At 9.30 am on a Monday, the employees of Bhagini Nivedita Sahakari Bank (BNSB) in the quaint Narayan Peth area of Pune begin their work routine. A motley bunch of customers saunter in to deposit cash, people mill around to get their queries answered, the recovery team leaves for outdoor duty —on the face of it, this looks like any other cooperative bank. Take a closer look, and BNSB stands apart as it is entirely run and managed by women.


This 41- year-old bank in Narayan Peth area of Pune has a strength of 282 women 

Open for all
Established in 1974 by founders Vivek and Meenakshi Dadhe, the bank's primary objective is to cater to people from the lower economic strata and offer relief from the clutches of moneylenders. The 41-year-old bank, which has a strength of 282 people, however, is not registered as a mahila (women) bank.