We examine the determinants of the likelihood and duration of grain bank survival using survey data from Orissa. The study is motivated by the fact that a large share of grain banks have ceased to function over time. It is also motivated by the fact that despite the high rate of failure, the Government of India and rural development non-governmental organisations are continuing to scale up their grain bank activities. We find that village characteristics appear to matter for both the likelihood and duration of grain bank survival, whereas grain bank member characteristics and grain bank institutional features largely do not appear to matter. The findings suggest the salience of programme placement for grain bank sustainability.