The Cooperative Banks functioning in Tamil Nadu are fulfilling the credit requirements of the farmers, weavers, rural artisans, consumers of urban area. These institutions are known as Cooperative Credit Institutions. The Coop. institutions are functioning under two category. They are: long-term coop. credit institutions, short-term coop. credit institutions. The coop. credit institutions functioning under short-term credit structure are of three-tier in nature. At the grass root level, the Primary Agricultural Coop. Banks (PACBs) are functioning at village level. At the district level, the Central Coop. Banks (CCBs) are functioning with the headquarters at district capital and their branches in various places of the districts concerned.

At the apex level, the Tamil Nadu State Apex Coop. Bank Ltd.,(TNSC Bank) is functioning at Chennai which co-ordinates the entire short- term coop. credit structure. The Tamil Nadu State Apex Co-operative Bank Ltd., commenced its business during November 1905 as an Urban Coop. Bank. It was subsequently changed into a District Central Coop. Bank during July 1920. At present, the Bank is functioning at Chennai with 44 branches, an Extension Counter and H.O. TNSC Bank is guiding the Dist. Central Coop. Banks / Primary Agricultural Coop. Banks in their functioning and it is playing a major role in the coop. movement of Tamil Nadu.

TNSC Bank was formed in the year in which the coop. movement of Tamil Nadu was formed. As such, the Bank has been serving the people of Tamil Nadu for a centenary for their economic development. As far as Indian coop. movement is concerned, the Bank has commenced its business from the very next year of the formation of coop. movement in India. TNSC Bank is the first ever State Coop. Bank having the credit of celebrating the centenary year. TNSC Bank has got the licence of Reserve Bank of India to carry on the banking business. TNSC Bank is a Scheduled Coop. Bank and has been listed under the Second Schedule of RBI Act.

TNSC Bank is a member of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and is an insured coop. bank as per DICGC Act. TNSC Bank has got the privilege of having its share capital by the Government of Tamil Nadu. TNSC Bank has been under close supervision and monitoring of the higher financing agencies, viz., RBI, NABARD. Periodical inspection and supervision are done by NABARD as per RBI guidelines. Government of Tamil Nadu is reviewing the performance of the Bank periodically. Eminent Co-operators have contributed for the growth and development of the TNSC Bank. The financial growth of the Bank is in a commendable position.