City Union Bank (CUB) in 2026: The Complete Guide to One of India's Oldest Private Banks
There is something quietly remarkable about a bank that has been operating continuously since 1904, survived two world wars, India's independence and partition, multiple economic crises, the nationalisation wave that swept away many of its peers, and the digital disruption that has reshaped the entire industry — and emerged from all of it still headquartered in the same town where it was born. That bank is City Union Bank, and Kumbakonam, the temple-town on the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu, is where the story began and where it continues to be anchored today.
City Union Bank is not a loudly marketed brand. It does not run splashy celebrity campaigns or compete for the attention that the large private banks with deep marketing budgets command. What it does, consistently and with considerable competence, is serve the businesses and households that have trusted it for generations — particularly the traders, merchants, and small enterprise owners of South India who have found in CUB a bank that understands their needs without requiring them to fit into templates designed for large corporates or salaried professionals. For anyone evaluating City Union Bank in 2026 — whether as a potential customer, a researcher, or simply a curious reader — this guide is designed to give you a complete, honest, and well-organised picture of exactly what this institution is, what it offers, and where it stands today.
City Union Bank at a Glance
Here is the no-fluff overview, sourced from the bank's official disclosures and public records.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | City Union Bank Limited (CUB) |
| Former Names | The Kumbakonam Bank Limited (1904–1965); The Kumbakonam City Union Bank Limited (1965–1987) |
| Type | Private Sector Scheduled Commercial Bank |
| Date of Incorporation | 31 October 1904 |
| Current Name Adopted | December 1987 |
| Head Office | "Narayana", No. 24B, Gandhi Nagar, Kumbakonam – 612001, Tamil Nadu |
| Registered Office | 149, T.S.R. Big Street, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 612001 |
| Key People | M. Narayanan (Chairman); Dr. N. Kamakodi (MD & CEO) |
| Branch Network | 930+ branches (FY2026) |
| ATM Network | 1,760+ ATMs |
| Listed On | NSE (CUB) and BSE (532210) |
| Total Assets | ₹70,825+ crore (FY2024) |
| Capital Adequacy Ratio | 23.7% (FY2024) |
| Toll-Free Customer Care | 1800 120 5000 (24/7, All States) |
| Phone / WhatsApp Banking | 044-7122 5000 (24/7) |
| Missed Call Balance Enquiry | 92781 77444 |
| Net Banking URL | onlinebanking.cub.bank.in |
| Mobile Banking App | CUB Mobile Banking (Android and iOS) |
| Virtual Assistant | Ask Lakshmi (AI chatbot, available 24/7 on the official website) |
| UPI 123PAY (Feature Phone) | Call 08045163581 for UPI via IVR |
City Union Bank in 2026: A Complete Guide to India's Oldest Community-Turned-National Bank
City Union Bank occupies a distinctive position in the Indian banking landscape. It belongs to the category commonly referred to as "old generation private banks" — institutions that were founded before independence, survived the nationalisation era by retaining their private character, and have since evolved into modern full-service banks while carrying decades of institutional memory and local trust. Among this group, CUB stands out for its consistent profitability, its tight focus on MSME and trade finance, and its deep roots in the commercial culture of Tamil Nadu and South India more broadly.
The bank is not trying to be everything to everyone. Its strategy has always been deliberate in scope — prioritising the businessman in Tirupur who needs working capital for garment exports, the trader in Kumbakonam who needs a gold loan to manage seasonal cash flow, the NRI in the Gulf who wants to remit money home without paying excessive fees, and the small manufacturer in Coimbatore who needs a term loan to buy machinery. This focus has produced a bank that is financially sound, relatively lean, and genuinely expert in the segments it serves. Understanding that focus is the key to understanding whether City Union Bank is the right banking partner for you.
How City Union Bank Was Born: From a Temple Town to a National Franchise
To understand City Union Bank, you have to go back to Kumbakonam in the early years of the twentieth century. The town sits at the heart of the Cauvery delta, historically one of the most agriculturally productive and commercially active regions of South India. The delta's prosperity generated a merchant class that needed banking services, but the banks operating in British India were largely controlled by European interests and were not particularly accessible to or interested in local Indian businessmen. Into this gap, twenty dedicated citizens of Kumbakonam stepped forward on 31 October 1904 to sign the first Memorandum of Association of a new institution they called The Kumbakonam Bank Limited.
