SBI Bhopal unit unveils big plans

Bank plans to inject Rs 250 cr in small enterprises in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

The State Bank of India (SBI) plans to inject Rs 100 crore in small-scale industries and Rs 150 crore in small business enterprises in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during 2004-05, besides commercial advances of Rs 300 crore.

Though the prime focus of the bank would be on the personal segment and rural housing, it planned to extend a credit of Rs 300 crore to the agricultural sector in both the states, S Bhattacharyya, chief general manager of SBI's Bhopal circle, said here on Saturday.

The bank's credit to agriculture and allied activities stood at Rs 1,130 crore on March 2004. Bhattacharya expects the personal segment to generate an additional business of Rs 740 crore for the bank.

Loans to small businesses and industries stood at Rs 917 crore in 2003-04, according to Bhattacharyya. The bank would continue to focus on the tiny and rural sectors, with special emphasis on providing finance to industries and local artisans, he added.

The bank issued 3,390 small and medium enterprises (SME) credit cards in that financial year.

In the area of micro-credit (small business and enterprises run by self-help groups), the bank has extended Rs 14.90 crore to 2,188 self-help groups for various activities. The bank also provided an amount of Rs 2.57 crore to 4,57 women self-help groups, he added.

For the housing sector, the loan portfolio of the bank stood at Rs 952 crore (as on March 2004) against Rs 227 crore during 2001. The bank will continue to focus on rural housing through its two housing loan schemes, the Gram Niwas Yojana and Sahyog Niwas Yojana.

Bhattacharyya said the bank had a network of 13 branches in the area catering to corporate and large commercial customers.

In 2003-04, the bank's deposits reached Rs 150,82 crore and advances stood at Rs 7,551 crore in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In the same financial year, its profits rose to Rs 351 crore from Rs 326 crore in the previous year.

The bank has a network of 677 branches in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Of them 458 branches are in Madhya Pradesh and 219 branches are in Chhattisgarh. The bank has plans to add 300,000 new customers to add Rs 1,800 crore to its kitty.