FM Sitharaman Inaugurates Nine New Bank Branches Across Northeast

By siliconindia  |  Saturday, November 15, 2025

FM Sitharaman Inaugurates Nine New Bank Branches Across Northeast
  • FM Sitharaman inaugurated nine new bank branches across four Northeastern states.
  • Rs 28.02 crore in loans were disbursed to 350 beneficiaries under multiple Central schemes.
  • She launched key development initiatives, including an ITI campus, CMMFI vehicles, and SHG livelihood support.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, currently on a three-day visit to Nagaland, virtually inaugurated nine new bank branches across four Northeastern states on Friday during the Credit Outreach Programme held in Kiphire district.

According to officials, the new branches include three each in Nagaland and Assam, two in Manipur and one in Arunachal Pradesh. Of these, eight are branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) while one belongs to the Nagaland Rural Bank.

During the event, the Finance Minister handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries under various Central Government schemes. Loans amounting to Rs 28.02 crore were disbursed to 350 accounts as part of the Credit Outreach.

Beneficiaries came from multiple categories, including MUDRA, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), MSMEs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), retail, and agricultural lending. Sitharaman also flagged off vehicles sanctioned under the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI) and launched a mobile ATM van of Nagaland Rural Bank, introduced under SBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative for Kiphire district.

The Union Minister was accompanied by Nagaland Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along during her visit to stalls set up by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM). She interacted with SHG members, took note of their products and livelihood activities, and commended their contributions toward promoting rural entrepreneurship and women-led development.

Sitharaman later inaugurated the newly constructed Industrial Training Institute (ITI) campus in Kiphire, where she engaged with students and faculty. As part of SBI’s continued CSR support, she handed over a cheque of Rs 9 lakh to the institute to strengthen skill development and training infrastructure. She also attended the BJP’s Aatmnirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan in the district.

Earlier in the day, the Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister visited the Anganwadi Centre ‘A’ in Kiphire, interacting with Anganwadi workers, helpers and children. She reviewed the implementation of various Central schemes, development projects and welfare initiatives sanctioned to the Aspirational Kiphire District.

The programme, moderated by Director of the Social Welfare Department Tosheli Zhimomi, also highlighted the background and functioning of Anganwadi Centres in the region. Advisor S. Kiusumew Yimchunger and several dignitaries were present during the interaction.

In the evening, Sitharaman attended the Pungro-Kiphire Mandal Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Campaign Vidhansabha Sammelan of the BJP Nagaland. A cultural programme was organised in her honour at the 14th Nagaland Armed Police Battalion complex in Kiphire.

Today, November 15, the Union Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the AI Centre of Excellence for Skilling at the Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre (NTTC) in Dimapur and review the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) project at Niathu Resort. 

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