• Dr. Reba Xavier
• Dr. V. Savitha

Financial institutions play a fundamental role in the economic development of any nation. In India for financial institutions to grow and cater to all citizens they need to provide solutions to the lower income and unorganized sector. Financial inclusion is the process of bringing vulnerable sections at affordable cost into banking network. Financial inclusion is one of the major steps taken by Reserve bank of India to strengthen the banking sector. To implement financial inclusion, it is necessary for Reserve Bank of India to come out with various initiatives. One such initiative is the introduction of Lead bank. Reserve Bank of India has entrusted the responsibility of providing financial products and services to weaker section through various lead bank schemes. Weaker section focuses on informal financial system as they find it user-friendly. Various studies reveal that initiatives of Reserve Bank of India, Government, Regional Rural Banks and commercial banks are needed to provide financial inclusion but none of the studies are focused on the effect and the role of lead banks. This paper provides an insight into the understanding the role of lead bank in financial inclusion and helps to identify the link between lead bank and financial inclusion. To understand the influence of financial inclusion data was collected through structured questionnaire from beneficiaries of lead bank. Also, data regarding the beneficiaries was collected from various published articles to complete the analysis. Tools used for the analysis were percentage, descriptive, correlation and regression. Sample of 65 respondents from 13 blocks of Palakkad district were considered for analysis. Study highlights the factors influencing lead bank namely financial awareness, financial attitude and digital finance, having a very high positive correlation. Study found that Lead banks positively influences Financial inclusion. Lead bank co-ordinate all financial activities, monitor credit plans and implement the schemes supported by government to make financial inclusion successful.

Lead bank, Financial inclusion, Financial Awareness, Financial Attitude, Digital finance, Reserve Bank of India

"Impact of Financial Inclusion on Lead Bank - Palakkad District, Kerala.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 4, page no.k703-k709, April-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2304A99.pdf

"Impact of Financial Inclusion on Lead Bank - Palakkad District, Kerala.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 4, page no. ppk703-k709, April-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2304A99.pdf