Canara Bank, Kerala Circle, has thrown open an online facility to open savings bank accounts ‘free of hassles.’ Anybody with access to Internet can apply from anywhere in the country for the facility, according to G. Sreeram, general manager, Kerala circle, Canara Bank.
The aspirant needs to come only once to the branch in order to complete the know-your-customer formalities and the specimen signature.
Increasing penetration of Internet to semi-urban and even rural areas means that one can save valuable time by using it for completing most of the formalities online.
The facility is barely into its second week of operation, and the bank was in the process of assessing the response, Sreeram said.
In a similar initiative, the bank has extended the Aadhaar seeding facility to all ATMs as well as on the net banking window, simplifying the process involved.
SPECIAL SCHEME
Meanwhile, employees of the State Government and Kerala State Electricity Board can now look forward to a custom-made loan schemes made available by the bank.
The scheme offers competitive rates of interest and terms and would be available to these employees for a limited period of one year ending October 31, 2014.
A hub for non-resident customers has been set up in Thiruvananthapuram with a view to extending quick personal services.
The bank has undertaken to open accounts referred by representative offices abroad in all four Southern States, Sreeram pointed out.
As part of its endeavour to assist entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium sector, the bank has evolved two loan schemes viz. Canara Unnathi and Canara Pragathi.
SME BRANCHES
It has opened three hubs for small and medium enterprises at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikkode. This is in addition to the 12 existing branches in various parts of the State.
Meanwhile, the bank on Tuesday opened three branches at Vaikom, Kaduthuruthy and Kuttikattoor, taking the total number the State to 357.
This is in addition to 331 ATMs in various parts of the State. The bank proposes to increase its network to 400-plus branches in the State by the end of March 2014, Sreeram said. It had recently opened an ATM in the Government Secretariat complex here.
The bank has 13 financial literacy centres functioning in the State. Four Rural Self Employment Training Institutes and a Canara Bank Institute for Information Technology are already functioning.
vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in