The founding group included R. Santhanam Iyer, S. Krishna Iyer, V. Krishnaswami Iyengar, and T.S. Raghavachariar, among others — merchants, professionals, and community leaders who understood the commercial rhythms of the Cauvery delta and wanted a bank that would reflect and serve those rhythms. T.S. Raghavachariar served as the first Agent of the bank. When he was succeeded by R. Santhanam Iyer in 1908, the bank's management structure was formalised under an amended Articles of Association that established the office of Secretary to oversee operations. In its earliest years, the bank operated on an agency model, focusing on deposit collection and local lending within the Thanjavur district, and it was not until 1930 that the first branch outside Kumbakonam was opened, in Mannargudi.
The bank's evolution accelerated meaningfully in the decades following Indian independence. In 1945, it was included in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act, giving it the status of a scheduled bank and the associated credibility and access to RBI facilities. This was a significant endorsement of the bank's stability and operational soundness. In 1965, through the amalgamation of several smaller local banking entities, the bank expanded its base and renamed itself The Kumbakonam City Union Bank Limited — a name that reflected both its roots and its growing ambition. Throughout the 1970s, the bank expanded steadily across Tamil Nadu, opening branches in Periyakulam, Pattukkottai, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai, Chidambaram, Salem, Chennai (then Madras), and several other towns.
The milestone that marked the bank's transition from a regional Tamil Nadu entity to a national institution came in September 1980, when it opened its first branch outside the state — at Sultanpet in Bangalore, Karnataka. Branches in Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh followed. In recognition of this broader national footprint, the bank adopted the name City Union Bank Limited in December 1987, shedding the Kumbakonam prefix that had identified it as a specifically local institution and positioning it for further pan-India growth. In 1990, all branches were fully computerised — an early and bold investment that set the foundation for the bank's later digital capability. A Foreign Exchange licence from the RBI, also granted in 1990, opened up international business services and NRI banking as a meaningful revenue stream. The year 2004 brought the bank's centenary celebrations, and with it, the implementation of a Core Banking Solution (CBS) that unified the bank's operations on a single platform. By the time CUB Lakshmi — India's first in-branch banking humanoid robot — was unveiled at a Chennai branch in November 2016, the bank had come a very long way indeed from the small agency office on T.S.R. Big Street.
Ownership, Governance and Regulatory Status
City Union Bank is a publicly listed private sector bank. Unlike public sector banks that are majority-owned by the Government of India, CUB is privately held, with its shares distributed among institutional investors, domestic mutual funds, foreign portfolio investors, and individual shareholders. The Government of India has no ownership stake in CUB. The bank's shares trade on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE: CUB) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE: 532210).
The bank is governed by a Board of Directors comprising independent non-executive directors, executive directors, and shareholder representatives. The Board is chaired by M. Narayanan, while Dr. N. Kamakodi serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer — a role he has held for an extended period, providing significant leadership continuity. City Union Bank is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and is a scheduled commercial bank listed in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. This scheduled status means that all eligible deposits are insured by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) up to ₹5 lakh per depositor, offering customers the same deposit protection available at nationalised banks. The bank is also subject to SEBI regulations as a listed entity and complies with the disclosure and governance norms applicable to publicly traded companies in India.
Branch Network: Banking Across South India and Beyond
City Union Bank has grown its branch network steadily and deliberately over the decades, reaching over 930 branches and 1,760+ ATMs as of FY2026. While the bank maintains a pan-India presence with branches across multiple states, its core strength and density remain firmly in South India — Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala — where it has the deepest market relationships and the strongest brand recognition.
Within Tamil Nadu, the bank is particularly well represented in the temple-town and trade clusters of the Cauvery delta region, the textile manufacturing belt of Tiruppur and Coimbatore, the industrial corridors around Chennai, and the agricultural zones of the delta districts. This geographical concentration is not a weakness — it is a reflection of the bank's deliberate decision to build deep expertise in the markets it knows best before expanding widely into markets it does not.
Branches typically operate from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on working days. Many branches offer Bulk Note Acceptors (Cash Deposit Machines), locker services, and Forex counters in addition to standard banking services. Select branches also feature the iconic CUB Lakshmi humanoid robot for customer query handling.
Finding a City Union Bank Branch Near You
Use the official Branch and ATM Locator available on cityunionbank.bank.in to search by state, city, or pin code. Each result provides the complete branch address, IFSC code, MICR code, and contact details. Always verify the IFSC code on the official locator before completing any high-value NEFT, RTGS, or ECS transaction.
