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ESAF Small Finance Bank Limited (ESAF SFB) traces its origins to the Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF), a social organization founded in 1992 by K. Paul Thomas, which began microfinance operations in 1995. This microfinance institution was later converted into a Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI) named ESAF Microfinance and Investments Pvt. Ltd.. ESAF Small Finance Bank Limited was formally incorporated as a Public Limited Company on May 5, 2016, and received its final Small Finance Bank (SFB) license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in November 2016. It officially commenced its full-fledged banking operations in March 2017, headquartered in Thrissur, Kerala, and was granted Scheduled Bank status by the RBI in December 2018.

The bank is a Public company, listed and traded on both the BSE and NSE, and operates as one of India’s regulated Small Finance Banks. Its primary significance within the Indian financial system lies in its core mission of financial inclusion, specifically targeting the underbanked, low-income, and rural customers, a continuity of its microfinance heritage. The institution offers a diversified portfolio of products, including micro loans, retail and corporate advances, and savings accounts, focusing on underserved segments. Notably, it was the first entity in Kerala to receive a new bank license since India gained independence, underscoring its role in expanding formal banking services in the state and beyond.