He has a vision so clear, so big and bold that that everything falls on his way. M. B. N. Rao, Chairman and Managing Director of the Canara Bank, has an added bonus; he thinks closer to reality. In fact, he has been serving to grow, and growing to serve the customers. At a time when a number of foreign private players have gate crashed the vast Indian market, Rao has been firm to ensure a smooth sailing of Canara Bank. He stood up the cutthroat competition brought about by a liberalized banking regime. An agriculture graduate by education, Rao joined Indian Bank in 1970 as a probationary officer and by dint of sheer hard work and a strict sense of discipline, he climbed the ladder of success, and soon joined the bandwagon of the big corporate bosses of the country.

M.B.N Rao, a graduate in Agriculture, started his Banking career in the year 1970 when he joined Indian Bank as a Probationary Officer. Rao is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London, Fellow Member of the Indian Institute of Bankers and member of the Singapore Institute of Management. He holds Diploma in Computer Studies from University of Cambridge and National Computing Centre, London and Certificate in Industrial Finance. After serving in different capacities, he moved to the executive cadre in 1985. He was deputed to PT Bank Rama, Jakarta, Indonesia as Adviser for a period of 4 years. He also headed Indian Bank's Singapore operations for over four years during which period he was instrumental in the branch becoming the first SWIFT member from among the Banks in South Asia. He served in the General Manager's cadre in Central Bank of India for 2 years as Chief Vigilance Officer. Rao was promoted as General Manager in Indian Bank in the year 1995. As General Manager, he has handled almost all the important portfolios, viz., Audit, Inspection, Accounts, Investments, Information Technology, International Division, Strategy and Credit and injected a great deal of professionalism in these vital areas.

Rao was appointed as Executive Director of Indian Bank in 2000. As an Executive Director, he was instrumental in formulating and executing the Restructuring plan and strategies for the turn around of Indian Bank when it was in difficult conditions. Rao was elevated to the post of Chairman & Managing Director of Indian Bank on 04.12.2003. His able guidance, relentless monitoring and contribution to all the areas of operations facilitated Indian Bank to achieve the net profit well ahead during the Restructuring plan.

Rao is the Chairman of various subsidiaries of Canara Bank, viz., Canbank Factors Limited; Canbank Computer Services Limited; Canbank Venture Capital Fund Limited; Gilt Securities Trading Corporation Limited and Indo Hong Kong International Finance Limited. Moreover, he is the Deputy Chairman on the Board of The Commercial Bank of India, Moscow, a joint venture of State Bank of India and Canara Bank. He is also a Director on the Board of Agricultural Finance Corporation of India.

Rao is the Deputy Chairman of the Indian Banks' Association & Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Indian Banks' Association. He is also the Chairman of the Working Group on Capital Raising Programme for Public Sector Banks constituted by IBA. He has been appointed as a Member of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance and elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute. He is Chairman of the Banking Standards Development Board [BSDB] of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance [IIBF]. He is also a Member of the Audit Committee Institute India of KPMG, Member of the Governing Board of Institute for Banking Personnel Selection, Member of the Governing Board of National Institute of Bank Management, Member-Finance Committee of National Institute of Bank Management, Member of the Jury for the ICSI National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance for the year 2006, Member of the CII National Committee on Banking-2006-07 and Member of the "Committee on Financial Inclusion" formed by Government of India, Ministry of Finance.

Rao was a Member of the Working Group set up by the Government of India in 1999 to suggest an operational plan in formation of Asset Reconstruction Companies [ARC] in India and he played a major role in preparation of the Report of the Group. Again, when a High Level Committee on ARCs was constituted by the Government in 2001, he was inducted as a Member. He was a member of the Committee to Monitor Code of Ethics in the banking sector, Member in the industry level Negotiating Committee for Wage Revision and also a member of Personnel Committee of IBA.

Apart from his overseas assignments, he has visited USA, UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong and China in connection with multifarious responsibilities assigned to him. A voracious reader and genial in temperament, he always cherishes the technological upgradation of the Bank's system and tirelessly working to improve the Brand Equity of the Bank and to make the bank face the emerging challenges. With Rao at the helm of affairs, not only your finances at Canara Bank are in safe hands, but is assured to grow manifold in coming days.