'One State One RRB' Embraces State Identity: New Names Strike Regional Chord

In a landmark move that blends financial restructuring with regional sentiment, the Government of India and NABARD have rolled out the “One State One RRB” policy through the amalgamation of 11 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across 10 states and 1 union territory. The most striking feature of this reform is the consistent naming of the new transferee RRBs—each incorporating the name of its respective state and UT.

From Local Echoes to State Identity: What’s in a Name?

For decades, Regional Rural Banks have carried names that often echoed rivers, hills, cultures, or historical references—but not always the state they served.

Let’s take a closer look at the previous names of RRBs earmarked for amalgamation:

🧾 Old Name: Aryavart Bank
📍 State Served: Uttar Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: No state mentioned
✅ New Name: Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: State identity added

🧾 Old Name: Madhyanchal Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Madhya Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: Generic “central region”
✅ New Name: Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Straightforward naming

🧾 Old Name: Baroda UP Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Uttar Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: Confusing—Baroda is in Gujarat
✅ New Name: Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Removed cross-state confusion

🧾 Old Name: Vidarbha Konkan Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Maharashtra
❓ Vague Element: Mentioned regions, not state
✅ New Name: Maharashtra Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Simplified with state name

🧾 Old Name: Uttar Banga Kshetriya Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: West Bengal
❓ Vague Element: Only “North Bengal” mentioned
✅ New Name: West Bengal Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Broader state identity now

🧾 Old Name: Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank
📍 State Served: West Bengal
❓ Vague Element: “Bangiya” is traditional, not official
✅ New Name: West Bengal Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Standardized and official

🧾 Old Name: Paschim Banga Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: West Bengal
❓ Vague Element: “Paschim Banga” = West Bengal, but not widely used
✅ New Name: West Bengal Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Contemporary clarity added

🧾 Old Name: Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank
📍 State Served: Andhra Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: Named after river, not state
✅ New Name: Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank
🆕 Change: Aligned with state identity

🧾 Old Name: Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank
📍 State Served: Andhra Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: Abstract, aspirational name
✅ New Name: Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank
🆕 Change: Simple and direct

🧾 Old Name: Saptagiri Grameena Bank
📍 State Served: Andhra Pradesh
❓ Vague Element: Named after hills, not geography
✅ New Name: Andhra Pradesh Grameena Bank
🆕 Change: State recognition clarified

🧾 Old Name: Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Bihar
❓ Vague Element: Only “South Bihar” covered
✅ New Name: Bihar Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Unified under single name

🧾 Old Name: Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Bihar
❓ Vague Element: Only “North Bihar” covered
✅ New Name: Bihar Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Whole-state representation now

🧾 Old Name: Saurashtra Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Gujarat
❓ Vague Element: Regional, not state-based
✅ New Name: Gujarat Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Statewide identity established

🧾 Old Name: Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank
📍 State Served: Gujarat
❓ Vague Element: Brand-linked to Baroda
✅ New Name: Gujarat Gramin Bank
🆕 Change: Purely state-named now

🧾 Old Name: Ellaquai Dehati Bank
📍 State Served: Jammu & Kashmir (UT)
❓ Vague Element: “Ellaquai” means local, not UT-specific
✅ New Name: Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank
🆕 Change: Clear UT branding

🧾 Old Name: Utkal Grameen Bank
📍 State Served: Odisha
❓ Vague Element: “Utkal” is historical name
✅ New Name: Odisha Grameen Bank
🆕 Change: Modern, identifiable name

Strategic Nomenclature Fosters Local Trust & Familiarity

According to financial experts and employees, this shift in nomenclature not only streamlines operations but also creates an emotional bond rural communities share with their gramin banks.

“The new names may seem like a small change, but they carry big meaning. For us and our customers, this alignment with the state’s identity bridges business with belonging.”
— An RRB employee, told to Kanal, reflecting on the impact of the new nomenclature post-amalgamation.

This sentiment resonates deeply among bank staff and customers alike. An employee from the Utkal Grameen Bank, which is now Odisha Grameen Bank, echoed the positive response to Kanal and said:

“The new name carries our state’s identity. It’s a binding and stabilizing factor during this transition—something that helps maintain trust and reduces hesitation among our rural customers.”

Similarly, Ms. Y. Sobha, Chairperson of Telangana Grameena Bank, reflected on the long-awaited renaming from Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank:

“This was a moment our branches and rural customers had been waiting for—perhaps for decades. People here feel a strong emotional connection with the name of their state. ‘Telangana Grameena Bank’ now truly feels like theirs.”

As the “One State One RRB” policy comes into effect, the newly named Regional Rural Banks are set to foster deeper customer trust while ensuring streamlined services. By embedding state names into their titles, the reform highlights the powerful intersection of emotional identity and regional geography that defines rural India.