Banking News----> Pvt banks go offbeat to make inclusion effective:

§  Pvt banks go offbeat to make inclusion effective:

Most private banks in the country have stepped up efforts to improve the penetration of banking services. While private banks are expanding their reach in the hinterland, they are not solely relying on brick- and- mortar branches to serve the rural population. ICICI Bank, is now using light commercial vehicles, equipped with a mini ATM, safe, laptops (connected to the bank’s core banking platform), and machines to count notes and detect forged cheques – to cover three to four unbanked villages a day to serve many of its rural customers in Maharashtra. In the last 18 months, it has opened 430 branches in unbanked regions. HDFC Bank has opened more than 88 per cent of its new branches in 2012- 13 in semi- urban and rural areas. Technology has played a big role in allowing banks to introduce innovative offers.