Central Bank of India has launched a new limited period deposit scheme – Cent 101, to mobilise up to Rs 3,000 crore, for a short-term requirement of the bank.
Announcing the launch here, B. Akbaraly, Zonal Manager (South Zone), Central Bank of India, said in the last couple of days of soft launch, the bank managed to mobilise Rs 58 crore. “Our target is to collect at least Rs 560 crore before the end of March 31, from the Tamil Nadu and Kerala markets alone,” he said.
Elaborating on the scheme, R. Thiagarajan, Deputy General Manager of the bank, said the bank will pay 8.55 per cent interest, which is the highest in the industry. For senior citizens, it offers 9.05 per cent.
Minimum amount that can be deposited is Rs 1,000, thereafter in multiples of Rs 1,000 and the maximum limit is Rs 10 crore.
Earlier, the bank came out with a similar plan for 555 days – Cent 555, which was a great success, said Akbaraly.
Hybrid card
The bank is also proposing to come out with a hybrid card, which will work as an usual debit card as long as the individual has balance in his bank account. Once the credit balance is exhausted by the individual, the card will automatically turn to be a credit card, he explained.
As on December 31, 2012, the bank has crossed 3.5 million debit card base. It has plans to launch co-branded debit, credit and pre-paid cards with several corporates.
The bank, being a late entrant to the ATM system segment, had only around 1,000 ATMs across the country by the end of 2011-12. In the current financial year, so far, it crossed the 2,000-mark. “In the next two months, we are planning to install another 500 ATMs across cities, to take the total to 2,500 by the end of the current financial year,” said Akbaraly.