Sbi Lifts Veil Off Atm Networking Project

State Bank of India today formally announced its ATM Networking Project. The bank has linked 100 ATMs and over 260 branches in seven cities, including Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Pune.

The bank is also aiming to conduct its treasury business on-line, while inter-office reconciliation will also be made on-line, said chairman Janki Ballabh, while addressing a gathering at the launch of its ATM project in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, in a bid to add value to its ATMs, the bank has taken up a project whereby cardholders can buy air tickets, reserve railway seats, and buy football match tickets from the ATMs.

 

SBI has commenced two pilot project in Kolkata and Mumbai involving railway ticket and freight booking. If successful, the bank will allow its card holders to book railway tickets from ATMs in few months.

Targets at SBI is to link 600 ATM by August this year and 1,000 ATMs by March 2002. ATMs will be extended to cover semi-urban and rural areas. The bank has already issued one million ATM cards and is aggressively marketing its card.

Ballabh also stressed on improving the quality of service provided by SBI. "We also need to improve the marketing orientation of our employees," he added.

The project is a part of SBI's initiative to introduce information technology on a large scale into its operations. Expenditure on account of IT was Rs 98 crore which will double in 2001-02.

Ballabh aims to transform every branch to a personal banking arm while money withdrawal and other operations will be conducted through its ATMs.

SBI is also targeting the new generation through a technology savvy image. The deliverables of SBI's IT project will include networking all its branches to provide anywhere anytime banking facilities through multiple self-service channels, quick collection of funds and improved customer service.