The Lender Expands Financial Inclusion reach to 20 Lakh+ Customers Across 59,000+ Villages
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, September 29, 2026: AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB), India's largest Small Finance Bank and the first Small Finance Bank in over a decade to receive the Reserve Bank of India's in-principle approval for transition into a Universal Bank, today announced that its Microfinance & Financial Inclusion Business (MFIB) network has crossed 1,000 branches, marking a significant milestone in the Bank's efforts to extend banking access across rural and semi-urban India.
AU SFB’s 1,000+ MFIB branches span key rural and semi-urban markets across North, Central, East, and South India. Today, the network serves over 20 lakh customers and 58 lakh+ rural savings account holders across 59,000+ villages in 17 states and 1 Union Territory. Over the years, it has supported women-led micro-enterprises, agri-allied and livestock-based livelihoods, and small rural businesses, helping households create sustainable income opportunities and enhance their economic well-being.
More than a microfinance platform, AU SFB's MFIB provides underserved households with access to a broad suite of financial services, including savings accounts, insurance solutions, Aadhaar-enabled banking services, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) access, digital payments, financial literacy initiatives and doorstep banking support. By combining the reach and trust of a full-service bank with deep community engagement, the Bank is helping customers strengthen financial resilience, build sustainable livelihoods and participate more actively in India's growth story.
Reflecting on the Bank's expanding financial inclusion footprint, Uttam Tibrewal, Deputy CEO – Retail Banking, AU Small Finance Bank, said, “Crossing 1,000 MFIB branches is much more than a network milestone for us. It represents the trust that customers across rural India have placed in AU over the years and the progress made by countless families through access to responsible finance.
We have seen women entrepreneurs expand their businesses, households create sustainable income streams, and communities gain greater confidence in participating in the formal economy. As we continue to expand our presence, our focus remains on serving customers with empathy, responsibility and a long-term commitment to their progress.”
