HDFC Bank to add 100 branches in east by FY16

Private sector lender HDFC Bank is planning to add 100 branches in the eastern region, taking its total tally to 600 branches by the end of ongoing financial year.

"Currently, we have about 500 bank branches across the east and by this year we will touch 600," HDFC Bank Branch Banking Head Atul Barve said here today on the sidelines of the launch of film titled 'Dhanchayat'.

Of the 600, West Bengal will have 195-200 branches.

As of June 2015, the number of branches of the bank stood at 4,011 in the country.

Barve said the bank has considerable number of '2 man' and '3 man' bank branches in many rural locations.

Speaking about Dhanchayat, he said, it is an educational film created by the bank to raise awareness on the danger of borrowing money from the unorganised sector.

Speaking about the assistance to self help groups (SHGs) under Sustainable Livelihood Initiative, he said total 3.5 million individuals are covered and total outstanding is Rs 1,500 crore.

Asked about the bank's strategy for West Bengal in the wake of new bank Bandhan, Barve said there is enough headroom for all banks.