Allahabad Bank is planning to increase its focus on southern states, according to its Chairman and Managing Director, Mr J.P. Dua.

Speaking to newspersons after inaugurating Nellore and Anantapur branches from here on Saturday, Mr Dua said in the next couple of years, the number of branches in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala would be increased.

The southern presence of the Kolkata-based bank is low as it has only 148 branches in the South out of a total of 2,536 branches. In Andhra Pradesh alone, 20 new branches would be opened in the next one year, he said.

The southern states have recorded Rs 18,778-crore business during 2011-12.

>nagsridhu@thehindu.co.in