1st April, 1882 was epoch making day in the history of popular banking in India. It was on that day the Post Office Savings Bank took shape in the country on the authority of the Government Savings Bank Act, 1873. Government banking had earlier existed in India but only as Government Savings Bank in three Presidency towns, in Calcutta from 1833, in Madras from 1834 and in Bombay from 1835, and as District Savings Banks at District Headquarters from 1870. These were restricted efforts and, therefore, their impact was modest. The advent of the Post Office on the scene resulted in a big increase in the number of banks, accounts and deposits. While there were 3 Presidency banks and 180 District banks at the time, the number of Post Office banks in the very first year was 4046. In that year there were 39,000 accounts, which together had deposits of Rs. 28 lakhs. The experiment of Post Office as bank was a great success, which finally led to the merger of District Savings Banks in the Post Office Savings Bank on 1st April, 1886, when the Government Saving Bank became a Post Office monopoly. The routine growth of Post Office Savings Bank registered a big help in 1959 when Cumulative Time Deposits were introduced for fixed terms of 5 years and 10 years, and in 1962 for the 15 years term also. The year 1970 was another land mark with the introduction of 5 year Recurring Deposits and Time Deposits of 1, 3 and 5 years. In 1973 while 5 year and 15 year Cumulative Time Deposits were discontinued, 2 year Time Deposits were introduced. The Post Office Savings Bank now runs these four schemes suited for all sections of Society.

Cash Certificates were introduced in Post Office Savings Bank in 1917.

With investments of Rs. 7249 crores on 1st April, 1892, in a total of approximately 530 lakhs accounts besides Rs. 2078 crores in Savings Certificates, Post Office Savings Bank is among the biggest financial institutions in the country. Its uniqueness lies in the number of banks it comprises, 141,000 spread throughout the country from metropolitan cities to far flung villages. A sizeable part of investments belongs to villagers to whom 126,000 of these offices cater. Post Office Savings Bank has taken the facility and security of banking to the remote interiors and induced thrift among large mass of people. It has helped the overall development of the nation by mobilising resources on a large scale.

Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp on 100 Tears of Post Office bank

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India