The Reserve Bank of India serves as the Asian nation's central bank. Its primary function is to ensure the country's monetary stability. The bank creates monetary policy and assists in regulating its financial system. The central board of directors, appointed by the government, leads the bank. The Reserve Bank of India was founded as a privately owned bank in 1935; it became government-owned following nationalization in 1949. The bank is headquartered in Mumbai and has 22 regional offices. Its subsidiaries include the National Housing Bank, Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.