Central Bank completes 100 yrs, to open more branches

The Central Bank of India plans to open branches in some Asian and African countries as it begins its centenary celebrations today.

The bank plans to open branches in Hongkong, Bhutan, Tanzania and Mozambique, Central Bank of India's Executive Director Rajeev Kishore (rpt) Kishore Dubey told PTI.

"Opening foreign branches is a part of getting more international business and providing banking facilities to the Indians settled abroad," Dubey said.

He said the bank also aimed at enhancing its core banking operations at its existing branches.

Besides, the bank also plans to include wealth management and asset management services, installing 500 on-site ATMs, IPO/FPO financing and thrust on financial inclusion, he said.

He added that Central Bank, which is the country's third largest public sector bank in terms of branch network, has already achieved 100 per cent CBS (core banking solution) coverage.

"The bank will provide banking services to 3,000 villages in the country having less than 2,000 population by 2012 as a part of government's directives on implementing Financial Inclusion programme using mobile telephone technology," Dubey said adding "the bank will develop a software in local languages so that it becomes easier for people to get banking facilities."

Central Bank has targeted to achieve a total business turn over of Rs 3,00,000 crore by the end of this fiscal year, as compared to Rs 2,46,000 crore target which it achieved last fiscal.

Dubey also gave details on steps taken in increasing the bank's business per employee to Rs 8 crore from less than Rs 5.50 crore per employee last year, reducing the NPAs and recovering a total of Rs 600 crore from NPA accounts before March 31, 2011.