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The country’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday launched a ‘Syndicated Social Term Loan Facility’ worth $500 million (about Rs 4,597 crore). This loan has been specially started to promote women empowerment.

According to the bank, the loan also includes a greenshoe option, and the move is considered a significant milestone for the bank as well as in the field of global ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) financing.

SBI said the initiative aims to accelerate social impact, promote gender equality and support initiatives that reduce the inequality that exists among women.

The bank said the initiative will contribute to advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – ‘Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls’.

SBI Chairman CS Seti said that he is proud to announce this historic social loan on the occasion of International Women’s Day. She said that this step reflects the Bank’s commitment towards women empowerment for sustainable development.

He said that real progress does not come from economic growth alone, but from bringing about positive social change, empowering women and creating an inclusive society for all.

This is the first such major social loan transaction of SBI and is considered to be the largest loan to women globally. This also shows India’s growing role in the field of sustainable finance.

According to the bank, through this loan, programs and projects to gender equality and inclusive economic development in various sectors will be supported.

In this transaction, MUFG has acted as the original mandated lead arranger, underwriter and book runner as well as the sole social loan coordinator.

On Friday, SBI shares closed at Rs 1,139.80 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), showing a decline of 2.5 per cent.

SBI is one of the largest home loan offering banks in the country and has so far helped around 30 lakh Indian families fulfill their home buying dreams. Not only this, the home loan portfolio of the bank has exceeded Rs 9 lakh crore.

As of December 31, 2025, SBI had a deposit base of over Rs 57 lakh crore, with a CASA ratio of 39.13 per cent and total advances (loans) of over Rs 46.8 lakh crore.