It is an 'A' Class Scheduled Commercial Bank with a network of 915 [2]branches, 1188 ATMs & Cash recyclers and 588 e-lobbies/mini e-lobbies across 22 states and 2 union territories.

Its founders established it at Mangalore, a coastal town in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.

[5] Among the founders, who created the bank to serve the South Canara region, was B. R. Vysaray Achar.

In August 2008, the Karnataka Bank Limited introduced Quick Remit, a facility to make money transfers easy for Non-Resident Indians living in Canada, United States, and the UK.

In addition, it offers forex services, which include pre and post-shipment, export collection bills, export LC advising, inward remittance facility, import letter of credit, import bill collection, buyer's credit, and outward remittances.