Narendra Chandra Dutta

Narendra Chandra Dutta
Born	1878-11-25 Kalikachchha, Tipperah district, British India
Died	1962-04-15
Occupation	Banker
Known for	Founder of Comilla Banking Corporation; contributor to the establishment of United Bank of India

Narendra Chandra Dutta (25 November 1878 – 15 April 1962) was a prominent Indian banker, recognized as the founder of the Comilla Banking Corporation and an instrumental contributor to the establishment of the United Bank of India.

Early life

Born in Kalikachchha within the Tipperah district, Dutta was the son of Mahesh Chandra Dutta. Following his father's premature passing, his upbringing was managed by his mother amid difficult conditions. He completed his law degree at Ripon College, Calcutta in 1905 and subsequently built a thriving civil court practice in Comilla.

Career

In 1914, with assistance from Mahesh Chandra Bhattacharya and community leader Akhil Chandra Dutta, Narendra Chandra Dutta launched the Comilla Banking Corporation. The bank began with an initial capital of 4,000 rupees, to which he added another 2,500 rupees—partly funded by selling his own residence—and initially accepted a modest monthly salary of eight rupees.

Dutta undertook an economic assessment of eastern India and utilized the bank’s resources to support investments in the tea sector by providing loans for tea estates and associated assets.

His son, Bata Krishna Dutta, started at the bank as a trainee and quickly assumed leadership responsibilities. In 1930, Bata Krishna revitalized the defunct Comilla Rice and Oil Mills Limited and founded the New Standard Bank of India, which had a paid-up capital amounting to 30,000 rupees.

In 1946, prompted by Reserve Bank of India Governor C. D. Deshmukh’s recommendation, New Standard Bank merged with Comilla Banking Corporation. Later, in 1950, Narendra Chandra Dutta along with Jyotish Chandra Das orchestrated the consolidation of Comilla Banking Corporation and Bengal Central Bank to create the United Bank of India.