Central Bank of India, one of the country’s oldest and largest public sector banks, has held a strategic engagement with the Parsi community in Mumbai to honour its founding roots and showcase its recent financial performance.
The interaction comes as the Bank reports improved financial results for the quarter ended 31 December 2025. The event served a dual purpose: reconnecting with the community that birthed the institution and outlining the bank’s modern growth trajectory.
A legacy of ‘National Asset’
The Central Bank of India was founded in 1911 by the visionary Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala, a prominent Parsi who declared the institution to be the “property of the nation and the country’s asset.” The bank’s first Chairman, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, also hailed from the Parsi community, cementing a deep historical bond between the community and the bank.
Senior leadership at the event reflected on this heritage, noting that the founder’s vision of creating a bank “owned and operated by Indians” during the British Raj remains central to its ethos today.
The gathering was attended by descendants of the bank’s founder and first chairman, alongside notable figures such as Keki Mistry (Non-Executive Director, HDFC Bank), Jimmy Mistry, Mickey Mehta, and Dinshaw and Viraf Mehta (former and present Chairmen of the Bombay Parsi Panchayat).
Growth and customer centricity
Beyond nostalgia, the bank used the platform to highlight its current robust health. Officials noted significant growth in total business, a strong CASA (Current Account Savings Account) base described as “among the best in the industry,” and improvements in asset quality and advances.
Shri Kalyan Kumar, MD & CEO of Central Bank of India, commented on the strategic value of the meeting: “The interaction with the Parsi community provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views and better understand their evolving banking expectations. The keen interest shown in our products and services reinforces our commitment to continue serving the community and strengthen long-term relationships.”
The engagement is part of a broader strategy by the bank to deepen relationships with key stakeholder groups as it continues to strengthen its retail banking franchise. The bank has indicated it plans to hold similar interactions periodically to sustain customer engagement.