City Union Bank IFSC Code: What It Is and Why It Matters
Every electronic funds transfer in India — whether it is a salary credit, a loan repayment, a government subsidy disbursement, or a family remittance — relies on a quiet but absolutely essential eleven-character code called the IFSC, or Indian Financial System Code. This code is the address of your bank branch within India's payment network infrastructure. Without it, the systems that power NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS simply cannot route your transaction to the right destination. You may never think about it unless something goes wrong — but using the wrong IFSC can delay, reject, or in rare cases misdirect your payment entirely, causing complications that are both stressful and time-consuming to resolve.
For City Union Bank customers specifically, the IFSC code is important in a wide range of practical situations. When you give your bank details to your employer for salary credit, they need the correct IFSC. When you set up an ECS mandate for insurance premiums, mutual fund SIPs, or loan EMI repayments at a different bank, the initiating institution needs your CUB branch's IFSC. When an NRI family member remits money from abroad to your CUB account, the correspondent banking system uses the IFSC to route the funds correctly. When you register for direct benefit transfers from government portals, the same code ensures the subsidy or pension lands in your account rather than bouncing back. Given how central this code is to the smooth functioning of your banking life, it is worth taking a minute to understand what it means — and to know where to find the authoritative version of your specific branch's code.
How a City Union Bank IFSC Code Is Structured
All City Union Bank IFSC codes follow the standard eleven-character alphanumeric format mandated by the Reserve Bank of India. Here is how the code is composed:
| Code Component | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CIUB | First four characters — represent the bank identifier for City Union Bank |
| 0 (fifth character) | Always zero — reserved for future use by the RBI across all banks in India |
| XXXXXX (last six characters) | Branch-specific identifier — unique to each City Union Bank branch |
| Total length | 11 characters (alphanumeric) |
For example, an IFSC code like CIUB0000250 breaks down as: CIUB (bank identifier), 0 (fixed placeholder), and 000250 (the specific branch code). You can find your branch's IFSC code printed on every leaf of your CUB chequebook, on your passbook, on account statements issued by the bank, and on the official branch locator at cityunionbank.bank.in. Always use these official sources — particularly the official website — before initiating large or recurring transactions, as third-party sources may occasionally carry outdated information.
The Complete City Union Bank Product Lineup
City Union Bank offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial products. Its product architecture reflects the bank's strategic priorities — strong on MSME and trade credit, well-equipped for retail and personal banking, deeply experienced in gold finance, and increasingly capable in digital and NRI services.
Deposit Products
- Savings Accounts — Standard savings accounts available for individuals, minors, and joint account holders. Includes variants for women, senior citizens, and regular salaried customers, each with tailored interest rates and benefits.
- Current Accounts — Designed for businesses, traders, proprietors, firms, and companies with regular high-volume transactional needs.
- Fixed Deposits (Term Deposits) — Flexible tenures with attractive interest rates and additional senior citizen benefits. Premature withdrawal, partial withdrawal, and auto-renewal options are available. Online FD opening is accessible through CUB Net Banking and mobile banking.
- Recurring Deposits — Monthly instalment-based savings for customers building towards a goal, available for tenures from one year to ten years.
- Tax Saving Fixed Deposits — Five-year lock-in deposits eligible for deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, up to ₹1.5 lakh per year.
- CUB Senior Citizen Deposits — Dedicated deposit products for customers aged 60 and above, offering a higher interest rate over and above the standard rate.
Loan Products
- Gold Loans (CUB Sona) — One of the bank's signature products. Quick-disbursal loans against pledged gold ornaments and jewellery, available across virtually all CUB branches. Competitive interest rates and minimal documentation make this the go-to option for customers needing immediate funds.
- Home Loans — For purchase, construction, renovation, or extension of residential property. Available to salaried individuals, self-employed professionals, and businesspersons, with flexible repayment tenures and competitive rates.
- MSME Loans — Cash credit, overdraft, term loans, and working capital demand loans for micro, small, and medium enterprises in manufacturing, trading, and service sectors. MSME finance is the bank's core competency.
- Trade Finance — Letter of credit, bank guarantees, bill discounting, packing credit, and export finance products tailored for trading and export-oriented businesses.
- Personal Loans — Unsecured term loans for salaried employees and eligible self-employed individuals for personal consumption, medical, or travel needs.
- Consumer Loans (CUB Consumer Loan) — Specifically for the purchase of consumer durables and household goods.
- Vehicle Loans — Two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and commercial vehicles, with financing available for both personal and business use.
- Education Loans — For higher studies in India and abroad, covering tuition, accommodation, and allied expenses.
