K.P. Singh, Chairman at Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank, discusses the achievements and future plans:
KP Singh has ambitious targets to achieve for the current FY
Mehul Dani: What are the plans for network expansion in 2016-17?
K.P. Singh: Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank (Baroda RKGB) has 794 branches and 42 ATMs in Rajasthan at present. We intend to open 40 new branches during FY 2016-17. We have already opened 27 branches in unbanked areas. We have installed 42 ATMs in the current financial year. Earlier, we had 8 ATMs under opex arrangement. In the current year, we have switched to capex model and all the 42 ATMs are installed in current financial year itself. We are planning to install 50 more ATMs, 25 cash recyclers and 25 self service passbook printers under e-lobby project.
What is the customer base of the bank? How do you propose to increase this?
As on 30 September 2016 we have a customer base of 75 lakh. By 31 March 2017 we shall increase this to 80 lakh. We plan to achieve a customer base of 100 lakh by end-2018. We expect that our branch and business correspondents network, supported by technology initiatives, will be able to do this in calendar year 2017 itself. During the last 2 months, we have added 1.60 lakh new customers.
Our rural network, customer service, products customized to local needs and environment and technology support are the major factors. Our focus on financial literacy of rural people is also playing a key role. We are leader in providing technology based solutions to them.
We had a net profit of `44.50 crore, net NPA of 2.7% and gross NPA of 5.25%, whereas the other RRBs in the state have incurred losses.
What are the bank’s near term plans to leverage information technology?
Our team has developed in-house HR software (HROMS). We have received the ‘Technology Bank of the Year’ award in February 2016 from IBA. Another aspect is our total focus on financial literacy. We observe 3 factors – financial literacy, mobile technology and Aadhaar (FiLMA) – as most vital components for banking.
Implementing technology and providing financial literacy for technology based banking is at the core of our technology initiatives. We are training our staff at our own training centre at Sikar. Another training center at Chittorgarh is scheduled for go live in January 2017. These are equipped with IT labs and trained faculty support.
What is the IT infrastructure of the bank?
HP is our service provider for technology. We have implemented Finacle as our CBS. The cards issuance is supported by BOBCARDS. Our data center is in Mumbai and DR site at Hyderabad. This is managed by Bank of Baroda team. Our own IT team is capable of handling all technology-initiatives. Our ATMs are managed in-house.
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