https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=General_Bank_of_Bengal_and_BiharGeneral Bank of Bengal and Bihar - Revision history2026-07-31T06:16:23ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=General_Bank_of_Bengal_and_Bihar&diff=500196&oldid=prevNisha Lakra at 12:50, 24 February 20252025-02-24T12:50:46Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}<br />
{{Infobox company<br />
| name = General Bank of Bengal and Bihar<br />
| logo = <br />
| native_name = <br />
| type = [[Private company]]<br />
| industry = [[Banking]], [[Insurance]], [[Capital Markets]] and allied industries<br />
| fate = Defunct<br />
| predecessor = <br />
| successor = <br />
| foundation = {{Start date |1773|04|01|df=yes}} (as The General Bank of Bengal and Bihar)<br />
| founder = [[Warren Hastings]]<br />
| defunct = {{End date |df=yes|1775|03|31}}<br />
| location_city = <br />
| locations = [[Bengal Presidency]]<br />
| area_served = [[India]]<br />
| key_people = [[Warren Hastings]]<br />
| products = [[Deposit (finance)|Deposits]], [[Personal banking|Personal Banking Schemes]], C & I Banking Schemes, Agri Banking Schemes, [[Small and medium enterprises|SME Banking Schemes]]<br />
| services = Banking, Trade Finance<br />
| location_country = [[India]]<br />
| homepage = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''General Bank of Bengal and Bihar''' (alternate spelling: ''General Bank of Bengal and Bahar'') was a bank in [[Company rule in India|British India]] that operated between 1773 and 1775.<br />
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It was founded in the year 1773 when India was under control of the [[East India Company]]. The bank was the [[List of oldest banks in India|fourth oldest bank in India]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://rbi.org.in/scripts/ms_banks.aspx|title=Reserve Bank of India - Museum|website=rbi.org.in}}</ref><br />
The bank became defunct March 31, 1775 having operated for only two years.<br />
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== History ==<br />
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=== Founding === <br />
The bank was established in 1773 by [[Warren Hastings]], the [[List of governors-general of India|first Viceroy of India]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mintageworld.com/note/dynasty/32/|title=Early Bank Notes &#124; Old Currency Bank Notes &#124; Rare Bank Notes &#124; Mintage World|website=www.mintageworld.com}}</ref><br />
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During the early years of the [[Company rule in India|British rule in India]], a need was felt for a bank that would service the British employees of the [[East India Company]]. Many banks were founded as a result, and the General Bank of Bengal and Bihar was one such bank.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Evolution of the Indian banking System|url=https://old.amu.ac.in/emp/studym/99993959.pdf|access-date=May 28, 2021|website=old.amu.ac.in}}</ref><br />
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=== Management ===<br />
Although the bank was largely a private bank, it enjoyed patronage from the then government of India, the [[East India Company]].<ref name="auto"/><br />
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The bank was staffed by mostly British nationals who were drawn mainly from the [[East India Company]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/building-an-indian-bank-pnb-s-swadeshi-roots/story-KEkTtPjYZFavysXKaxB3RK.html|title=Building an Indian bank: PNB's Swadeshi roots|date=7 April 2018|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><br />
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=== Final Years ===<br />
The bank lasted in business for only two years and was finally closed in 1775.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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The bank also issued its own currency notes in its two years of existence.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
The bank is notable for being the [[List of oldest banks in India|fourth oldest bank in India]].<ref name="auto1"/> It is also notable for being one of the first institutions in India to issue its own paper banknotes or currency notes.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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The ability of private banks to issue their own currency notes was taken away by [[The Paper Currency Act, 1861]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbi.org.in/commonman/English/Currency/Scripts/EarlyIssues.aspx|title=Reserve Bank of India|website=www.rbi.org.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rbi.org.in/scripts/pm_papermoney.aspx|title=Reserve Bank of India - Museum|website=rbi.org.in}}</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
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{{Portal|Banks}}<br />
*[[Indian banking]]<br />
*[[List of banks in India]]<br />
*[[List of oldest banks in India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://old.amu.ac.in/emp/studym/99993959.pdf History of the Bank]<br />
* [https://www.mintageworld.com/note/dynasty/32/ Banking in India]<br />
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{{Banking in India}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:General Bank of Bengal and Bihar}}<br />
[[Category:Defunct banks of India]]<br />
[[Category:Companies based in Kolkata]]<br />
[[Category:Banks established in 1773]]</div>Nisha Lakra