The Bank of India was a wholly Indian-owned enterprise at a time when most private banks operating in India had been either foreign-owned or dominated. It was established on 7 September 1906 by a diverse syndicate of Hindus, Muslims, Parsees and Jews with the intent of promoting Indian interests and providing banking services to all Indians.The lead promoter of the enterprise was Sir David Sassoon (1849-1926) of the prominent Baghdadi Jewish Sassoon family. Reflecting India’s diverse ethnic and religious mix, the Bank’s first board of directors comprised of eminent businessmen of the time, including Sir David Sassoon, Sir Cowasjee Jehangir etc.
Reflecting the Bank’s ambition of moving forward with a global outlook, whilst it contains modified Classicism elements (neo Classical), it combines these with elements of Modern Internationalism.
