Bank Sakhi and BC Sakhi (banking agent from a self-help group)
बैंक सखी / बीसी सखी · बँक सखी
A self-help group member trained to do basic banking for her village: deposits, withdrawals and transfers on a small machine. Paid by the bank per transaction, sometimes with support from the state mission at the start.
Money to start
₹5,000 to ₹25,000
Education
10th pass
Vehicle
Not needed
Skill
Learnt on the job
The short answer
Worth asking about if you are already in a self-help group under the rural livelihoods mission: the training and certification are arranged for you and the work is in your own panchayat. We found no reliable figure for what BC Sakhis earn, and income depends on how many people use your counter. Ask a BC Sakhi in a nearby village before committing.
Two roles go by similar names. A Bank Sakhi sits at or works with a bank branch and helps self-help groups with accounts, loan papers and financial literacy. A BC Sakhi is a business correspondent: after training and a certificate from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, she is given a micro-ATM or similar device by a bank and carries out cash deposits, withdrawals, transfers and benefit payments for villagers, under the mission's aim of one BC Sakhi in every gram panchayat. Both are chosen from among self-help group members by the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (called Umed in Maharashtra and by other names elsewhere).
What you need
- Age 18 or above.
- Membership of a women's self-help group under the State Rural Livelihoods Mission.
- Education as your state mission requires. Class 10 is commonly asked; confirm locally.
- Training, usually at a Rural Self Employment Training Institute, and a pass in the IIBF business correspondent examination.
- A place for customers to reach you, mobile network coverage, Aadhaar, PAN and a bank account.
- Working cash to pay out withdrawals. Ask how much, and whether the mission or the group lends it.
| Before you start | Cost |
|---|---|
| Device (micro-ATM or similar) and security depositIn some states the mission gives a grant or loan for it. Ask before paying anything yourself. | Ask first |
| Working cash for withdrawalsAsk the bank or its agency what float they expect you to keep. | Ask first |
How the money works
The bank, or the company that manages its correspondents, pays a commission on each transaction you carry out, credited monthly. Some state missions pay an honorarium for the first few months or give a grant towards equipment while you build up customers.
- Income follows footfall. A village far from any branch or ATM gives more transactions than one with a branch nearby.
- Commission rates are set by the bank and differ by type of transaction.
- You are responsible for the cash you hold and for any shortfall.
What people actually take home
We do not estimate earnings ourselves. Each line below is someone else's figure, with who said it and when.
Business correspondent agents are generally paid by banks per transaction. Some state missions give Bank Sakhis an honorarium for the first few months, and partial grants or incentives in the early stage.
Independent studyAbout 2020 · World Bank paper on self-help group members as banking agents
In Nagaland, self-help group women took a course at a rural training institute and then the IIBF examination before being certified as BC Sakhis.
Independent study2021 · Morung Express: IIBF certificates handed to SHG members
What we could not find
- Any current official commission rate or honorarium.
- What a BC Sakhi earns in a month. We found no survey or official figure.
- The current national guidelines on eligibility. We read only secondary summaries.
| Ask before you start | Where to ask |
|---|---|
| Is my gram panchayat's BC Sakhi position vacant, and how is she chosen? | The block office of the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, or your group's cluster federation |
| What commission is paid per transaction, and is there an honorarium in the first months? | The mission's block office and the bank that will appoint you |
| Who pays for the device, and how much cash must I keep? | The bank or its correspondent agency, in writing |
| How many transactions do you do in a day, and what reaches your account? | A BC Sakhi in a neighbouring panchayat |
Is it legal where you live?
All India
A business correspondent acts for a bank under the Reserve Bank's rules and may carry out only the transactions that bank authorises. She is not a bank employee. Every transaction must go through the bank's device with the customer's own authentication, and a printed or SMS receipt.
As of Oct 2026
How to start
- If you are not in a self-help group, ask the mission's community resource person in your village how to join one.
- Tell your group and the block mission office that you want to be considered.
- Complete the training and pass the IIBF examination.
- Sign the agreement with the bank or its agency only after reading the commission, the deposit and who bears losses.
- Keep a daily cash book and never let anyone else use your login or device.
What is good about it
- Work within your own panchayat, at hours you can largely set.
- Training, certification and often the first equipment are arranged through the mission.
- A useful service: pensioners and scheme beneficiaries need not travel to a branch.
- A recognised banking certificate.
What is hard about it
- No reliable public figure for earnings, and commission per transaction is small.
- You carry cash and bear the risk of theft, error and fraud.
- Network failures and device problems mean lost transactions and angry customers.
- Open in practice only to self-help group members, and one per panchayat.
Traps to avoid
- Private websites selling 'CSP' or 'bank mitra' IDs for a fee. Appointment comes from a bank or its authorised agency, through the mission for BC Sakhis.
- Anyone asking you to share your login, OTP or device 'for a test'. That is how accounts are emptied in your name.
Where this can lead
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a Bank Sakhi and a BC Sakhi?
A Bank Sakhi helps self-help groups with their banking and paperwork, usually at a branch. A BC Sakhi is a certified business correspondent who carries out deposits, withdrawals and transfers for villagers on a bank's device.
How much does a BC Sakhi earn?
We found no reliable figure. She is paid a commission per transaction, so income depends on how many people use her counter, and some states pay an honorarium in the first months. Ask a BC Sakhi nearby and the mission's block office.
Can any woman become a BC Sakhi?
It is meant for members of women's self-help groups under the State Rural Livelihoods Mission, selected by the mission. Other people can become business correspondents by applying to a bank directly, which is a separate route.
Sources
- World Bank paper on self-help group members as banking agents
- Morung Express: IIBF certificates handed to SHG members
- Eastern Mirror: Nagaland mission and bank agree to deploy BC Sakhis
Pay rates, fees and rules change often and differ by city. Confirm them with the company or the regulator before you commit money or leave other work.
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