Bank of Maharashtra to go in for image makeover

Keeping in view the new-age thinking of customer friendliness in the Indian banking industry, Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has started an effort to bring about change in the way it operates - both, at the front and back end. It plans better look and modern technology for its offices.

Chairman and managing director M D Mallya said the bank was in the midst of a process of redesigning the internal ambience of its branches and major offices across the country. "The underlying idea is that the customer should feel he is in Bank of Maharashtra irrespective of which branch he is visiting," Mallya said. Thus the bank has identified some 350 branches that will be redesigned and refurbished in a year at a capital spend of over Rs 10 crore.

The bank has roped in leading architect firms to define the ambience and colour scheme for the branches to give them a contemporary look and feel. "This was necessary in the wake of the changes we are doing on the service front, backed by investments in technology such as the core banking solution(CBS)," he said.

Currently, BoM is implementing the pilot project for CBS in 25 of its select branches across the country. This will be complete in November, to be followed up by replicating the solution in 200 branches by March 2007 and in another 300 branches by next June.

"The implementation will radically change the way the customers will move in the branches as we will be offering all transactions at all counters. So the layout has been redesigned to make it more open and accessible to the customer," Mallya said. Also, the cage-like compartment of cashier will be given a good bye, replacing it with bullet proof, transparent glass panels.

Alongside the changing ambience the bank is also launching a media plan that involves advertising and promotions through audio-visual and print media.