Punjab-based State Bank of Patiala opened its 999th branch at Batala Road, Gurdaspur. The bank has branches spread across the country in 20 states and union territories. Of these, the Bank has opened 19 branches under the Financial Inclusion initiative of the government of India. Under this initiative, banks are required to open branches in unbanked villages with a population of 2,000 and above.
The bank will provide services in 450 unbanked villages through Brick & Mortar Business Correspondants. The bank will open 1,000th branch shortly. Further, the bank plans to open 10 branches in the month of March, 2011. The bank also proposes to open 75 branches during the next financial year (2011-12).
