At the time of the merger, the bank had a network of 423 branches spread over 15 states and the Union Territory of Daman and Diu.
Prior to 1948, the region of Saurashtra, which at present forms a part of Gujarat State, comprised many small, medium and large princely states.
Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Jamnagar, which were among the larger states, and two smaller states, Palitana and Vadia, had established their own Darbar (meaning Palace) Banks, the oldest of which was Bhavnagar Darbar Bank, established in 1902.
These banks mainly catered to the needs of the governments of their respective princely states, and acted as depositories for local savings.
After the establishment of Saurashtra state in 1948, there was a parallel amalgamation of these banks.