In the current month (March), United Bank of India has opened two branches in Manipur as part of its drive to extend financial inclusion to unbanked areas in the north-eastern region. The locations are Hundung village in Ukhrul district and Tamenglong Bazar in Tamenglong district of the State, according to a release issued by the bank.
Each of these places has a population of around 2,000. On the occasion of inauguration, kisan credit cards were handed over to a large number of farmers at both the branches. With this, the total number of UBI branches in Manipur goes up to 17.
Opening the branches, Mr Bhaskar Sen, CMD, said United Bank proposed to open branches in 1,880 villages having a population of over 2,000, by March 2012. So far 650 such villages had been covered.
At Ukhrul, the RBI held a financial outreach programme a few days back to ensure steady progress of financial inclusion in the state. It was attended by Mr Deepak Mohanty, Executive Director, RBI, Mr B Sen, CMD of UBI, Mr R Muviah, Principal secretary (Works), Government of Manipur, Mr N Ashok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul and Ms S Marandi, Regional Director, RBI, Guwahati, the release added.