PNB Launches Branch-less Banking in Bihar
Patna: Dec. 5, 2007
 Governor R. S. Gavai, at Hotel Pataliputra in Patna on Wednesday, inaugurated a Punjab National Bank scheme under which the bank would come to the customers' doors in an attempt to convince them to open savings accounts with them or to just deposit their money if they already had a account with them.
The bank kicked off the pilot program under Tineri Panchayat in Masaurhi block and if deemed successful, the program would be expanded in other blocks and divisions, the President and the Managing Director of Punjab National Bank Dr. K. C. Chakrawarti said.
The program uses a portable biometric machine, a printer, and a mobile phone to bring the bank to the customer, he said.
Gavai said that it was a myth that the poor do not return their loans. "This is a problem among the affluent ones; the poor on the other hand always return their loans," the Governor said.
Chakrawarty said the new scheme would soon be expanded in 13 separate areas in Bihar to promote savings and payment of loans without the usual hassles involved in regular brick and mortar banking.
On the opening day, the bank opened 231 new accounts for students and approved credit over Rs. 70 lakh under the Kisan Credit Card scheme.
Reserved Bank of India regional manager K. K. Bohra, Masaurhi MLA Poonam Devi, NABARD general manager Sandeep Ghosh and a number of other senior officials were also present during the inaugural event.
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