The State Bank of India (SBI) has been recognized as the World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 and Best Bank in India 2025 by New York-based Global Finance. The honours were presented at the Global Finance Awards Ceremony, held alongside the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., marking a major milestone in India’s growing global banking influence.
SBI said the twin awards reaffirm its leadership in digital transformation, financial inclusion, and customer-centric banking. Chairman Challa Srinivasulu Setty described the recognition as a reflection of “our daily commitment to excellence,” noting that serving over 520 million customers and adding 65,000 new ones each day demands constant investment in technology and innovation.
Why SBI Stands Out
Global Finance credited SBI’s strong performance to its digital-first strategy and commitment to accessibility. The bank’s YONO app, with more than 100 million users and 10 million daily active users, has become a cornerstone of its digital ecosystem. The upgraded YONO 2.0 platform now integrates both online and branch services seamlessly.
SBI has also pushed ahead in digital lending, with ₹1,791 crore in pre-approved personal loans disbursed via YONO in Q1 FY26 and two-thirds of all new savings accounts opened digitally. In 2024 alone, the bank expanded its network with 600 new branches, deepening its reach across rural and semi-urban India.
Beyond digital innovation, SBI remains India’s financial backbone. It holds nearly 28% of the country’s home loan market and 19% of auto loans, managing 23,000 branches, over 62,000 ATMs, and nearly 77,000 business correspondent outlets. Its deposit base has crossed ₹54.73 lakh crore, with advances of ₹42.54 lakh crore.
A Global Benchmark for Indian Banking
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated SBI on the achievement, calling it a “well-deserved recognition” of its role in advancing India’s growth story. He praised the bank’s dedication to financial inclusion and service to all sections of society.
Global Finance’s annual awards — now in their 32nd edition — celebrate banks that set global standards in innovation, stability, and customer experience. Other top honours this year went to Société Générale as World’s Best Bank 2025 and BBVA as World’s Best Corporate Bank 2025.
SBI’s recognition as the World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 underscores not just its dominance in India, but its growing reputation as a model for digital excellence and inclusive banking worldwide — guided by its vision of being “Digital First, Consumer First.”
