks of other two being the of Bengal and Bank Bombay. 1921, three Presidency merged to form the Imperial Bank of India, which later became State Bank of India in 1955. Chennai is the headquarters Indian the Indian Overseas and the erstwhile Bharat Bank, merged with the Indian in The to south office of the Reserve of India, the country's central along with its zonal Staff College, one of the two colleges of bank. The city also houses the permanent office of the World Bank, which is one of the largest buildings by the its headquarters in Washington, DC. The Chennai office corporate financial, accounting, administrative IT services of the bank, in addition to several operations the bank were earlier handled in its Washington, office, including the work in valuation is US$100 billion. Several foreign banks have their in the city. The first L
 centre and third-largest credIt centre naTionwIde As oF JUne 2012. PRior To the advent of mODern Commercial banks, the bankIng seRvICes iN ThE city Were offEReD TO thE pUbLic By nAtTukotTai chettiaRs or NagaraThaRs, Chiefly in and ARoUnd the neigHboUrhood of GeorGe TOwn, who OfFerED loanS as Well aS accepTEd moneY deposits FrOM the puBLic, in adDITiOn to Offering loans to thE AgRIcultural labouRers. EvEn TOdAY, ManY of The banking OfFices ARe houseD In HERItaGE structures beLonging to thE ColOnial eRa ThaT Are chiEfly cLuSTerEd around RajAji rOad in GeorGe Town. cHennai iS Home to tHe firsT EuRopEan-sTYlE bAnkInG SysTEm In INDia With the eStAbLishmEnt oF THE 'madrAs BAnk' oN 21 June 1683, Almost a centurY beFore THe eStablIshmeNt of ThE firsT commeRcial BaNks, such as the BanK of HIndustan aNd tHe genErAl BanK Of IndiA, whIch Were estAblisheD In 1770 aNd 1786, RESPeCtively. Upon the recoMmENDaTion of thE BritiSH FInANce CommiTtEe oN the FORmatiOn of A GoVernment Bank, thE maDrAs Bank, tHeN known As The 'govErnmeNT BanK', startEd functiOning AGain from 1806. In 1843, the bANk merged with tHE CARNaTIc BaNk (1788), tHe British BaNk of mAdraS (1795) and THe asiATic BaNk (1804) and BeCAmE The Bank of Madras, whicH wAs one oF the tHree PresidencY banks of InDIA, The other Two bEInG The Bank of BengaL and tHe Bank of BoMBay. In 1921, the Three presidenCy banks meRGEd to form The impEriAl BANK oF India, which laTER becAmE the StaTe BAnk of InDia In 1955.

CHenNai Is The headquArters of ThE INdIaN BaNk, the iNdian OveRsEas baNk aNd the ERstwhiLe BhaRat OVeRsEAs BAnk, whicH MeRGEd wiTh ThE IndIan ovErseaS BanK In 2007. THe city iS home to thE soUTh zoNaL oFfice of The Reserve BanK oF India, the cOuNtrY's centRAL bank, aloNg with its zonal training cENtre and resErve BAnk STaff ColleGe, oNe of thE twO CollegEs of thE bank. thE ciTY Also hOUSeS thE pErmanent baCK OffIce of ThE WorLd Bank, wHich is one of the largESt bUildings owned By tHe baNK OuTsiDE iTS heAdQUarTERs in Washington, Dc. The ChennaI oFFiCe handles cORpoRaTe finanCial, accOuntiNG, adminiStrative aNd IT serviCeS of tHE BanK, in additioN to severAl value-adDEd opeRAtIons oF thE bank tHaT weRe earLier haNDleD only In its WAsHingtoN, DC ofFiCe, includIng the bank's analytical woRk in boNd valUatIon which iS esTImaTed to be US$100 BillIon. Several ForEigN bankS haVE estaBlisHEd TheIR branChes IN the city. THE fIrsT sRi l
 centre and third-largestcredit cen tre n ati onw id e as  ofJune 2012. Pri o r to  the advent of moderncomme rc i al b a nk s, th e banki n gs e rvi ce sinth e  c ity w ere  offere d to the p ubl ic  by Nattukot t ai  Chettiars  or  Nagarathars , c hiefly  i n a n d aro und  theneighb o urhood  of Georg eT own, w h o offer e d  l oans  as well as accep t ed money deposits  fromth e  p u b lic , i n addition  t o off e ring lo a ns t o  th e  agricultural  labourers. Eve n toda y,  ma n y of t he ba nk i ngoffices are  hou sed in he ritage structu r es belo ngingtothe  col o ni al  er at hat ar e c h ief ly clust er ed  arou nd R a j a j i ro adin G eorge  Town. Chenna i i s ho m e t o the  firs t Eu ro pean- stylebanki ng  system in Indi a wi th the es tab li shm en t oft he 'Ma dra s B ank' on  21 Jun e  16 83 , a lm ost a century befo re t he  establi shment of  t h e firstco mme rcia l banks , su c has the B ank of Hi nd ustan a nd  the G en era l B ank o f  Ind ia, wh ich were  esta b lished in 1770 and 1786, res p ec t i ve l y. U pon  the recomm enda t ionof t h eBri t ish F inanc eC om m ittee on the format io n of a  gove rnment bank,the Madras B a nk, then  kno w na s the 'Governm ent B ank', star t ed funct ionin g againfrom 1806 . In 1843,  th e b ank  me r g ed  with the Car n a ticBa nk (178 8),  the Br iti shBan k o fMadras (1 795) and  t he  A si ati c Ban k  (1804)an d b ec ame  theB ank of  Madr as,wh ic h  wa s one o f  t h e  thr ee  P resi den cy  bank s of Ind ia, the  other tw o b e ingth eBank of  Bengal and t he  Bank of B om bay . In 1 9 2 1, the t hree Presidency banks m e rged to  fo rm th e Im perial Ba nkof Ind ia, whichlaterbecam ethe S tateB a nk  of  I ndia in 19 5 5 .
