In ancient India banking-like activities never existed. With evolving time banks started to come into existence in form of barter system. There were zamindars too. Banks in India have a long history but modern banking in India began with the establishment of the Bank of Hindustan State Bank of India - Originally known as the Bank of Calcutta. It later became the Imperial Bank of India. It became State Bank of India in 1955. So do you know which one is the oldest bank of India? The Madras Bank was founded in British India. The bank was the oldest bank in India and was eventually merged with the Bank of Madras in 1843. The Madras Bank (1683) was founded on June 21 1683. The Madras Bank (1683) was the oldest bank founded in the Madras Presidency making it even older than the Carnatic Bank The British Bank of Madras (1795) and The Asiatic Bank and served many cities in South India. The bank was founded and largely managed by European traders. They worked closely with the English East India Company. The bank was staffed by mostly British nationals who were drawn mainly from the East India Company and had most of its offices and branches in the Madras Presidency. The bank was headquartered in George Town in Chennai. In 1806 the bank was on the verge of failure and was closed and restarted with the same name as Madras Bank. The bank was one of four banks that were merged to form the Bank of Madras in 1843: the Madras Bank the Carnatic Bank The British Bank of Madras (1795) and The Asiatic Bank (1804). The Bank of Madras is one of the precursors of the Imperial Bank of India and eventually the State Bank of India. The bank is notable for being the oldest bank in India. The bank is also notable for being one of the precursors of the State Bank of India through its predecessors the Imperial Bank of India and the Bank of Madras.