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India’s bank branch & ATM network — how many and where

Q: How are bank branches classified by population group?

The RBI classifies bank branch locations into four population groups by census population: Rural (under 10,000), Semi-urban (10,000 to under 1 lakh), Urban (1 lakh to under 10 lakh) and Metropolitan (10 lakh and above). Roughly a third of branches are rural and a quarter semi-urban, reflecting financial-inclusion priorities.

Q: How many ATMs are there in India?

India has roughly 2.6 lakh (about 260,000) ATMs, counting both on-site machines at branches and off-site machines. ATM growth has slowed in recent years as UPI and other digital payments reduce cash withdrawals, though ATMs remain important for rural and semi-urban cash access.

Q: Are most bank branches in rural areas?

Rural branches are the single largest population group at roughly a third of all branches, but they are not a majority. Semi-urban, urban and metropolitan branches together account for about two-thirds. Banking presence per person is still much higher in metro and urban centres than in rural India.

Quick answerIndia has about 1.6 lakh functioning offices (branches) of scheduled commercial banks and about 2.6 lakh ATMs. By population group, branches split roughly rural 33%, semi-urban 28%, metropolitan 20% and urban 19% — so about six in ten branches sit in rural and semi-urban India, reflecting financial-inclusion priorities. ATM growth has flattened as UPI reduces cash use.

The chart shows the share of bank branches by population group. The table below carries the same figures and the population-group definitions so they are readable without JavaScript — for accessibility and AI answer engines.

Branch distribution by population group

Population group	Definition (census population)	Share of branches
Rural	Population under 10,000	33%
Semi-urban	10,000 to under 1 lakh	28%
Urban	1 lakh to under 10 lakh	19%
Metropolitan	10 lakh and above	20%

Counts are approximate, rounded figures for the latest available year from RBI DBIE branch-banking statistics; the population-group shares are structural and move slowly. For the exact latest branch and ATM counts see the RBI source linked below. Population-group cut-offs follow the RBI / census classification.

What it means for bankers

The branch network is still the backbone of deposit mobilisation and priority-sector reach, even as transactions migrate to digital rails. Roughly 60% of branches are in rural and semi-urban centres, which is where deposit growth and financial-inclusion accounts (PMJDY) are concentrated, but also where cost-to-serve is highest. The flattening of the ATM count against a rising UPI and cash-in-circulation base is reshaping cash-logistics economics — many banks are converting branches to a lighter, advisory footprint and relying on business correspondents for last-mile presence. For network strategy, the population-group mix is the lens regulators use to judge inclusion obligations.

Key terms in this dataPlain-English definitions of the terms behind this dashboard — see the full Indian banking glossary, including Priority sector lending (PSL) and PSL sub-targets.

Master Direction familySee where these rules sit in the RBI rulebook — browse the relevant Master Direction crosswalk families: Financial Inclusion & Priority Sector · Consumer Protection.

More live dataExplore BankPulse’s other live RBI dashboards: UPI · NEFT / RTGS / IMPS · Currency in Circulation · Credit & Deposit Growth.

Bank branch & ATM network FAQ

How many bank branches are there in India?

India has roughly 1.6 lakh (about 160,000) functioning offices of scheduled commercial banks. The exact, latest figure is in the RBI's DBIE branch-banking statistics. The network has expanded steadily, helped by financial-inclusion drives such as PMJDY.

How are bank branches classified by population group?

The RBI classifies branch locations into four population groups by census population: Rural (under 10,000), Semi-urban (10,000 to under 1 lakh), Urban (1 lakh to under 10 lakh) and Metropolitan (10 lakh and above).

How many ATMs are there in India?

India has roughly 2.6 lakh (about 260,000) ATMs, counting on-site and off-site machines. ATM growth has slowed as UPI and digital payments reduce cash withdrawals, but ATMs remain important for rural and semi-urban cash access.

Are most bank branches in rural areas?

Rural branches are the single largest group at roughly a third of all branches, but not a majority. Semi-urban, urban and metropolitan branches together make up about two-thirds.

Last reviewed 19 Jun 2026 by Vikram Jain

Source: RBI Database on Indian Economy (DBIE) — branch-banking statistics, rbi.org.in. Counts approximate, latest available year. Reviewed by Vikram Jain. Last updated 19 Jun 2026, 02:49 IST.