Gramin bank to ask RBI for new branches

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 JULY: The Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank (BGVB) has planned to seek permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open new branches in 18 places out of 1,058 bank-free areas in 11 districts of this state.

The chairman of the BGVB, Mr Samar Sengupta, said that the board of directors of BGVB had approved the proposal for setting up new branches in 18 places.

“Now we are preparing to seek permission from the RBI”, Mr Sengupta added.

According to him, a survey is going ahead to identify viable bank-free areas at the gram panchayat level. The objective of the survey is to create a rural bank where people are provided with banking services in previously areas previously overlooked by banks.

Addressing a press conference yesterday evening, the chairman of the BGBV has stressed the need to develop mango cultivation in Malda, Murshidabad and other districts to develop the rural economy.

The BGBV has created a scheme for the mango farmers who are interested in making a new mango orchard or replacing old mango trees.

Mr. Sengupta said employees had been facing problems running its branches in Maoist infested areas like Lalgarh, Pirakata in Midnapur West, Bankura's Pitolgari and Sarenga. “Though the bank staff were not targeted by the local people, the bank employees have found it difficult to go there during the last few months due to fear”, Mr Sengupta disclosed.

“We have asked our staff to keep in contact with the local people, by visiting their villages and approaching them to offer banking services through government sponsored programmes. If our staff can provide better services after the peace is restored, then the BGBV will not face trouble in the future”, he said.

The BGVB has earned a net profit of Rs 12.35 crore and has, for the first time, made an operating profit of Rs 37.82 crore in the last financial year.