Designed for the Imperial Bank Company. The presidency Banks of Bengal, Bombay and Madras were merged in 1921 to form the Imperial Bank of India. The new bank took on the triple role of a commercial bank, a banker’s bank and a banker to the government. The Head Office was to be in Bombay, India’s financial capital and its architecture was designed to reflect both the size and the strength of the new undertaking.
Located in the heart of Bombay’s financial district, this northern end of the building has been fused with the southern part of Elphinstone Circle. The massive stone-faced frontage along Apollo Street features sixteen fluted Ionic columns It continues to be used by the Imperial Bank’s successor, the State Bank of India