Dena Bank to issue 1 lakh kisan credit cards

Dena Bank, the first bank in the country to introduce a credit card in rural India called the Dena Krishi Sakh Patra (DKSP) in the 1980s, plans to issue around 1 lakh kisan credit cards this year in villages across the country. Till now the bank has issued around 5 lakh such cards in rural areas.

Along with this, the bank planned to raise its agriculture credit by 30 per cent over the last year's increase of 41 per cent. Widening banking network would not only step up the government's efforts for financial inclusion , but also generate profit for the bank as untapped rural market could be a potential source of revenue, feels Gairola.

Last year, the bank facilitated 85 per cent financial inclusion in Gandhinagar district in Gujarat. Furthering with the aim, this year it plans to percolate into two tribal areas for full financial inclusion. The bank also planned mobile biometric ATMs this year, said Gairola.