Chidambaram today opened 717th branch of Canara bank.
He said Canaran Bank has given education loan to 2,44,000 persons amounting to Rs 4,638 crore in the country.
Out of this, 1,29,000 persons were from Tamil Nadu and loan amounting to 1,995 crore were distributed.
The bank had also given loan to 81,322 woman self groups in India. Also, 4,85,000 smart cards were issued by the bank, he said.
He said it was not new to open the bank's branch in this city. "Though Canra Bank was started at Karnataka, the bank is familiar with the people of Tamil Nadu.