Arundhati Bhattacharya was on Monday appointed as chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI), becoming the first woman to head India’s 206 year old largest bank which together with its subsidiaries, accounts for 22% of the country's bank deposits and 23% of total lending.The 57-year-old Bhattacharya, the front-runner for the post on account of years of service left, was managing director and CFO of the bank prior to her elevation. She would serve a term of three years.

That's not the only record: Bhattacharya is also the first woman to ever lead a Fortune 500 company in India, and the only woman banker on that list of giants anywhere in the world.She assumed charge as the chairperson of the bank on Monday, succeeding Pratip Chaudhuri who retired on September 30, a statement said.

Bhattacharya, who joined in 1977, has spent 36 years in the bank.

Besides heading SBI Capital Markets, she has also served as the managing director, corporate development officer, chief general manager of the Bangalore circle.

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