HDFC Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India, with over 1,986 branches and 5,471 ATMs across the country. It was established in 1994 by Housing Development Finance Corporation to provide both wholesale and retail banking services. HDFC Bank has grown significantly over the years through mergers and acquisitions of other banks to become one of the largest banks in India in terms of assets, revenues, and market capitalization.

1. HDFC Bank Limited (BSE: 500180, NSE: HDFCBANK, NYSE: HDB) is a major Indian
financial services company based in India, incorporated in August 1994, after the Reserve
Bank of India allowed establishing private sector banks. The Bank was promoted by the
Housing Development Finance Corporation, a premier housing finance company (set up in
1977) of India. HDFC Bank has 1,986 branches and over 5,471 ATMs, in 996 cities in India,
and all branches of the bank are linked on an online real-time basis. As of 30 September 2008
the bank had total assets of Rs.1006.82 billion.[3] For the fiscal year 2010-11, the bank has
reported net profit of 3,926.30 crore (US$796.25 million), up 33.1% from the previous
fiscal. Total annual earnings of the bank increased by 20.37% reaching at 24,263.4 crore
(US$4.92 billion) in 2010-11.[4]
It is one of the Big Four banks of India, along with State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and
Punjab National Bank—its main competitors.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Business focus
o 2.1 Wholesale banking services
o 2.2 Retail banking services
o 2.3 Treasury
3 Distribution network
4 References
5 External links
[edit] History
HDFC Bank was incorporated in 1994 by Housing Development Finance Corporation
Limited (HDFC), India's largest housing finance company. It was among the first companies
to receive an 'in principle' approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a bank in
the private sector. The Bank started operations as a scheduled commercial bank in January
1995 under the RBI's liberalisation policies.
Times Bank Limited (owned by Bennett, Coleman & Co. / Times Group) was merged with
HDFC Bank Ltd., in 2000. This was the first merger of two private banks in India.
Shareholders of Times Bank received 1 share of HDFC Bank for every 5.75 shares of Times
Bank.
In 2008 HDFC Bank acquired Centurion Bank of Punjab taking its total branches to more
than 1,000. The amalgamated bank emerged with a base of about Rs. 1,22,000 crore and net
advances of about Rs.89,000 crore. The balance sheet size of the combined entity is more
than Rs. 1,63,000 crore.[citation needed]
[edit] Business focus

2. HDFC Bank deals with three key business segments. - Wholesale Banking Services, Retail
Banking Services, Treasury. It has entered the banking consortia of over 50 corporates for
providing working capital finance, trade services, corporate finance, and merchant banking. It
is also providing sophisticated product structures in areas of foreign exchange and
derivatives, money markets and debt trading and equity research.[citation needed]
[edit] Wholesale banking services
Blue-chip manufacturing companies in the Indian corp to small & mid-sized corporates and
agri-based businesses. For these customers, the Bank provides a wide range of commercial
and transactional banking services, including working capital finance, trade services,
transactional services, cash management, etc. The bank is also a leading provider of[clarification
needed]
for its to corporate customers, mutual funds, stock exchange members and banks.
[edit] Retail banking services
HDFC Bank was the first bank in India to launch an International Debit Card in association
with VISA (VISA Electron) and issues the Mastercard Maestro debit card as well. The Bank
launched its credit card business in late 2001. By March 2009, the bank had a total card base
(debit and credit cards) of over 13 million. The Bank is also one of the leading players in the
“merchant acquiring” business with over 70,000 Point-of-sale (POS) terminals for debit /
credit cards acceptance at merchant establishments. The Bank is positioned in various net
based B2C opportunities including a wide range of internet banking services for Fixed
Deposits, Loans, Bill Payments, etc.
[edit] Treasury
Within this business, the bank has three main product areas - Foreign Exchange and
Derivatives, Local Currency Money Market & Debt Securities, and Equities. These services
are provided through the bank's Treasury team. To comply with statutory reserve
requirements, the bank is required to hold 25% of its deposits in government securities. The
Treasury business is responsible for managing the returns and market risk on this investment
portfolio.
[edit] Distribution network
An HDFC Bank Branch

3. HDFC Bank is headquartered in Mumbai. The Bank has an nationwide network of 2000
branches spread in 996 towns and cities across India. All branches are linked on an online
real-time basis. Customers in over 500 locations are also serviced through Telephone
Banking. The Bank has a presence in all major industrial and commercial centres across the
country. Being a clearing/settlement bank to various leading stock exchanges, the Bank has
branches in the centres where the NSE/BSE have a member base.
The Bank also has 5,998 networked ATMs across these towns and cities. Moreover, HDFC
Bank's ATM network can be accessed by all domestic and international Visa/MasterCard,
Visa Electron/Maestro, Plus/Cirrus and American Express Credit/Charge cardholders