List of Former Chairpersons of State Bank of India from 1955 to 2024

The State Bank of India (SBI) is one of the largest and oldest banks in India, playing a crucial role in the country’s banking sector. Over the years, it has seen several distinguished chairpersons who have led the bank through various phases of growth and transformation. In this article, you will get to know about the notable personalities who served the position of chairman of State Bank of India.

An Overview of State Bank of India

Founded: 1^st July 1955
Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Type: Public Sector Bank

State Bank of India (SBI), headquartered in Mumbai, is India’s largest bank, holding a 23% market share by assets and 25% of total loans and deposits. As a major public sector bank, it ranks 47th globally by assets and 221st in the Fortune Global 500 (2020). In 2023, it was 77th in the Forbes Global 2000, employing nearly 250,000 people.

Who is the Chairperson of SBI?

The chairperson of the State Bank of India (SBI) is the chief executive officer and ex-officio chair of the bank’s Central Board of Directors. As India’s largest scheduled commercial bank, SBI has had twenty-seven chairpersons since its establishment in 1955 by the government of India. This position is crucial for overseeing the bank’s operations, strategic direction, and maintaining its status as a leading financial institution.

First Chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI)

John Matthai served as the first chairperson of the State Bank of India from July 1, 1955, to September 30, 1956. An accomplished economist, Matthai was also Independent India’s first Railway Minister and later became the Finance Minister, taking office shortly after the presentation of India’s first Budget in 1948. His tenure at SBI marked the bank’s transition from the Imperial Bank of India.

Current Chairperson of SBI

Dinesh Kumar Khara (born August 28, 1961) is a career banker and the current chairperson of the State Bank of India. He assumed this position on October 7, 2020, and is set to serve until August 28, 2024. Khara’s extensive experience in banking has been instrumental in steering SBI through a period of significant digital transformation and growth.

List of Former Chairpersons of State Bank of India from 1955 to 2024

Here is a list of former chairpersons of the State Bank of India from 1955 to 2024, showcasing the leadership that has guided India’s largest public sector bank through decades of growth, transformation, and modernization.

Former Chairpersons of State Bank of India (SBI)
S. No.	Name	Tenure
S. No.	Name	From	To
1.	John Mathai	1^st July 1955	30^th September 1956
2.	H.V.R. Iengar	1^st October 1956	28^th February 1957
3.	P.C. Bhattacharya	1^st March 1957	28^th February 1961
4.	Borra Venkatappaiah	1^st March 1962	28^th February 1965
5.	V.T. Dehejia	01^st March 1965	28^th February 1969
6.	Raj Kumar Talwar	01^st March 1969	03^rd August 1976
7.	T.R. Varadachary	04^th August 1976	30^th April 1977
8.	P.C.D. Nambiar	23^rd May 1977	13^th December 1982
9.	V.S. Natarajan	20^th December 1982	30^th January 1983
10.	R.P. Goyal	31^st January 1983	30^th November 1983
11.	Vishwanath N. Nadkarni	01^st December 1983	27^th July 1984
12.	D.N. Ghosh	13^th May 1985	12^th May 1989
13.	Atal V.	15^th January 1990	17^th February 1990
14.	M.N. Goiporia	19^th February 1990	31^st July 1992
15.	Dipankar Basu	25^th February 1993	31^st August 1995
16.	P.G. Kakodkar	01^st October 1995	31^st March 1997
17.	M.S. Verma	01^st April 1997	30^th September 1998
18.	M.P. Radhakrishnan	01^st December 1998	31^st January 1999
19.	G.G. Vaidya	01 February 1999	31^st October 2000
20.	Janki Vallabh	01^st November 2000	31^st October 2002
21.	Arun Kumar Purwar	13^th November 2002	31^st May 2006
22.	O.P. Bhatt	01^st July 2006	06^th April 2011
23.	Pratip Chaudhari	07^th April 2011	30^th September 2013
24.	Arundhati Bhattacharya	01^st October 2013	06^th October 2017
25.	Rajnish Kumar	07^th October 2017	06^th October 2020
26.	Dinesh Kumar Khara	07^th October 2020	Incumbent

Key Facts Related to Chairpersons of SBI

Term: Typically three years, extendable to five.
Extensions: Only Raj Kumar Talwar and Arundhati Bhattacharya had extended terms.
First Female Chairperson: Arundhati Bhattacharya.
Inaugural Officeholder: Indian railway minister John Matthai.
Longest Serving: Raj Kumar Talwar.
Also Served as RBI Governors: H. V. R. Iengar and P. C. Bhattacharya.
Deputy Governor of RBI: Borra Venkatappaiah.