In pre-independence era, the youngsters of the Billawa community migrated to Bombay in search of livelihood. Having come from poor backgrounds, these extremely hardworking & highly enterprising individuals worked the whole day at offices or did odd jobs. Unable to afford accommodation, many of them slept at offices in which they worked.

Despite the tough conditions, keeping the guru’s message to be EDUCATED, they went to Night High Schools to gain education. They lived like an enlarged joint family. In adherence to the Guru’s message to BE UNITED… TO BECOME STRONG, they shared their little joys together & celebrated successes. In times of difficulties, they rushed to the aid of their community members. Riding on this bonding, the Billawar association gained momentum & strength.

The committee members of Billawar association had a thought. “While I, as an individual can help the needy with a rupee….. if 100 of us come together with a rupee each, we together can help a needy with Rs.100”

This noble thought sowed the seed for formation of Bharat Bank whereby members who could spare a little from earnings would contribute to the bank & in return earn a little interest as well.

The founding fathers were Visionaries & named the bank as “BHARAT CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD” with an ambitious intent to spread its wings all over the country. The Logo designed in 1978 with BCB embedded on India’s map showed the intention to serve the entire humanity & not just restrict the reach to a community.

Thus on 21st August 1978 the BHARAT CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD took birth. Minister of Maharashtra state – Hashu Advani, inaugurated the bank.

This baby in it’s very first year, stood up on its own feet by earning a profit of Rs.2,785 on a business mix of 28.61 lakhs with a share capital of 6.73 lakhs.

The bank grew steadily & had a network of 5 branches in 1991 with a business worth Rs.82 crores. The bank’s entry in to teenage years in 1991 was coupled with the dynamic Mr. Jaya C Suvarna taking charge as the Chairman. So great was the adrenalin rush of the teens that the bank became known as the “FASTEST GROWING CO-OP BANK” the banking industry.

By 1995, bank had 11 branches & was doing a business of 193.63 crores. The Bank shifted its Corporate Office from rental premises to spacious OWNERSHIP building in Goregaon.

1996 saw the bank GRADUATE to SCHEDULED BANK STATUS with RBI incorporating the bank in its second schedule. This was yet another feather in the cap as Bharat Bank was the YOUNGEST BANK to attain “scheduled bank status”.

Having won the hearts of customers in Mumbai & its extended suburbs, the board of directors now set their eyes on other states of the country.

1997 saw the RBI & the Central Registrar conferring the status of a MULTI-STATE CO-OPERATIVE BANK & the bank swiftly entered the state of Karnataka by opening branches in K H Road, Victoria Road & Indira Nagar branch in Bangalore in 1998.

In 1999, Bank tasted Silver by opening its 25th branch at Hampankatta, Mangalore.

Having conquered physical territory, the bank realized that it had to arm itself technologically to be able to serve the increasing needs of customers. Come Aug 2003 & Bharat Bank became the “First Urban Co-operative bank” to successfully implement a CORE BANKING SOLUTION (CBS) offering novel facilities like Any branch Banking etc.

All throughout this journey, the parent body nurtured the growth of the Bank. During this process, the Billawar association too spread its root deep & wide. 2006 saw Billawar association, Mumbai inaugurating a beautiful & spacious Billawa Bhavana at Santacruz.

As the bank expanded, its customers expanded their businesses. Few started doing business with entities outside India. Realizing their banking need, bank applied for AUTHORISED DEALER license to RBI to enable it to offer a full range of FOREX facilities.

2009 saw Bharat Bank creating history as the YOUNGEST Co-operative Bank to receive AD-CATEGORY-I license from RBI... Only a handful Co-operative Banks had received AD CAT-I license then.

2012 saw the bank launching VISA INTERNATION DEBIT CARD which enabled its customers to use the card on ATMs or shops anywhere in the world.

Continuing with its growth story, the Bank opened its 50th Branch at Bantwal in Mangalore in 2012.

The bank embarked on a vision to have 100 branches by 2016 & grow manifold in the next couple of years. To support this ambitious growth plan, the bank needed a strong technological backbone with scalable architecture & it chose Finacle – a flagship product from the stables of tech giant Infosys.

Aug 2014 saw the bank taking a giant technology leap. BHARAT BANK saw one of the FASTEST IMPLEMENTATION OF FINACLE v10.2.14

The entire Finacle implementation life-cycle & Change Management was completely managed by the bank’s own Technology team without involving any consultant/system integrator. This is perhaps another first in the entire banking industry.

Meanwhile on the branch expansion front, Sep 2015 saw Gujarat embracing Bharat Bank with open arms & bank opened 4 branches in rapid succession in Gujarat.

Sep 2015 also saw the bank reach another milestone by opening its 75 branch at Airoli.