If you look at the total number of bank accounts individuals hold right here in India, well, that number is 2.5 billion bank accounts actually! With that mind-boggling number, you must be thinking that India’s banking scene has evolved so much and literally everyone has access to the banking services, right? Well, nah, that’s not the case, you see, there still are underserved and unserved segments of the population when it comes to basic banking services, and that is precisely why small finance banks are a thing. These are regulated by the RBI and there are a total of 12 SFBs in the country. Today, though, we’re here to talk about the Top 10 Small Finance Banks in India 2025, so let’s get to it right away.
1. AU Small Finance Bank
To start with, the big name in terms of market size is definitely AU Small Finance Bank. First established in 1996 as AU Financiers, the bank turned into a small finance bank in 2017. By 2025, they will have grown to have over 1,042 branches or touchpoints all across India. Nowadays, though, they give all the basic banking services with some glamour behind video banking and WhatsApp banking. What really makes AU different is the fact that they have branched into big cities, small towns, all geared with a strong digital backbone.
2. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
Next in line is Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. It entered the world as a non-banking financial company in 2005 and made a shift to small finance banking in 2017. By 2025, now, it has its presence in 26 states and union territories with 441 ATMs across all these places. It undertakes the work of enabling those who earn some wage but have not yet been able to set up their accounts in big banks, could be small business owners or rural families. They provide loans for two-wheelers, small businesses, or the enhancement of houses.
3. Equitas Small Finance Bank
Now, talking about Equitas Small Finance Bank in Chennai, it was set up as small finance bank in the year 2016, with a strong background in microfinance. By the year 2025, it is operating in 11 states, providing services from savings accounts to home loans, car loans, insurance and whatnot. In 2023, it merged with Equitas Holdings to become a stronger and more efficient entity. What is really nice about Equitas is that they are focusing a lot on digital banking, with most of their services offered online these days.
4. Utkarsh Small Finance Bank
Another big player is Utkarsh Small Finance Bank with its headquarters in Varanasi. Set up in 2016, it now has 686 branches in 22 states. Focus can be said to be Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, where banking is not always a matter of convenience. About 67.9% of the loans are targeted at these areas, which is massive. It provides loans against gold, loans against property, or even loans for women entrepreneurs.
5. Jana Small Finance Bank
Moving on to Bangalore-based Jana Small Finance Bank, which became a small finance bank in 2018. It has grown substantially by 2025, with 771 outlets spread over 22 states. It serves almost 5 million customers with savings accounts, loans, cards, and online banking. Whether your loan is for farming, home, or business, Jana has it all covered. Being tech-savvy and inclined toward rural areas that are devoid of banks is what makes Jana different, quite literally!
6. Fincare Small Finance Bank
The major domain of Fincare Small Finance Bank is helping people who do not have much money. They started as a microfinance institution and became a small finance bank in 2017. By 2025, they allegedly have more than 500 outlets across 13 states and served over 1.4 million customers. Meaningfully large loan book: over ₹2,800 crore! They offer savings accounts, deposits, gold loans, and property loans mostly for women and low-income families. So if you are into a bank with serious rural perspectives, well, it’s pretty apparent by this point that Fincare is your bank.
7. ESAF Small Finance Bank
Microfinance-oriented ESAF Small Finance Bank had been in existence in Kerala before coming into being as a small finance bank in 2017. These banks, in turn, are serving 56 lakh plus customers by 2025, which is enormous! They offer normal bank facilities such as savings accounts, deposits, home loans, and business loans. What sets ESAF apart is its explained purpose of uplifting low-income families and rural communities.
8. Capital Small Finance Bank
Okay, so let’s get to know more about Capital Small Finance Bank. This one is quite unique because it was the first to receive a small finance bank license in 2016. Located in Punjab, they now have 172 branches and 174 ATMs. Their client base consists of those in the middle and upper-middle income brackets. Although the branch model is their preferred one, their digital presence is second to none.
9. Suryoday Small Finance Bank
The Bank was established in 2017 and grew rapidly from its base in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh until 2025, when it started serving more than 150,000 customers, mainly the poor and small business owners. They provide savings accounts, deposits, two-wheeler loans, or business loans, and mobile banking so that users can access easy services. What was unique for Suryoday was the expansions it made from a small start-up and its continuous emphasis on financial empowerment.
10. Unity Small Finance Bank
Last but not least, Unity Small Finance Bank is the newest generation bank in the scenario. Being launched in 2021 by Centrum Financial Services and BharatPe, it has a big capital base of ₹4,000 crore. It has basically an online setup but also physical branches. Unity combines traditional banking with digital innovations, which really makes them stand out. That combination, together with a strong backing and attention to technology, places them as one of the most rapidly growing small finance banks by 2025.
Conclusion
That’s all! Out of the 12 SFBs we have right here in the country, these ten are performing super well, though there is not a lot of room to compare. But yes, if you look at the top banks on this list, you’ll see that some of them are even competing with top banks in the country, too.
