The Promoter, ESAF Financial Holdings Private Limited, was granted the RBI In-Principle Approval to establish an SFB, on October 7, 2015. the Bank was incorporated as `ESAF Small Finance Bank Limited' on May 5, 2016 at Thrissur, Kerala, as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 2013, and was granted a certificate of incorporation by the RoC. the Bank was thereafter granted the RBI Final Approval vide license no. MUM:124, to carry on business as an SFB, on November 18, 2016. Subsequently, ESAF Financial Holdings Private Limited transferred its business undertaking comprising of its lending and financing business to the Bank pursuant to the Business Transfer Agreement dated February 22, 2017 (described in more detail below). the Bank commenced its business as an SFB on March 10, 2017. the Bank became a scheduled bank pursuant to a notification bearing no. DBR.NBD.(SFBESAF).No.4083/16.13.216/2018-19 dated November 12, 2018 issued by the RBI and published in the gazette of India (Part III-Section 4) dated December 22 - December 28, 2018, as per which the Bank was included in the second schedule to the RBI Act.Major events :2016- Received RBI Final Approval for commencement of banking operations- Incorporation of the Bank2017- Commenced the banking operations2018- Crossed 2.00 million borrowers- Bank became a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values- Received RBI approval for maintaining non-resident rupee account- Inclusion of the Bank in the second schedule of the RBI Act- Selected by the GoI for Atal Pension Yojana- Crossed 100 Branches in aggregate2019- Crossed 400 Branches in aggregate- Banking business (advances and deposits) crossed over Rs. 100,000 million2020- Crossed 500 Branches in aggregate2021- Banking business (advances and deposits) crossed over Rs. 150,000 million2022- Crossed a customer base of 6.00 million- Gold Loan Portfolio crossed 10,000 million- Opened 150 unbanked rural centres2023- Launched Rainbow Savings Account exclusively for the transgender community- Opened 700th branch- Authorized to deal in foreign exchange by the RBI by virtue of the Authorized Dealer - Category I license issued by the RBI- Launched WhatsApp Banking- Implemented e-signature for Micro Loan disbursals