It is true that India’s banking scene is HUGE, and no wonder why so many banks exist in the country as of 2025, not just the Indian private and public sector banks, nah, we’re also talking about some foreign banks that have made their entry in the Indian market. But out of these foreign banks, not every bank is performing super well, so how about if we take a good look at only the top ones? Since India’s banking scene is booming and the trend will be on an upward trajectory from now on, it is no wonder why every bank is putting their best to reach millions of customers right here in India. Alright, enough of the intro stuff, let’s now just get to the part where we talk about the top 10 foreign banks in India as of 2025. Here we go then.
1. HSBC India
Alright, let’s first talk about the most famous and THE best foreign bank in the country which has been in India for more than 150 years now. And if you still don’t get it, yes, we’re talking about the HSBC India Bank. And if you don’t know, it is actually a UK-based bank that was started way back in 1865. Talking about how good it is doing in India, well, just know that as of 2025, it has 24+ branches in some major cities of the country, and it is not just basic banking services that they offer, nah, they’re into retail banking, corporate banking, and even investment solutions. And yes, it was actually HSBC Bank that introduced India’s first ATM back in 1987.
2. Standard Chartered Bank
Next up had to be the Standard Chartered Bank, which is also one of the oldest established foreign banks in India. This one though, actually dates back to almost 1853, which is like more than 160 years ago now. In India though, as of 2025, this bank has about 100 branches, and that too in 42 cities of the country. So with that, you can get a good idea of how popular this bank is here, right? And are you aware of the fact that it was actually the Standard Chartered Bank which became the first foreign bank in India to be listed on the Indian stock exchange back in 2010? Yes, that’s how it is.
3. Deutsche Bank
A German bank in India? Oh yes, that’s what this one is. Again, the history of this one goes back to 1870, but it wasn’t until 1980 that Deutsche Bank made its first appearance in India. And right now, it has its physical branches in about 16 cities of the country. So much so that this bank is also present in the International Financial Services Centre aka the GIFT City of Gujarat, which makes this bank a big name in the offshore banking solutions segment of the country.
4. Barclays Bank
Well, here comes another British bank, but this time, we’re pretty certain that this is one if not the oldest established foreign bank on this list, like, the history of it dates back to 1690, which is like more than three centuries ago now. Though, its first appearance was way late in India, like back in 1990, still, it still managed to become a top foreign bank in India. You must have heard so many good things about this bank, and that’s just because it has invested more than $800 million in India, so no wonder why that became one of the largest capital commitments by a foreign bank in India.
5. Bank of America (BofA)
Let’s next talk about the Bank of America which also has a good presence in India as of 2025. How? Well, we get it, it has a smaller branch network in the country, like, only five locations or so, but still, it is doing pretty great in the investment banking as well as corporate finance scene of India. Mainly though, it is there in place to facilitate the cross-border transactions between India and the USA, which helps big companies like Tata Sons and Reliance Industries.
6. BNP Paribas
For those who have no idea about this one, well, BNP Paribas is actually a French bank that has been here in India ever since 1860. Like, it has been operating the biggest and major cities of the country such as Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. What does this one do or has been doing? Oh, that’s again the investment banking, derivatives, and financing solutions stuff.
7. DBS Bank
The Singapore-based DBS Bank has been on the frontiers of expansion in India with operations in 12 cities which includes Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru as of 2025. DBS is also reputed for its strong concentration on institutional banking, wealth management and financing for small and medium enterprises. Their approach has kinda been dubbed a bit aggressive by many experts, but that’s how it is.
8. Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK)
BBK has been present in India since 1986 and has branches in Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Kerala at the moment. The bank focuses primarily on trade finance, credit facilities, and banking for non-resident Indians, offering these services with a high degree of competence, you know? As far as medium-sized firms and small to medium enterprises are concerned, the bank is especially strong in providing them with structured finance solutions.
9. Wells Fargo
One of the biggest banks in America, Wells Fargo operates in India mainly through corporate and investment banking. The bank also has back offices in India based in Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru which employ thousands of workers to assist the global banking system. Though, it does not provide retail banking in India but offers support for offshore banking and corporate finance.
10. Doha Bank
Doha Bank entered India in 2014 and currently operates through branches in Mumbai and Kochi. It concentrates on services for NRIs, trade finance, and other corporate banking activities. Doha Bank enables Indian companies to expand their business internationally because of its strong presence in the Middle East.
Conclusion
That is pretty much it. Sure there are many more foreign banks in India that are doing their best to offer the best banking services to the customers and stay relevant, but out of all those, these are the ones that are doing super well at the moment. So, that’s that.
