INDIACSR News Network
THIKARIA: ICICI Bank Limited, India’s largest private sector bank, said that it has started 20 new Gramin branches across Rajasthan as part of its financial inclusion plan that aims at providing banking services in unbanked villages.
All these branches have been opened in small villages, which were so far devoid of any banking facility.
The Thikaria Gramin branch is one of the 20 branches the Bank inaugurated in Rajasthan. The other Gramin branch in the same Dausa district is at Nadari. Other branches opened in the state are at Pritampuri and Basri Khurd villages in Sikar district; at Hudeel and Lalas villages in Nagaur district; at 22ML, 9ML, Ghamurwali and Sanwatsar villages in Ganga Nagar district; at Bhawad, Danwara, Poonasar and Jakhan villages in Jodhpur district; at Otwala and Alasan villages in Jalore district; at Bhinyad and Kanasar villages in Barmer district and at Gudli and Sangwa villages in Udaipur district.
With these launches, ICICI Bank has opened over 140 rural branches in Rajasthan, which is one-fourth of the total number of rural branches across the country. The addition of these new branches has increased the network of ICICI Bank in Rajasthan to more than 400 branches.
Mr. Mohit Sahney, Zonal Head (Rural & Inclusive Banking Group, Rajasthan) of ICICI Bank said, “ICICI Bank recognises and accords great importance to rural and inclusive growth. It is our constant endeavour to provide the entire gamut of financial services in rural and remote areas, which include credit, savings, investments and insurance products. In line with this approach, we have launched 20 Gramin branches, which will provide all basic banking services in unbanked villages, which is a key part of our Financial Inclusion strategy.”
These Gramin branches will offer all the basic banking services such as:
• Farmer Finance through Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Agri-term Loan (ATL) for the cultivation and development of agricultural land.
• Rural Business Credit (RBC) to meet working capital and term loan requirements of business entities in rural and semi- urban areas.
• Overdraft (OD) against fixed deposits (FD) under the Bank’s Kisan Kalpvriksh scheme for rural customers.
• Various basic savings accounts to the customers based on their profile and requirements.
• Funding to several Self- Help Groups.
• These branches also service business correspondents (BCs).
ICICI Bank has undertaken a wide range of initiatives in the last few years as part of its financial inclusion agenda. In this state, ICICI Bank is also engaged in Electronic Benefit Transfers (EBT) for disbursement of wages to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers. It has a wide distribution network to service its rural and under banked customers.
ICICI Bank has 3,350 branches and over 10,900 ATMs spread across the country. The Bank services its large customer base through a multi-channel delivery network of branches, ATMs, call center and internet banking (www.icicibank.com).
