New Delhi, March 20 -- State Bank of India has evacuated 64 employees from West Asia to Mumbai over the past few days as the country's largest lender activated a business continuity plan in response to the escalating war in Iran.

SBI obtained approvals from local regulators to temporarily manage its operations in three countries from India, two people aware of the matter said. Only minimal on-ground presence has been maintained in these locations to comply with regulatory requirements.

"People have shifted to India after regulators permitted it. These include staff from Bahrain, the UAE and Israel. Except for some skeleton services run by local staff, the bank is functioning from India," the first person said. "Some three-four local sta...