Canara Bank was started in 1906 as Canara Hindu Permanent Fund in Mangalore. The bank changed its name to Canara Bank Limited in 1910. The Government of India nationalized Canara Bank, along with 13 other major commercial banks of India in 1969. Canara Bank sponsors three regional rural banks named Shreyas Gramin Bank, South Malabar Gramin Bank and Pragathi Gramin Bank. South Malabar Gramin Bank is the largest regional rural banks in India. Its headquarters are at Malappuram and it operates in eight districts in Kerala. Canara Bank established its International Division in 1976. Currenlty it has branches in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sharjah etc.