The State Bank of India (SBI) issued 10,494 electoral bonds in nine phases so far worth over Rs 5,029 crore at an average of Rs 48 lakh per bond, revealed RTI response. SBI is the only commercial bank authorised by the Centre ever since it was envisaged last year to issue electoral bonds. In a response to an RTI activist Manoranjan Roy's query from Mumbai on the names of individuals and companies giving the donations and total numbers of electoral bonds issued, the bank stated it has issued over 10,494 bonds worth Rs 5,029 crore which was completed on May 4 till phase nine.

The Bank, however, refused to disclose the names of individuals or companies sending donations to political parties citing it to be "third party" information which is exempted under Section 8(1)(E)(i) of the RTI Act. Replying to another query on how many of the electoral bonds issued have been submitted for withdrawal, the bank replied, out of 10,494 issued 10,388 bonds have been redeemed/withdrawn till the phase nine. CPIO and Deputy General Manager (TB Sales & SME) Naresh Kumar Raheja stated, "The value of these redeemed bonds amounts to Rs 5,011 crore,"