The evolution of the State Bank of India

Book excerpt: &Nbsp; Playing A Part In The Story Is A Cast Of Bankers Who Left Their Imprint On The Bank&Rsquo;S Policies, Practices And Character, Among Them A Series Of Remarkable Chairmen, Not To Speak Of The Hundreds Of Dedicated Officers And Other Employees Who Helped Establish The Bank&Rsquo;S Pre-Eminence And Provide Leadership To The Banking System. &Nbsp; The State Bank Of India Act Received The President&Rsquo;S Assent On 8 May 1955, And On 1 July, Moving With Remarkable Swiftness, The New Bank Came Into Being. The Purpose Was To Create An Institution That Would Form An Essential Part Of The Country&Rsquo;S Plans For Modernization, Envisaged In The Era Of Economic Planning. The Bank Would Have Its Roots Firmly Planted In The Countryside Through A Network Of Branches That Spanned The Country&Rsquo;S Farthest Corners, And Play A Major Role In National Development. In Volume 4 Of The Evolution Of The State Bank Of India We Are Taken Into The Heart Of The Entire Exercise, Ranging From The Organizational Issues Posed By A Rapidly Expanding Network Of Branches Running Into The Thousands To Those Of Motivating A Huge Workforce, Besides The Problems Of Venturing Into Areas Of Banking&Mdash;Such As Development Banking Geared To The Needs Of The Artisan And The Farmer&Mdash;That Had Not Been Tried Before.