Axis Bank
Axis Bank to open 50 new branches across Eastern region
Private sector lender Axis Bank is planning to expand its presence in Eastern India by opening 50 new branches across the region, including West Bengal, Sikkim and the Northeast.
Reynold D’Souza, Group Head – Branch Banking (North & TASC Business), told IBNS that the expansion is aimed at strengthening customer engagement and advisory-led banking.
"We are confident that the technology we are deploying will enable customers to carry out transactions online, allowing us to serve them more efficiently in the future," he said.
In West Bengal, Axis Bank currently operates 441 branches and 1,181 ATMs and recyclers, covering urban, semi-urban and rural markets. Of these, 328 branches are located in Tier-2 and Tier-3 centres, reflecting the bank’s continued push into semi-urban and rural areas.
Rural lending in the state has also shown strong growth, with the rural loan book rising 14% year-on-year as of FY26. The growth has been driven by demand from agriculture, allied activities and small businesses, the bank said.
Axis Bank reported strong digital adoption in the region, with around 80% digital registration in West Bengal as of March 2026. About 58% of customers were digitally active over the last 90 days.
In March 2026, the bank handled 32,479 service requests across East 1 and Kolkata regions, of which 19,298 were completed through digital channels, resulting in a digital penetration of 59%.
(Reporting by Supriyo Hazra)
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