India's Youngest Bank Bandhan to Empower Women, Rural Folk


"Bandhan works to bring one out of every four rural households under its roof as 65 percent of rural populace in India does not have bank account or is not getting any kind of banking services," said Ghosh, who was born in western Tripura and studied in Bangladesh and Kolkata.

Currently, Bandhan is working in 22 states and union territories through a network of over 2,016 branches with more than 5.6 million customers. But the priority areas are in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and northeastern states.

"We have disbursed Rs 328,290 million as of now and our loan book stands at 62,629 million. We have a dedicated, committed and direct workforce of 13,192 employees."

Ghosh said RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan wants the new bank (Bandhan) to penetrate poverty-hit rural areas to promote lending and saving among farmers, small businesses and others whom traditional banks have been reluctant to serve.

"Bandhan is a third generation bank. Instead of ATM (Automated Teller Machine), our 275,000 human teller machines have been in constant touch with the rural people, specially women."

Ghosh said that he had all the time given emphasis on the "practicability of the business, whatever may be the volume of trade."

Ghosh also said that the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank group) has proposed to tie up for a long-term strategic partnership.

The IFC is currently (since 2012) holding 12 percent equity stake in the company.

Bandhan has been getting advances from 33 banks including the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

Bandhan also runs 600 primary schools in four states - West Bengal (370), Assam (100), Bihar (80) and Tripura (50) -- for poor kids and many training centres for the skill development of its employees.

 READ MORE: Sensex Surges 174 Points in Early Trade On Corporate Earnings

Men Bigger Secret Spenders Than Women: Survey

Source: IANS