Pb aims giving banking services to rural citizens at doorsteps

The Punjab government today said it is willing to partner with the country's leading banks to provide banking services to rural citizens of the state at their doorsteps.
"Punjab is willing to partner with leading banks of the country to provide various banking and financial services to the rural citizens at their doorsteps through Sewa Kendras and other infrastructure created by the state.
"Under this partnership, citizens will be able to avail government services and banking services under one umbrella," an official release quoted Anirudh Tewari, CEO, Bureau of Invest Punjab, as saying.
Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal today held a detailed session with representatives of six public and private sector banks, including SBI, ICICI and HDFC.

The Chief Secretary briefed the bankers that Punjab is in process of setting up 2,147 Sewa Kendras across the state.
He stated that more than Rs 400 crore has been spent on these centres and the state is looking for leading public and private sector banks to partner with the state to provide its banking and financial services to rural and urban population of the state.

Anil Kishora, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India, appreciated efforts made by the state government to build Sewa Kendras to provide citizen services at doorsteps to people and assured that SBI is all set to provide banking and financial services through these centres to improve rural outreach.

He stated that SBI is already working closely with the state government in its various schemes.
Vikas Banwala, zonal head of ICICI Bank, said this partnership will provide them with a platform to double their rural penetration.
Government infrastructure will act as the extended branch network and ICICI Bank is also willing to make infrastructure investment in the Sewa Kendras, the release said.