- Mortgage Loans / Loans Against Property — Term loans or overdraft facilities secured by commercial or residential property, for business expansion or personal needs.
- Agriculture Loans — Kisan Credit Cards, crop loans, agri term loans, allied activity loans (dairy, poultry, fisheries), and Agri Gold Loans for farming households.
- NRI Housing Loans / Loans Against NRI Deposits — Specifically structured for non-resident Indians who wish to acquire or renovate property in India, or leverage their NRI deposit holdings for credit.
Cards
- Debit Cards — RuPay and Visa variants, including innovative options such as the CUB Keychain Card (a contactless payment keychain) and the CUBFit Watch Debit Card, allowing payments directly from a wrist-worn device.
- Credit Cards — Multiple variants for retail and business customers with reward programmes and fuel surcharge benefits.
- Prepaid Cards / CUB Wallet — Prepaid instruments for specific payment use cases.
- FASTag — RFID-based toll payment tags for vehicles.
NRI and International Services
City Union Bank has a well-developed NRI banking platform covering NRE (Non-Resident External), NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary), and FCNR (Foreign Currency Non-Resident) deposits. The bank holds a Foreign Exchange licence from the RBI, allowing it to offer Forex transactions, inward and outward remittances, travel cards, and demand drafts in foreign currencies. International business services including trade finance, letters of credit, and export-import financing are also offered through authorised forex branches.
Insurance Products
CUB offers life and non-life insurance through bancassurance tie-ups, allowing customers to purchase insurance cover directly at branches or through digital channels.
Investment Services
- Demat and Trading Accounts — CUB-NSDL Demat accounts are available, with the ability to participate in IPOs through the ASBA (Application Supported by Blocked Amount) facility directly from CUB Net Banking and mobile banking.
- Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) — Available for subscription through CUB branches and digital platforms during issuance windows.
- Wealth Management — Portfolio and wealth advisory services available through select branches.
Digital Banking
CUB Net Banking
City Union Bank's internet banking platform, now accessible at onlinebanking.cub.bank.in, is a mature and feature-complete system that the bank has been continuously improving since its early internet banking days. The platform supports account balance enquiry and statement download, fund transfers via NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS, utility bill payments and mobile/DTH recharges, online school and college fee payments, tax payments including direct and indirect taxes, Income Tax e-filing access, Form 26AS download, online opening of fixed deposits and recurring deposits, loan against deposit (LAD) applications, cheque-related services including stop payment and status enquiry, debit card blocking for fraud prevention, and a unique cardless ATM cash withdrawal feature — where the recipient can withdraw cash at a CUB ATM using a PIN communicated by the sender, without needing a physical card.
CUB Mobile Banking App
The CUB Mobile Banking app is available for both Android and iOS platforms. It mirrors most net banking functionality in a mobile-optimised interface and supports account enquiry, fund transfers, bill payments, FD/RD management, cheque book requests, UPI transactions, and debit card controls. Registration requires the customer's account number, registered mobile number, and OTP verification. Biometric login is supported on compatible devices.
CUB Wallet
A prepaid digital wallet for customers who want a quick payment instrument without linking directly to their bank account for every transaction.
UPI Banking
City Union Bank is UPI-enabled. Customers can link their CUB account to any UPI-based application — BHIM, GPay, PhonePe, or others — for instant peer-to-peer payments and merchant payments using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA). For feature phone users who cannot run UPI apps, CUB offers UPI 123PAY — a service that allows UPI transactions through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system by calling 08045163581.
CUB Lakshmi — India's First Banking Humanoid Robot
In November 2016, City Union Bank made banking history by deploying CUB Lakshmi at a Chennai branch — the first humanoid robot to be used in an Indian bank. Lakshmi is capable of responding to more than 125 routine customer queries, connecting to the bank's core banking system to retrieve real-time account data, and guiding customers through basic banking processes. The robot was built with stringent data security protocols to ensure that sensitive customer information is protected during interactions.
Ask Lakshmi — AI Virtual Assistant
For customers using the bank's website, Ask Lakshmi serves as a 24/7 AI-powered virtual assistant that can answer queries on net banking, mobile banking, branch and ATM locations, loan products, deposit rates, and a wide range of other banking topics. Ask Lakshmi is also accessible through the bank's Facebook page, allowing social media users to get instant banking information.
Other Digital Channels
- KIOSK Banking — Self-service kiosks at select branches for basic banking transactions without staff assistance.