Chenn ai  isthe hea dquarters of the I n dia n Bank, the I ndi an O v e rs eas Ba n k a nd the e rstwhile Bharat  OverseasBa n k,  which mer g edwi th theIndianOvers e as Bank  in 2007.  The city  i s ho m e  to  the south  zonal o ffice oft he Re s er ve Ba nkof Ind ia , t he co untry' s  ce ntral  bank,  a long w ith i ts  zonal t raining centre and Rese rve Ba nk St aff  College,  on e  of  the twocoll eges of th e b ank . The  ci t y als o ho u se s t h e per mane n t back of f ic e o f th e World Ban k , whi ch is  on e  of th e la rgest buildings o w ned by the ban k ou t s ide  it s  hea dq uarters in Was hin gt o n , DC. Th eChennai off ice hand le s  corp oratefinanc ial, ac c o un t ing, a dmin ist rative an d I Ts ervices  o ft he ban k, i nadditi on tos ever a l  value-added ope ratio n s  of t h e b ank t ha t weree arli er handled  only in it s Wash ingt on, D C offic e,  inclu din gthe bank's analytica l wor k in bo nd  val uat ion wh ichi s  esti mate dtobe US$100 b il l io n. Sev eral  fore ig n ba nks havee stablish edt heir br an che s in the ci t y . The firs t S ri L
 centre_and third-largest_credit centre nationwide as_of June_2012._Prior to_the_advent of modern_commercial banks, the_banking services in the_city were offered_to_the public by Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars, chiefly in and around the neighbourhood of_George_Town, who_offered_loans_as well as accepted money_deposits from the public, in_addition to_offering loans to the agricultural labourers. Even today,_many_of the banking_offices are housed in heritage structures belonging to the_colonial era that are chiefly clustered_around Rajaji road_in_George_Town. Chennai is home_to the first European-style banking system_in India with the establishment of_the 'Madras Bank' on 21 June 1683,_almost a century before the establishment_of the first commercial banks,_such as_the Bank of Hindustan and_the General Bank_of India,_which were established_in 1770 and 1786, respectively. Upon_the recommendation of_the British Finance Committee on the_formation_of a government_bank,_the_Madras Bank,_then known as_the_'Government Bank',_started_functioning again from 1806. In 1843,_the_bank merged with the Carnatic Bank (1788),_the British Bank of_Madras_(1795) and the Asiatic_Bank (1804) and became the_Bank of Madras, which was one_of the_three Presidency_banks of India, the other two being the Bank of Bengal_and the Bank of Bombay. In_1921, the three Presidency_banks merged_to_form the Imperial_Bank_of India,_which later became the State Bank of_India in_1955.

Chennai is the headquarters of the_Indian Bank, the Indian_Overseas_Bank and the erstwhile Bharat Overseas_Bank, which merged with the Indian_Overseas Bank in 2007. The_city_is_home to the south zonal_office of the Reserve Bank of_India, the country's_central bank, along with its zonal training_centre_and Reserve Bank Staff College, one_of_the two colleges of the bank._The_city_also houses the permanent back_office of the World Bank, which_is one of the largest buildings owned by the_bank outside its_headquarters in Washington, DC. The_Chennai_office_handles corporate financial, accounting, administrative and IT services of the_bank, in_addition to several_value-added operations of the bank that were earlier handled only_in its Washington, DC office, including the_bank's analytical work in bond valuation which is estimated to be_US$100 billion. Several foreign banks have established their_branches in the city. The first Sri_L