HDFC Bank launches mobile branch in Varanasi

In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, country's second-largest private lender, HDFC Bank today launched mobile banking initiative to offer round-the-clock banking facility.
"Part of the bank's digital banking offering... 'Bank Aap Ki Muththi Mein' is technology agnostic and runs on all mobile devices popular technology platforms support," said Nitin Chugh, Head-Digital Banking, HDFC Bank.
'Bank Aap Ki Muththi Mein' works on both smartphones as well as the basic phones that support Internet browsing.
It is another offering from the bank's platform to provide further convenience to customers, eliminating need for accessing branch or ATM, he added.
It would also help in financial inclusion as the mobile app would help rural population connect to bank with the basic handset as villagers don't have smartphones, he said.

"For phones that do not support Internet browsing, there's sms-banking and missed-call banking... A customer needs to send a text or call a toll free number to know his account balance, get a mini statement, request a check book or detailed account statement," he added.

As of September 2014, India had over 90 crore mobile users in the country but only 4 crore mobile banking customers.
Besides fixed and recurring deposits, bill and tax payments, buying insurance and mutual funds transactions, the offering will also allow customers to buy all kinds of loans instantly.
It also offers customers location-specific promotions, offers/deals on shopping, dining, movies and entertainment.

About 55 per cent of all transactions at HDFC Bank are conducted through digital channels.