- Cash Deposit Machines / Bulk Note Acceptors — Available at many branches for cash deposits outside banking hours.
- BBPS (Bharat Bill Payment System) — Available for utility bill and loan EMI payments through any BBPS-enabled platform.
- AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) — Biometric-based payments and withdrawals for customers in areas with limited ATM access.
- USSD Banking — Basic banking over feature phones using the USSD protocol, without requiring an internet connection.
- SMS Banking — Transaction alerts, balance notifications, and select self-service options via SMS from registered mobile numbers.
Why City Union Bank Matters: Strengths That Set It Apart
- 122 years of continuous operation — One of the oldest scheduled commercial banks in India still operating independently. The institutional memory and community trust built over more than a century are genuine competitive assets.
- Consistent private sector profitability — CUB has maintained profitability through multiple economic cycles. Unlike several peers that required government recapitalisation or distress restructuring, CUB has been financially self-sustaining throughout its history. Its capital adequacy ratio of 23.7% (FY2024) is well above regulatory requirements.
- MSME and trade finance expertise — The bank's core strength is lending to traders, small manufacturers, and MSME operators. Decades of accumulated expertise in this segment mean faster credit decisions, more appropriate product structures, and better relationship management than generalist lenders.
- Gold loan accessibility — Fast, branch-level gold loans (CUB Sona) across virtually the entire branch network make the bank an extremely practical credit option for households and businesses with gold holdings.
- Technology pioneering — From early computerisation in 1990 to India's first banking humanoid robot in 2016 to UPI 123PAY for feature phone users, CUB has consistently punched above its size in technological adoption.
- NRI banking capability — A well-developed NRI platform with FCNR, NRE, and NRO products, plus foreign exchange and remittance services, makes CUB a solid choice for the large Tamil diaspora in Southeast Asia, the Gulf, the United States, and elsewhere.
- Strong capital base — A capital adequacy ratio significantly above regulatory norms gives the bank a substantial buffer against credit stress and capacity for further growth.
- IFC investment recognition — City Union Bank received a $50 million investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in October 2025, a vote of confidence from a globally respected institution that carefully evaluates financial strength and governance before deploying capital.
Where City Union Bank Still Has Room to Improve
- Geographic concentration — While strategic, the heavy concentration in South India — particularly Tamil Nadu — means the bank is more exposed to regional economic disruptions than a more diversified national bank would be.
- Branch network scale — With around 930 branches, CUB is substantially smaller than large private sector banks, which can limit accessibility for customers outside its primary geographies.
- Premium digital experience — The mobile app and net banking platform are functional and feature-complete, but the user interface design trails the most polished apps of the newer generation private banks that have invested heavily in UI/UX.
- Brand visibility outside South India — In northern and western India, City Union Bank's name recognition is limited, which can be a hurdle for new customer acquisition in those markets.
- Credit card ecosystem — CUB's credit card product range is narrower than that of larger banks, with fewer premium variants and reward programme options.
- Loan sales growth pace — The bank has at times delivered slower credit growth than peers, partly as a result of its conservative lending approach — which is a strength from a risk perspective but can limit topline momentum.
Who Should Consider Banking with City Union Bank?
City Union Bank is an excellent fit for a well-defined set of customers. If you fall into any of these profiles, it is worth taking a close look:
- Traders, merchants, and small business owners — particularly in South India — who need a bank with genuine understanding of working capital cycles, trade finance, and MSME credit. CUB's track record in this segment is among the best in the old-generation private bank category.
- Self-employed professionals and businesspersons looking for a bank that will evaluate their credit needs on the basis of actual business cash flows rather than rigid salaried-income templates.
- Gold loan seekers who need quick access to credit against gold ornaments with minimal paperwork and competitive interest rates.
- NRIs from Tamil Nadu and South India who want a bank that understands their remittance needs, offers NRE/NRO/FCNR deposits at competitive rates, and can handle NRI housing loan requirements.
- Senior citizens and long-term deposit holders who value stability, consistent dividend payments (as a listed bank), and the additional interest rate benefit on fixed deposits.
- Customers in South India's Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns where CUB maintains a meaningful branch presence and where larger national banks may have thinner coverage.
For customers seeking the most aggressive credit card reward programmes, deep pan-India branch density, cutting-edge personal finance management tools, or the full range of wealth management products offered by the largest private banks, institutions like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, or Axis Bank would be better alternatives. CUB has never competed in those segments and has no need to.
