If you have ever searched online for a savings account near me, chances are high that you’ve come across Equitas Bank. This bank has made a strong mark in India by helping people from all walks of life access banking services. Whether you're in a big city or a small village, Equitas Bank is working hard to make sure everyone has access to financial services. You can even find your nearest branch or ATM on their .
In this article, we’ll explain how Equitas Bank is helping India move closer to full financial inclusion. We’ll look at how they provide easy-to-use banking services, help small businesses, support women, and bring modern technology to rural and low-income areas. Let’s get started!
What is Financial Inclusion?
Before we dive into what Equitas Bank is doing, let’s understand what financial inclusion means. Financial inclusion simply means that every person, no matter how rich or poor, has access to useful and affordable financial services. These services include:
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Savings accounts
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Loans
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Insurance
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Mobile banking
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Payment services
When more people have access to these services, they can save money, plan for the future, get help in emergencies, and grow their income. It also helps the whole country become stronger and more stable.
Equitas Bank’s Mission: Banking for All
Equitas Small Finance Bank started with a mission: to bring banking to people who have been left out by traditional banks. These are often people with low incomes, women, small business owners, farmers, and people in remote villages.
Many big banks don’t reach small villages or low-income areas. But Equitas Bank does things differently. Their goal is simple — “Banking for Everyone.”
How Equitas Bank Helps with Financial Inclusion
Now, let’s look at the many ways Equitas Bank supports financial inclusion in India:
1. Opening Easy and Affordable Savings Accounts
One of the first steps to financial inclusion is opening a savings account. Equitas Bank makes it simple and affordable for people to start saving.
They offer different types of accounts, like:
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Regular savings accounts
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Small savings accounts
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Zero balance accounts
These accounts come with easy features like:
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Low minimum balance or no balance
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Free ATM cards
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Internet and mobile banking
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SMS alerts
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UPI payment options
So, even someone who earns a small income can safely save money and access it when needed.
If you’re searching for a savings account near me, you can easily locate the closest Equitas Bank branch using their location finder
2. Micro-Loans for Small Businesses
Many small business owners and street vendors don’t get loans from big banks because they don’t have proper documents or credit history. Equitas Bank understands this problem.
They provide micro-loans to:
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Street vendors
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Small shopkeepers
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Tailors
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Home-based workers
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Women entrepreneurs
These loans come in small amounts and have simple repayment rules. This helps people grow their small businesses, earn more income, and support their families.
3. Helping Women Gain Financial Power
Equitas Bank puts special focus on women empowerment. They offer special services just for women, like:
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Group loans for women in self-help groups
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Savings accounts for women
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Financial training and awareness programs
Many women who never had a bank account before are now running their own businesses thanks to support from Equitas. This gives them more confidence and control over their financial future.
4. Branches and ATMs in Remote Areas
A big challenge in India is that many villages and small towns don’t have banks nearby. Equitas Bank is solving this problem by opening more branches, ATMs, and service points in such places.
Their branch locator tool helps users easily find the closest branch. This reduces travel time and makes banking more accessible for everyone.
They are also partnering with local agents who use tablets and smartphones to offer banking services door-to-door in rural areas.
5. Mobile and Digital Banking
Today, people want to use banking services anytime, anywhere. Equitas Bank offers easy-to-use mobile apps, internet banking, and digital wallets so customers can:
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Check balances
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Transfer money
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Pay bills
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Recharge phones
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Shop online
Even people with basic smartphones can use these services. The bank also educates users on how to use digital tools safely and securely.
6. Support During Emergencies
Equitas Bank showed its true commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people lost their jobs or had low income. Equitas helped by:
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Offering loan moratoriums (pause on loan payments)
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Giving emergency loans to small businesses
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Providing support through digital banking when branches were closed
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Educating people on online fraud safety
This kind of quick support helped many families survive tough times.
7. Financial Literacy Programs
Equitas Bank knows that just giving people access to a bank account is not enough. People also need to understand how money works.
That’s why they run financial literacy programs in villages and towns. These programs teach people about:
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Saving and budgeting
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Using ATM cards
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Avoiding loan traps
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Planning for the future
They use local languages and simple examples to make learning easy and fun.
8. Affordable Insurance and Pension Schemes
Equitas Bank partners with the government to offer low-cost insurance and pension schemes like:
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Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
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Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY)
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Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
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Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
These services protect people from financial shocks like accidents, illness, or old age, helping them feel more secure.
9. Special Products for Farmers and Rural Workers
Equitas Bank also supports farmers and rural workers by offering:
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Loans for buying seeds, cattle, or farming tools
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Easy repayment linked to harvest time
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Accounts for receiving government subsidies
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Partnerships with government rural schemes
This helps the rural economy grow and supports millions of people who work in agriculture.
Success Stories: Real People, Real Change
Here are a few examples of how Equitas Bank has changed lives:
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Meena Devi, a tailor from a small village in Bihar, got a microloan from Equitas to buy a sewing machine. Today, she runs a small tailoring shop and teaches other women too.
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Ramesh Kumar, a vegetable vendor in Chennai, was able to open a zero-balance account and save enough money to expand his cart into a small shop.
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Laxmi Group, a women’s self-help group in Maharashtra, received group loans to start a papad-making business. Today, they are earning steady income and sending their kids to school.
These stories show that small support can lead to big changes in people’s lives.
Easy to Reach, Easy to Bank
Equitas Bank makes it easy for anyone to find their nearest branch or ATM using the Equitas Branch Locator Tool:
Just type in your location, and you’ll get a list of nearby branches, ATMs, and business correspondents. Whether you’re in a city or a village, there’s likely an Equitas service point near you.
So next time you think, “Where can I find a savings account near me?” — you know where to go!
How Equitas Bank Stands Out from Other Banks
There are many banks in India, but here’s why Equitas Bank stands out:
Feature | Equitas Bank | Traditional Banks |
---|---|---|
Focus on low-income groups | ✅ Yes | ❌ Mostly No |
Micro-loans without heavy paperwork | ✅ Yes | ❌ Rare |
Branches in rural areas | ✅ Expanding | ❌ Limited |
Women-specific banking products | ✅ Yes | ❌ Few |
Financial education programs | ✅ Active | ❌ Rare |
Digital banking for beginners | ✅ Simple | ❌ Complex |
Low minimum balance accounts | ✅ Zero balance options | ❌ Often high minimums |
This clear focus on inclusion and accessibility makes Equitas different and more people-friendly.
Conclusion: Banking That Truly Cares
Financial inclusion is not just about opening a bank account. It’s about giving people the tools, support, and knowledge to take control of their financial future.
Equitas Bank is doing just that — helping millions of Indians move from cash-based, risky lives to secure, digital, and well-planned financial lives. Their services are affordable, simple, and made for everyday people.
So if you're searching online for a savings account near me, don’t just pick any bank. Choose a bank that supports inclusion, empowers people, and offers personalized support — choose Equitas Small Finance Bank.
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