How to Open a City Union Bank Account: Step-by-Step
Documents You Will Need
- Recent passport-size photographs (two or more)
- PAN card (mandatory for most account types)
- Aadhaar card linked to your active mobile number (serves as both identity and address proof)
- Any additional address proof if your current residence differs from your Aadhaar-registered address
- Initial deposit as required by the account type — the amount varies by product; confirm with your branch
The Process
- Locate the nearest branch using the Branch Locator on cityunionbank.bank.in, searching by city, state, or pin code.
- Visit the branch during working hours (typically 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday; half-day on Saturdays).
- Request the account opening form for the account type you need — savings, current, NRI, or a specific product variant.
- Complete the form with staff assistance if needed and submit your KYC documents.
- Complete biometric Aadhaar-based verification if required for your account type.
- Make your initial deposit and collect your passbook, debit card welcome kit, and cheque book (on request).
- Activate your debit card, register your mobile number for SMS alerts, and download the CUB Mobile Banking app to complete your digital banking registration using your Customer ID and OTP.
- Register for CUB Net Banking at onlinebanking.cub.bank.in using your Customer ID and registered mobile number, if you prefer browser-based banking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is City Union Bank a government bank?
No. City Union Bank is a private sector scheduled commercial bank. It has no government ownership. Its shares are publicly listed on NSE and BSE, held by institutional investors, foreign portfolio investors, domestic mutual funds, and individual shareholders. It is regulated by the RBI under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
Q2. Where is City Union Bank's head office?
The administrative head office is located at "Narayana", No. 24B, Gandhi Nagar, Kumbakonam – 612001, Tamil Nadu. The registered office address is 149, T.S.R. Big Street, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu – 612001.
Q3. What is the IFSC code format for City Union Bank?
All City Union Bank IFSC codes follow the format CIUB0XXXXXX — where CIUB identifies the bank, the fifth character is always zero, and the last six characters identify the specific branch. You can find your branch's IFSC code on your chequebook, passbook, or the branch locator at cityunionbank.bank.in.
Q4. What is City Union Bank's customer care number?
The 24/7 toll-free customer care number is 1800 120 5000. For Phone Banking and WhatsApp Banking, call 044-7122 5000. For missed-call balance enquiry, give a missed call to 92781 77444 from your registered mobile.
Q5. What is CUB Lakshmi?
CUB Lakshmi is India's first in-branch banking humanoid robot, launched by City Union Bank in November 2016 at a Chennai branch. It can handle over 125 routine customer queries, connect to the bank's core banking system for real-time data, and assist customers with branch navigation and basic banking information. Ask Lakshmi is the AI-powered virtual assistant version available on the bank's website.
Q6. How do I access City Union Bank net banking?
CUB's net banking portal is accessible at onlinebanking.cub.bank.in. First-time users can register with their Customer ID (CIF number), registered mobile number, and OTP. Once registered, you can use your login password and OTP for secure access. An OTP is now required at each login as a security measure.
Q7. Does City Union Bank offer NRI banking services?
Yes. CUB offers a full NRI banking suite including NRE, NRO, and FCNR deposit accounts, NRI housing loans, loans against NRI deposits, inward and outward remittances, and foreign exchange services. The bank holds a Foreign Exchange licence from the RBI and has significant experience serving the Tamil NRI community in the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Q8. Is my money safe in City Union Bank?
Yes. City Union Bank is a scheduled commercial bank regulated by the RBI. All eligible deposits are insured by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) up to ₹5 lakh per depositor, providing the same protection available at nationalised banks. The bank maintains a capital adequacy ratio of 23.7% (FY2024), well above the RBI's minimum requirements, indicating strong financial resilience.
Final Thoughts
City Union Bank is the kind of institution that rewards a closer look. Its name does not dominate advertising hoardings or appear in every fintech partnership announcement. It does not have the largest balance sheet or the most branches. What it has is something harder to replicate: 122 years of unbroken operation, a clear understanding of the customers it exists to serve, a track record of financial conservatism that has kept it consistently profitable, and the institutional courage to be genuinely innovative — from launching India's first banking humanoid robot to enabling UPI transactions on feature phones.
For the trader in Thanjavur who wants a bank that understands how business actually works, for the NRI in Dubai who wants a South India-anchored bank to manage family finances back home, for the small manufacturer in Coimbatore who needs a working capital line that reflects reality rather than a credit scoring model built for salaried employees — City Union Bank is an institution worth trusting. Walk into a branch, speak with the staff, and let over a century of banking heritage demonstrate why CUB has been a part of South India's commercial story for as long as anyone can remember.